Quathlamba
“A mass of Spears. Named
thus by the Zulu warriors before the white man came. Today called the
Drakensberg, Mountains of the Dragon. Evocative names, both equally applicable
to South Africa’s mightiest mountain range with its spear-like peaks –
reminiscent of the saw-toothed spine of a gigantic dragon.”
“Listen to the streams as they gurgle from their cradles and you will hear
the story of the mountains. You will hear fascinating tales if only you listen!
Lie next to a stream and listen to the song of the mountains. The smiling faces
of the flowers, dancing in the wind. Venture into the remote valleys or stand
on a peak at sunrise or sunset, after snow has fallen, and you will hear a song
that you will never forget - the Song of the High Mountain".
DRAKENSBERG WILDERNESS
PHOTOS © WILLEM PELSER
“ALL THAT AN
OBSTACLE DOES WITH BRAVE MEN IS, NOT TO FRIGHTEN THEM, BUT TO CHALLENGE THEM.”
WOODROW WILSON
Mashai Pass
Garden Castle Reserve
Drakensberg
A few days ago I returned from the
magnificent Garden Castle Reserve in the Southern Drakensberg. I had it all,
daily thunderstorms, gale force winds and snow in the middle of November! Above
all, I had a magnificently beautiful and wild wilderness all to myself.
The Mashai Pass route which eventually leads to the
Rhino Peak is one of the most popular walks at Garden Castle Reserve. The path
sometimes looks like a traffic jam on a national highway! Be it as it may, it
is a beautiful route up to the escarpment and well worth the effort. And effort
it does take as there is a continual altitude gain all the way to the top of
the escarpment and from there to the summit of Rhino Peak.
So, let us take a photographic journey up this magical
valley.
Dust off your hiking boots and go and visit an extraordinary beautiful
place. And remember, Mashai Pass is not the only route to walk in that wild
wilderness. To read more about Garden Castle Reserve, Southern Drakensberg,
visit drakensberg-hiking.blogspot.com.
The End.
Safe Hiking.
References
and Acknowledgements
From
the book – From my notebook
Photos: ©Willem
Pelser
Compiled by: Willem
Pelser
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