The Dragons Challenge

We drove all the way to the Drakensberg the same day we left Eagle Mountain. A while ago Miki had still been in the belief that it’s a single mountain. “Which Drakensberg are we climbing guys??” – He had messaged us when he was still in Oman.

The Drakensberg is a huge area and mountain range. We were quite surprised of the views as we drove over a small hill and the mountains popped into view. We were able to see almost the whole Drakensberg range from the road. From looking at pictures I could even name some of the peaks. Also our objective, Sentinel peak, was looming in the distance

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We stopped for grocery shopping in Winterton and had some carrot cake in a café trying to sort out our plans. We definitely wanted to climb the Sentinel. It had been our only certain goal of the trip. We were also feeling very tired of being on the move all the time and wanted some rest.

We had heard about Rainbow Gorge from Darren in Tofo and decided to make way to a camp site in Didima for the night. From there we could do an easy day hike into the Gorge. As we drove in between the mountains, the dry colours of brown and yellow sand faded as green took over. We crossed many streams at which the locals were bathing and washing their cars.

Didima camp had a big main building with a restaurant and souvenir shop. Accommodation was available in thatched roof chalets, but we chose the tents. We decided to take a break and chill at the pool area as the sun set behind the Drakensberg mountains. Some dinner in the restaurant (lemon butter marinated trout with oven baked potatoes for seven euros) before setting up camp was all we needed to call it a day.

The sun setting behind Cathedral peak

After breakfast we felt energised again and were anxious to make plans for the day. Hiking maps were available at the souvenir shop and the lady there said she had done all the hikes in the area. Apparently the only way to get back from Rainbow Gorge was to back track the same way. “Don’t come back before you’ve climbed a chain ladder and seen a large rock lodged between the canyon walls” – she told us.

Morning broke warm and sunny. We crossed grassy plains and magnificent rock faces as we walked into the Gorge. Apparently the rock was of poor quality considering climbing activities but I still could not stop imagining doing first ascents on the pristine lime stone cliffs. After enjoying lunch at a beautiful waterfall and taking some awesome #nakedinnature – photos, we walked deeper into the Gorge. Baboons yelled after us and spider webs were suspended above the path. We were immersed in constant sounds of insects and the flowing water as we made our way through the vegetation.

Lunchbreak

We found the chain ladder, but the path ended long before we got to the rock between the cliffs. It would have been a boring trip to walk back so we decided to see how deep into the Gorge it was possible to delve. The map said the river would cross another path further upstream and we could follow that back to camp. We crossed pools chest deep and crawled through small cracks between rocks in our mission to find a route.

Joonas trying to find the way forward

Miki and Style

The canyon got narrower and narrower and the cliffs higher and higher on either side. Most of the time we were forced to pack our gear in backpacks and wade naked in the chilly mountain water to get further into the mysterious canyon. We found another chain ladder and another big rock between the cliffs as we went on.

Special place to boulder if it was dry :D

A roaring sound of a waterfall could be heard around the corner as we continued. We had to fear the worst. The way was blocked. Water rushed down the sides of a huge slippery rock face we couldn’t climb over, crawl under or pass by. We had to turn around and find a way to climb out of the canyon.

At first it seemed impossible as the rock was slimy from algae and the ground too steep to climb. Climbing gear wouldn’t have changed a thing. I found a steep slope to a rocky ledge that could possibly be traversed to climb out. Holding tight on the reins of my nerves I scrambled up and crossed the sloping traverse about 10 meters above the river. “There might be a way out here” – I yelled to Miki and Joonas.

Miki on the slope traverse

They followed as I had to grab a tree to wiggle up after the traverse. Between the bushes I could see some light and hope of getting up tickled my stomach. We scrambled through fighting the thorns and spider webs. After a final push the sun lay her gentle gaze on our faces as we got above the trees. We made our way onto a gentler grassy slope and the view opened showing a way up to the ridge.

Joonas on the final push from the canyon

We still had to scramble up some hundreds of meters, climb a small rock face and walk for a half hour, but in the end we found the contour path that would take us back to camp. We were excited to have found an alternate route. We also had the opportunity to walk via Thyme hill from which we could see the whole valley and awesome scenery of the Drakensberg area.

Hiking towards Thyme hill

Folke West and a Taleban soldier

We ran down from the hill as the sun set behind the mountains. Our hike had taken a full 8 hours and hunger growled in our stomachs.

During dinner Miki revealed to us that he had been feeling ill for a couple of days already. We all feared the worst as he might have caught malaria from Tofo. He said he would not want to take risks climbing the Sentinel and it would be best to head to Johannesburg for his flight back to Oman. It was Tuesday evening and his flight was on Friday. Morning would tell us more but Sentinel peak would probably have to wait.

Los Grandes Cojones