THE TUGELA MEANDER   (8 DAYS CAMPING)

 

SELF DRIVE ADVENTURE SAFARIS
Type of Safari: Camping /Self Drive or Self Catering/ Self Drive or speak to your tour operator for a guided tour of the Tugela Meander.

Activities: Hiking ( All ages)  Birding, Horse Riding, Game Viewing, Battlefields at Spioenkop, water sports at Spioenkop

Region: This camping safari first takes you to the Drakensberg, a World Heritage Site and then to Spioenkop Game Reserve.

Weather
Kwa-Zulu Natal offers fine year round weather. The Drakensberg can get cold during the winter months ( June, July, August ) with occasional snow.

The best time for Game viewing is during the winter months.( June, July, August )  The bush is drier and the animals are more visible.

The best time for wilderness trails is also during the winter months ( June, July, August ) as the areas to the North of Durban can become very hot during the day. For those not used to the heat, it can become an unpleasant experience, rather than the incredible once in a life time experience it can be for adventure seekers.

For any of the other adventure experiences, Kwazulu weather is absolutely great!
 
How to get there tips:
International Tourists:
Fly in from Johannesburg International airport to Durban airport. Then hire a car or other suitable vehicle. The Tugela Meander is suitable for cars. If you wish to camp, you will need to hire camping equipment in Durban. Rustic self catering accommodation is available at Spioenkop.

Self catering accommodation is available at Tendele. It is recommended that you stock up with supplies either in Durban or Pietermaritzburg.  The shop at the Royal Natal Game Reserve does cater for basic needs. Petrol and diesel is available.

THE TUGELA MEANDER

Route 1
Trace the course of the mighty Tugela River as it tumbles over the Mont-Aux-Sources Amphitheatre in one of the world's highest waterfalls and camp at the Mahai Campsite beneath towering sandstone cliffs. Follow its path as it wanders through ancient battlefields to be caught for a while in Spioenkop, where one of the bitterest actions of the Boer War was fought and camp beneath paper bark thorn trees with views that stretch from the Drakensberg to the bush covered slopes of the Tugela Valley. Complete your Tugela meander by visiting Weenen Game Reserve, an undiscovered corner of Africa`s game filled savannahs, where white rhino, giraffe and antelope share your campsite. 

Route 2
Trace the course of the mighty Tugela River as it tumbles over the Mont-Aux-Sources Amphitheatre in one of the world's highest waterfalls and camp at the Mahai Campsite beneath towering sandstone cliffs.  Hike through protea woodland and cool yellowwood forests. Follow its path as it wanders through ancient battlefields to be caught for a while in Spioenkop, where one of the bitterest actions of the Boer War was fought and camp beneath paper bark thorn trees next to still waters. Stand on Spioenkop Hill among the graves of brave Boer and British soldiers and imagine their fear and pain. Complete your Tugela meander by visiting Weenen Game Reserve, an undiscovered corner of Africa`s game filled savannahs, where white rhino, giraffe and antelope share your campsite and enjoy game viewing drives or hike the iMpofu and Beacon View trails. 

DAY 1

Mahai

Arrive at Royal Natal National Park and book in at the large thatched Reception Centre with its friendly staff. Make your way to the Mahai Campsite and setup camp beneath the towering sandstone cliffs of Ploughman`s Kop and Dooley. Royal Natal has many spectacular hiking routes and in the two days you spend here your choice encompasses short easy and long strenuous walks.

DAY 2

Mahai

Rise early to enjoy the best of the beautiful surroundings and taking refreshments such as a packed lunch, make your way by vehicle to the Gorge parking area on the Thendele road. The Gorge path will take you along the course of the Tugela River to the base of the Amphitheatre where you can see the river tumble down its face in one of the world`s highest waterfalls. Yellowwood forests, eastern fynbos and protea savannah provide a backdrop for your day.

DAY 3

Mahai

A hike that will give you breathtaking views of the northern Drakensberg Mountains and the surrounding country is the Crack and Mudslide route. Make your way up the main Mahai valley path through Gudu Forest and up the Crack to the top of Ploughman`s Kop, past the water carved pools to the top of Gudu Falls. Mountain Reedbuck and Grey Rhebuck appear and disappear while overhead a Bearded Vulture patrols the skies. In spring and summer the wildflowers are glorious and winter`s red, brown and gold grasslands seem to go on for ever.

DAY 4

Spioenkop

Break camp and leaving Royal Natal make your way towards Bergville and Winterton. Follow the path of the Tugela as it winds towards the sea to be caught for a while in Spioenkop Dam. Reception will direct you to the well equipped campsite on its shores where its safe to swim and boat. A late afternoon game drive past white rhino, giraffe and many antelope species set against a view which stretches up through bushveld and water to the far mountains.

DAY 5

Spioenkop

Early morning is the best time for birding so rising early make your way along the southern shore of the dam to the start of the Discovery Trail where you walk along the valley bushveld covered slopes to birdsong and glimpses of the furred inhabitants of the area such as yellow mongoose and grey duiker. After a late breakfast, drive out of the reserve and around to the north of the dam and up Spioenkop Mountain the site of one of the bitterest battles of the Anglo Boer War. Here a small group of Boer soldiers successfully prevented a much stronger British force from relieving the siege of Ladysmith. As you wander among the graves and monuments where over 390 men lost their lives over two days of fierce fighting, your view stretches through 360 degrees, the very reason why this prominent point was so bitterly disputed.