The Drakensberg is vast three thousand wall of peaks in the centre of South Africa, on the border of Lesoto.  It’s a line of pinnacles, ridges and sheer cliffs, and one of the most dramatic and remote landscapes in southern Africa.

The sudden rise of these peaks creates fascinating weather conditions with thunderstorms quite common in the afternoons bringing storm light and clear air with them.  The mornings are often calmer with cloud inversions obscuring the valleys and leaving just the peaks around us towering above the clouds.

We’ll spend 4 days camping and exploring at the top of this escarpment in the Mnweni area, immersed in these incredible peaks and ridges, discovering its finest views and enjoying true adventure.   The area is so remote that there are no roads and it takes two days to hike in, but we’ll fly in and out with chartered helicopters, and while there we’ll be supported by a team of local porters. Sleeping will be in individual tents, which will be provided, and we also have a large group tent for meals.

Camping allows us to set up our camp in the best shooting locations, so we can shoot from right next to where we sleep and eat.

During our time here we’ll hike to move camps to different parts of the escarpment supported by our porters who will carry the tents and a proportion of our gear, and also set up the camp.  You do not need prior backpacking experience to come on this trip however you should be walking fit and free from injury.  Elevation changes on the hikes are around 300m at most, and we’ll always have plenty of time to relax at the end of any hike before we shoot.

After our 4 days here, we’ll go back down by helicopter and spend a night in the wonderful Cathedral Peak Lodge for a proper shower and comfortable bed.

We’ll then head overland via comfortable 4x4s to Sehlabathebe, inside the border of Lesoto.  A different part of Drakensberg, the views here over the Three Bushman Peaks offer a different experience of the Drakensberg, and we’ll stay here for two nights.

Our next stop is Semonkong, home of Maletsunyane Falls, where we’ll stay for two nights.  This will be our final taste of the incredible landscapes of the Drakensberg before we drive to the pretty town of Clarens, where we’ll have a final dinner and critique session before dropping everyone off at Johannesberg International airport the following day.

PRIORITY LIST

We expect to have final details and be ready to take bookings in March or April of next year, but in the meantime, if you’d like to ensure your place on the workshop, just complete the form below. No deposit or obligation