Chains Ladders and Epic Views

Ugh, I just re-read my previous post. Wayyyyyy too wordy. And the pictures sucked. ( Rick and Michelle sitting in a generic Toyota dealership. Riveting!!). I'll make up for it in this post. We climbed The Amphitheatre in the Drakensburg. Danger! Excitement, Thrills! Cold wind! Michelle got a headache from the cold wind! This post has it all! Oh, and some real cool pictures too.

Our previous camp had been at the base of The Amphitheatre. We got up early to drive about 100 km around and up to the top side were we would begin our hike. Advantage of waking up early is catching really nice sunrises

Worst part about mornings? Instant coffee. Best part about mornings? Instant coffee.  

Our first real breakfast! Witsiehouk Mountain Lodge. We had decided to forgo camping for one night and we stayed here in the backpackers hostel. Breakfast included! Eggs, bacon, sausage, fresh fruit Real Coffee! 5 days on the road and eating over a campfire this was a great place to rest and catch up. Free wifi too!

Did I mention the coffee?

 After breakfast we started up the mountain. It was about a 5 km drive over a fairly steep and rough road. We had just started and had got out to take some pictures when we met a couple from Johannesburg in a two wheel drive Nissan who drive up behind us. They obviously weren't going to make it up the road in their vehicle so we offered for them to come along with us. We all drove back down to the lodge, left their vehicle in the parking lot and they piled in with us.

At the carpark at the top of the road, we paid the entry fee and started off.  The path was well marked and in good shape. They had even started laying paving stones to protect the mountain from erosion. The views were incredible.

Sometimes I think whoever created South Africa was just showing off.

There are two routes up the the top. The more interesting route includes a set of chain ladders. The ladders are about 30 feet long and take you up and over a sheer cliff face. They're only fastened at the top and they sway and swing as you climb. Most fun ever! 

A bit of a wait at the bottom while we all build up the nerve to climb the ladders. The ladder on the left is for descent.

She's having waaaaay to much fun!

Enjoying the view from the top.

Shortly after the chain ladders there is a bit more hiking and suddenly you're on top of the ridge. The plateau is massive and you walk across it to get to...well, to get to the other side.

Massive elevation gain? Check! Super sketchy chain ladders? Check! Crossing the plateau? Coming right up!

 Actually you walk across the plateau to get to Tugela Falls. The second highest waterfall in the world! Over 3000 feet tall. And we got to see it from the top. Well, we would have had there been any water in the river that eventually cascades off this mountain. But this was wintertime, the dry season. As the little bit of water in the river falls over the edge it all dissipates before it gets to the bottom. It's actually pretty cool to see.

The Amphitheater is so named as it forms a natural semi-circular bowl rising up from the surrounding  plain (or veldt)  

The view just went on forever. This was another place we just didn't want to leave. and we had it all to ourselves. Michelle's highlight of South Africa was all the animals in Kruger Park. For Rick it was this view and the hike that got us here.

We stayed at the peak as long as we could, but after a while the wind started getting to us and we, reluctantly, started our hike back down. The climb down the chain ladders was just as harrowing as on the way up. but the walk down the trails was so much nicer than the on the way up.

The only route down.

This stuff gets inspected by competent professionals, right? Right??

Away we go. 

The view at the base of the ladders.

The trail down the mountain stretched out before us. At the end of that trail somewhere is the carpark.

We were happy to get back to the car. a short trip down to the lodge and we unpacked in our room at the hostel. We sat and chatted with the other people there and when they heard that we were on our way to Cape Town we were offered places to stay all up and down the coast. South Africans can be a little stand off-ish but once they get to know you a little they are extremely friendly and generous. And everybody has a relative, or knows someone, who has emigrated to Canada from South Africa.

We ended our day watching England paste South Africa in World Cup Rugby prequalifier on the big-screen TV in the Lodge with about 20 other people. Many of whom we had met during our hike that day. The next day we would have a short drive to another campsite but for tonight we enjoyed the luxury of real beds.

The sunset out of or bedroom window at the hostel.