GIANT S CASTLE, DRAKENSBERG MOUNTAINS, TRADITIONAL HEALER & SANI PASS 3 NIGHTS, 4 DAYS SFA.OT02 DAY 1 Collected from your hotel we head for the Central Drakensberg. The ukhahlamba Drakensberg Mountains World Heritage Site! The grandeur of Giants Castle, one of the highest peaks in the Drakensberg, and the Giants Castle Game Reserve are a site to behold! It is most fitting that this area is part and parcel of the Drakensberg World Heritage Site and is the traditional home of the amahlubi, a tribe with a fascinating history. Giants Castle Game Reserve We visit fabulous caves and overhangs housing some of the finest rock art to be seen anywhere in the world - created by the Khoi San hunter-gatherers. 1
We arrive at Giants Castle in time for a light lunch. Khoi San Rock Art After lunch we take an easy walk to visit the fabulous Main Caves which house some of the finest rock art to be seen anywhere in the world, created by the Khoi San. Your cultural guide will provide fascinating background information to the Stone Age hunter- gatherers together with interpretation of the paintings. Overnight: Giants Castle Game Reserve - Chalet en-suite with mountain views DBB DAY 2 After breakfast we depart from the Giants Castle Game Reserve and travel through amahlubi tribal lands for the Southern Drakensberg. En-route we visit the local village of Tendele where we will meet traditional healer Doctor Elliot Ndlovu. Elliot is a respected isangoma and herbalist who will explain the healing properties of the many herbs, plants and trees he uses plants utilised by his ancestors for hundreds of years. He will discuss Zulu culture, tradition and values, guiding us through his muti medicinal garden. This is not a cultural village. This is an authentic Zulu homestead with the locals going about their daily lives. This visit provides an opportunity of interacting with a Zulu isangoma and izinyanga (herbalist) on the ethnic, medicinal application of plants, herbs and trees used by this izinyanga. This particular herbalist is a Member of the South African Botanical Institute and has previously represented South Africa as a delegation member of Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show in London (He was formally introduced to Queen Elizabeth II!!). Traditional Healer 2
He is both informed and charming; his English is good and is always well received by international and local visitors. Arrive at our hotel in time for late afternoon tea. Overnight: Moorcroft Manor DBB Room en-suite with mountain views DBB DAY 3 After breakfast we ascend the stunning Sani Pass, where we will summit at 2 873 meters we are now in the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho The Roof of Africa. We enjoy lunch at the top of the Pass in the highest pub in Africa Sani Pass Chalet. This area is only accessible in 4 x 4 vehicles. After breakfast we depart from The Sani Pass Hotel and head. First habituated by the San hunter-gatherers (bushman), Sani Pass offers one of the most spectacular vistas available anywhere in the world. The San used this route for their hunting and infamous cattle raids and were followed over time by early African tribesmen. This obscure path was eventually upgraded to a mule train trail and following the first jeep in 1946, became the third highest jeep track in the world after those in Tibet and Chile. 3
South Sotho Herder This jeep track was to develop and grow to carry goods between KwaZulu Natal and the eastern Lesotho highlands. Today this torturous, rugged and adrenaline boosting pass offers the only motorized access to the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho. The Drakensberg Mountains are ancient older in geological terms than both the Himalayas and the European Alps. The Dragon Mountain, so named by the Afrikaner Voortrekkers to whom those jagged and fierce peaks resembled this mythical creature, and somehow captured the mystery and romance of such an animal. Know to the Zulu as Ukhlamba, the barrier of spears. The description leaves little to the imagination. Stark and bare, this is the basaltic wall between South Africa and the very roof of Africa. The scenery is spectacular. The roof was, millions of years ago, the bottom of the old seabed. Fossils may still be found in the sandstone layers. Cold, crystal streams jangle their way down the high cliffs and slopes, dropping in brilliant waterfalls over the rugged black rock face. These mountains house some of the most spectacular rock art in the world. Hundreds of years old they have succeeded their painters, the Drakensberg Bushmen, who is now essentially extinct. We meet the tribesmen, musicians of the heights and if we are fortunate-mountain raptors such as the jackal Buzzards, Black eagle, Cape Vulture and the rare bearded Vulture, known as the Lammergeier. Sani Pass South Sotho Herders in Lesotho We descend the Pass late afternoon and return to our Hotel in time for sundowners/or late afternoon tea. DAY 4 We return to Umhlanga. Tour Ends 4
This tour includes All transportation in air-conditioned vehicle All Entrances fees Meals as stipulated in itinerary DBB Lunches Certified Guide Fuel & Costs Mineral Waters in vehicle 4 x 4 Excursion into Sani Pass/Lesotho This tour excludes Alcoholic Beverages & Soft Drinks All expenditure of a personal nature Gratuities 5