Grand Traverse of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Mountains

Grand Traverse of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Mountains

KZN Wildlife Grand Traverse of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Mountains, in celebration of International Year of the Mountains 2002

On the 19th October 2002 a group of 8 people met at Highmoor Nature Reserve to pack and get the last minute planning done for the Grand Traverse across the KwaZulu Natal Drakensberg Escarpment. The trip started at the Sentinel car park at Witsieshoek in the North, and ended at Bushman’s Nek police border post in the South.

The Grand Traverse for mountain hikers, can be equated to what the Comrades Marathon is for roadrunners, as contrary to popular belief, the top of the mountains is not flat, but a series of high peaks and low valleys. The hikers covered a distance (as per GPS) of 222 kilometers, climbing 13 kilometers, and descending 13 kilometers. A total walking distance of 249 kilometers, in only 12 days.

The whole team made up of Gavin & Debbie Shaw, Mark & Alex Brassell, Graham & Nora Keets (The above are KZN Wildlife staff) & Dave Sclanders (KZN Wildlife Honorary Officer), with Gavin, Mark, Graham & Dave being the hikers and the ladies being the support team. Dave Sclanders became the oldest man to have completed this incredible feat of hiking the grand traverse. Dave is also the owner of Bergfree Guided Adventures, which specialises in walking safaris in the uKhahlamba Drakensberg mountains in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

All equipment for survival in a harsh and unpredictable environment was carried, with the added difficulty of extra weight of food which had to be carried for the first 7 days, before a re-supply party could get to the hiking group. The hiking gear included clothing and tents for all weather conditions, from very hot days through to sudden snowstorms, sleet and rain. The 4 hikers in the 12 days experienced all these weather conditions and challenges of the berg including, snow, ice, rain, wind, mist, heat and water shortage.

A very high level of body fitness and mental strength was required, with the extra pressure of knowing help could be days away, when communication reception could not be guaranteed in many isolated parts of the mountains.

Due to bad weather at Sani Pass, where a day was lost out of the planned schedule, the hikers had to do the last leg of the hike which should of taken 3 days, in 2 days, covering a distance of 55 kilometers. The hike finished officially at 15h00 on the 1st of November at the Bushmans Nek border post.

Some low and high points of this traverse:

Low points

Poor weather conditions for much of the way hiding many of the superb views one would expect to see from being on top of the berg.
Being caught in a terrific rain/sleet windstorm on the steep side of the highest peak in Southern Africa. Having to pitch tent for the rest of the day being soaking wet and the freezing cold on a steep pitch of ground. Water bottles were nearly empty, and supper was a meager meal due to lack of water.
Packing wet and frozen tents at 05h30 in the morning as an early start was needed to make up for lost time from the day of the storm.
Extreme heat and lack of water on the one day – the day never seemed to end.

High points

Most evenings a cold bath in a river to wash the dust away, and invigorate the body.
The team spirit of sharing a small 2 man-tent with 4 grown men and their kit, to keep dry and to prepare a meal when unexpected rain kept us in the tent for a number of hours.
When the weather was clear, to sit on top of the berg and see forever all around you.
Coming into Sani Top Chalet where we met our re-supply party and families after 9 days of hiking.
Being totally alone in the middle of nowhere.
Snow ball fight in October. (South African summer)
The satisfaction and achievement on reaching the top of “another” seemingly impossible steep climb.
KZN Wildlife aircraft patrolling in the area dropping us chocolates from the sky.
The whole team fit and in good spirits walking up to the finish at Bushman’s Nek - 250 kilometers from the start.

To sum up; A long, tough hike, over very rough terrain, with very few paths and in almost total isolation – being fully self-sufficient within the hiker group, this trip is not for the faint hearted.

The group raised R20, 000.00 for the KZN Wildlife Conservation Trust, which was handed to the trust by the team at a function in Durban recently.