OVERNIGHT HIKING
A wilderness area is an area of land that has been set aside and managed in such a way that its pristine character is not altered.
It is one of the most important categories in the zonation of conservation areas.

WILDERNESS PRINCIPLES
To ensure that the character of a wilderness area remains unaltered and suffers no impact through mans use, a number of principles are applied in the management of these areas.
Visitor numbers are managed to ensure a quality experience.
Management input is kept to a minimum so that natural processes can continue to operate.
For the visitor to a Wilderness Area this means that:
- there is an emphasis on solitude and self-reliance
- you have the right to risk
- you may only walk or ride horses, (lone hikers are discouraged)
- please relieve yourself at least a five minute walk away from any cave, campsite, forest, watercourse or path
- no fires are allowed, even in caves
- you may leave your footprints but nothing else, so that others have a real wilderness experience
- what you take in, is taken out, including litter and candlewax

In order to minimize the impact of overnight visitors in wilderness areas, the following strategy is applied:  

• no party may exceed 12 persons
• caves are booked only by one group at a time
• Visitors should consult the official fees and charges pamphlet which is available in all KZN Wildlife areas and from Head Office, P.O. Box 13053, Cascades, Pietermaritzburg 3202, (telephone 033-845 1999)
• Should the station concerned not receive the full payment within 14 days the reservation will be cancelled
• Payment for reservations made at short notice must be made at the station concerned on arrival
• Cave bookings are controlled locally so that any adverse impact on the environment by visitor numbers can be dealt with immediately
• Visitors should therefore book directly with the KZN Wildlife station concerned (see below)
• the limits set for the maximum numbers of people in a cave/catchment/camping site will be enforced
• caves may be temporarily closed for a recovery period
• the use of tents in the wilderness area is allowed unless demarcated as a non-camping area on the official Drakensberg map (on sale at KZN Wildlife stations)
• no camping is allowed within 3 km of major camp developments or within 1 km from a mountain hut
• persons who touch or interfere in any way with rock art are liable to a fine of up to R500 000 and/ or imprisonment up to 5 years. This includes the application of water or any liquid to the paintings to make them more visible
• Visitors are advised that they should carry camping equipment even if they expect to spend a night in a cave, as weather conditions or other factors may result in their not reaching their objective
• Furthermore, ALL hikers should fill in the mountain rescue register (available at all KZN Wildlife offices in the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park) before they set out on their hike
• It is recommended that all overnight hikers read the brochure, ‘It's Tough at the Top - Hiking Safely in the Drakensberg'

  RESERVATIONS AND PAYMENT
Reservations should be made at the KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service station concerned. A full list of contact addresses and telephone numbers is given below. Parties who arrive without having made a reservation run the risk of being turned away if the area concerned is full, or closed for management purposes.

CAVES AVAILABLE IN THE UKHAHLAMBA DRAKENSBERG PARK: