Tugela Gorge and the Sentinel - Sun and Thunder in the Drakensberg (4K)

Last December, I joined Emily, Sylvia, Isabel, Soy, Tanitha, Greg, Jean-Miguel and Zelda for two very different days of hiking in the Royal Natal National Park, beneath the iconic Drakensberg Amphitheatre.

Our first day was spent exploring the bright and sunny Tugela Gorge, stopping for a swim at every chance we had. We overnighted at Mahai campsite, said our goodbyes to Soy, Isabel and Sylvia, and then made our way to the Sentinel car park, aiming to climb the chain ladders and spend the night above Tugela Falls. From the outset, it was clear that our route would take us into heavy cloud, but we'd hoped to make it to some shelter before the classic Drakensberg afternoon thunderstorms. The rain became stronger and stronger as we climbed, which we were prepared for and unfazed by, but the rain quickly turned into hail, and the lightning began to strike around us. Unfortunately the route ahead was very exposed, and with no shelter in reachable distance, we realised the safest thing to do would be to return to the cover of the car park.

While waiting out the storm, some of the group realised that their sleeping bags had been soaked in the storm, which made any thought of camping on top impossible. However, as the weather began to clear, we decided to nonetheless try to make another push for the top, and to return down before nightfall. Sadly, the rain started to come down once again, and it was obvious that there was a high chance of more lightning and no chance of getting the views we'd hoped for from the top. We therefore decided to return to the cars, and take on chain ladders another day.

Music: Far Caspian - Let's Go Outside
Lord Huron - Love Me Like You Used To

Contact me: @daniel_johnson_pmbpk
danjohnsonpeter@gmail.com

00:00 - 3:59 Tugela Gorge
3:59 - 8:14 The Sentinel