Our campsite by the Centenary Hut. As soon as the sun set the temperature plummeted.
Autumn is usually a lovely time of the year to hike in the Drakensberg as it offers the best weather conditions: cloudless skies and cool temperatures. The air is crispy, the visibility fantastic, the light simply stunning with beautiful sunrises and sunsets in cool pastel tones that provide food for the soul.
Loudina and Arjan, from Cape Town, had visited the Drakensberg in numerous occasions, done a few day hikes but never been far into the mountains. A few months ago Arjan had contacted me to arrange the 4 day hike to Mafadi to be the highlight of their Easter holidays. I believe it really was.
If you would like to do this hike contact us at [email protected] or have a look at our website www.spanafrican-adventures.co.za for other exciting options.
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-kpfaq9.jpeg)
From the Injisuthi Area there are great views of Monk's Cowl Area's most emblematic peak: Champagne Castle, Monk's Cowl, Cathkin Peak and Sterkhorn.
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-z1ZL8b.jpeg)
Injisuthi Camp with a lovely Autum feel to it.
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-Y5ogDL.jpeg)
Loudina and Arjan, happy to be on the trail at last
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-rFQ2cK.jpeg)
The hike runs along a seldom visited bushy valley.
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-AI4GS8.jpeg)
Even though in April the main flower season is over you're still able to see things like this.
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-HAZcKP.jpeg)
Experienced hikers know well about the climb up the long ridge leading to Centenary Hut.
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-meWrB7.jpeg)
Beautiful afromontane grassland. In April the grass starts drying out.
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-wSfCmG.jpeg)
In Autum the light is at its best.
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-_eC6PL.jpeg)
A sunset with beautiful pastel tones.
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-9Y63zb.jpeg)
In the morning our tents were completely frozen.
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-JOQLFe.jpeg)
The frost melted down as soon as the sun was up. The conditions were perfect for hiking.
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-Bn0_Y2.jpeg)
The everlasting helichrysums.
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-EO654H.jpeg)
The slope in some of the sections along the contour path is really steep.
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-F8f_gj.jpeg)
Judges Pass, our gateway to the High Berg, 700m above us.
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-DC7A3Z.jpeg)
A well deserved sunny rest on top of the pass.
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-Xgm80P.jpeg)
Judges Pass is often used by dagga smuglers. They're no danger for hikers.
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-onRoC7.jpeg)
Sunset at 3300m.
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-QyJZu8.jpeg)
We spent the night at Summit Injisuthi Cave. Loudina and Arjan keeping warm the next morning. Arjan got bad altiude sickness, he wasn't feeling too happy.
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-OU6n8h.jpeg)
The sunrises from the cave are legendary.
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-m7fWhn.jpeg)
Sun, you are a star!
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-c4Berx.jpeg)
Summit Injisuthi Cave is on a hanging valley overlooking the Injisuthi Triplets.
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-azcV6U.jpeg)
Loudina and Arjant on top of Mafadi. Mission accomplished!
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-xyJk_0.jpeg)
Head of Leslie's Pass, 900m total elevation from tip to top.
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-NxCcP4.jpeg)
Half the way down the pass.
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-T3QrWk.jpeg)
The pass gets seriously steep at times. Fortunately there's always a bush closeby which offers a good grip.
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-Qqx2KN.jpeg)
The final ridge down the pass (on the left hand side).
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-MYt6CO.jpeg)
Sunrise from our campsite, at the bottom of Leslie's Pass.
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-ekJUh_.jpeg)
The campsite is a cosy grassy spot big enough for 2 tents.
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-2YYvBD.jpeg)
Final day!
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-AaJD3X.jpeg)
Typical Berg lunch, beautifully prepared by Loudina.
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-BFpNw8.jpeg)
Marble Baths Cave, the annex.
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-t0fuMy.jpeg)
Wild dagga.
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-PRSChC.jpeg)
The end of the trip.
![Mafadi Trek - April 2011 Mafadi Trek - April 2011](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/2/20425/mafadi-trek-april-2011-L-jVr5P9.jpeg)
Loudina and Arjan all smiles after having spent 4 days in the Drakensberg.