Amphitheatre Backpackers in Drakensberg South Africa

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Amphitheatre Backpackers (Hostels) - P.O. Box 30, N.Drakensberg , Kwazulunatal,3354 Pocolane Nature Reserve,Oliviershoek Pass Drakensberg South Africa


Restaurant Internet Access Bicycle Hire Wheelchair Friendly Linen Included Bar Towels	Security Lockers Luggage Storage Swimming Pool Guest Kitchen Telephone/Fax Facilities Travel Desk/Travel Info Bureau de Change	Common Room Bike Parking BBQ Area Free Carpark 24 Hour Check In

The main reason for this hostel's popularity is that it is in such an excellent location. The Northern berg has all the most dramatic hikes, the highest waterfalls, biggest indigenous forest in the Drakensberg and largest consolidation of rock art to be found in any one place in the world.

The lodge is positioned in such a way that the road and the mountains meet right on the end of the high escarpment so this means that you can access a lot more variety of things than anywhere else. Including visiting an area of Lesotho that has never had tourists before, sitting on the top of the highest waterfall in Africa or learning to rock climb.

Amphitheatre is the only hostel in the berg that the Bazbus stops ON THE DOORSTEP of, which means no hidden costs of pick-ups and shuttles. Hired cars also find it easier with the direct access.

The lodge is found near the foot of the Amphitheatre, close to the bottom section of Royal Natal National Park with a picture postcard view of the Amphitheatre from the lawn. The lodge has a swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna, independent self-catering chalets, restaurant and a thatched cocktail bar. A river wends its way through the lands and there is a small dam.

The hostel is a base from which you can explore different sections of the Drakensberg park each day.

ACTIVITIES.
Our tours are extremely popular. Please note that all trips must be booked the night before the tour's departure AT the hostel. No bookings are taken in advance for tours. If you do both the Lesotho and Amphitheatre Top Hike you will receive a R20 discount.

1) HIKING OPTIONS:

A) TUGELA FALLS/ MONT AUX SOURCES/ SENTINEL/ AMPHITHEATRE TOP HIKE

As you can see this trip has many different names. It is the most famous hike in South Africa as it takes one to the highest waterfalls in Africa (the second highest in the world!!) It is not particularly difficult, but really spectacular.

The trip starts at Amphitheatre Backpackers at 7:30 am. We drive around the spectacular Sterkfontein Dam, through Qwaqwa and up the side of the Amphitheatre via Witsieshoek Pass. If one decided to walk from the BOTTOM (Mahai campsite) to the TOP then it would take about 3-4 days to get there and back again. This is why we cheat and travel the extra distance to the base of the Sentinel where we walk to the TOP and back in one day (the perfect hike for impatient people!)

We then set off around the massive Sentinel Peak, up the kloof gully and to the TOP of the Amphitheatre (over 3000m up) and the TOP of the Drakensberg. From here you get your first view of the Devil's Tooth and the 1km drop down the Amphitheatre Wall into the bottom section of Royal Natal.

Off we tramp across the escarpment and along the Tugela River where folk can dip in the rock pools. Here you can stand a chance of catching a glimpse of the elusive and famous Bearded Vulture. To your right is the highest point, Mont Aux Sources, (and the source of 4 of our major rivers.)

Then it's on to the lip of the Amphitheatre to watch the highest waterfall in Africa (2nd highest in the world) as it drops 1km down the Basalt Cliffs. Here we have lunch, explore the plateau and then off back to the car with knee-tingling chain ladders on your descent.

The trip goes whenever we have customers who wish to take the trip.

This is a full day, costing 300, which includes lunch, entrance fees, community levy, a guide and transport.

B) SHUTTLE TO ROYAL NATAL BOTTOM PARK.

We take people to the lower park every morning and fetch them in the afternoon. The shuttle is R20 per person (R10 there and R10 back.) You pay your own entrance fee.

D) OVERNIGHT HIKING.

If you wish to do overnight hiking we will organize this for you. There are great hiking trails across the escarpment towards Cathedral, Champagne and even as far as Sani! Be prepared.

2) LESOTHO

This day trip is very special as no other tourists ever travel to the area that we visit. We take you over Monantso
Pass (a rugged pass on the side of the Amphitheatre) and into Lesotho. This mountain Kingdom is still as it was hundreds of years ago. The secret of the area that we visit is that it is not featured in any of the travel books and so it remains completely 'untouristy.'

The day begins from Amphitheatre Backpacker's at 7:30am.

The bus travels around Sterkfontein Dam and through Qwaqwa, a town that has an interesting mix of both Sotho and Zulu people. It was also one of South Africa's first 'homelands' during apartheid.

It takes about 60 minutes to arrive at the South African border post.

The day is spent hiking in an area of amazing geographic interest with San cave paintings, brightly coloured red hot polkers and aloes. Basalt cliffs surround thatched huts that cling to precipieces. The people use horses to travel and on many occassions men can be seen with their coned hats and blankets astride their horses leading the livestock to grazing.

If the women are selling Sotho food and beer the guide will obtain a sample for those willing to taste barbecued mice. Some days the schoolkids are playing sport or the herds boys might be near to play you a tune on their homemade instruments.

The day might include visiting a local school, watching sheep shearing, livestock batering, milling meal or basically taking part in anything that is happening in the area at the time. A percentage of the money received from visitors is used to buy books etc. for a local school. This is an extremely popular trip and highly recommended.

This trip is also R300 and includes guide fees, food, transport, donation to the school, Sotho food and beer.

3) CYCLING.

There are also a number of mountain bike routes that take you past various points of historical and geographical interest.

These include cycling with zebra, wildebeest and other game, visiting the vulture feeding site (where you have the opportunity of spotting the elusive Bearded Vulture) and going off road to the cave where the first settlers signed their initials in the 1800's

The mountain bikes are kept in good condition in order to ensure you are able to take in the beautiful surrounds! We also provide maps that we have personally designed for the trails, which highlight the different sites. You can choose whether to travel on or off the tar roads.

Half a day is R50 and a full day is R90

4) HORSERIDING.

Spend a day enjoying top quality horse riding with a conservation ranger. The rides are extremely popular. This is at the BOTTOM of the Amphitheatre. Get there by taking our daily shuttle there and back or driving in your own car.

9:00am = 3 hours or 6 hours

10:00 am = 2 hours

2:00pm = 2 hours

For the 2 hour ride you do not need to be an expert, but the 6 hour rides are not recommended for beginners.

5) FISHING.

For those who want to you can hire a guide who provides equipment, there are numerous dams in the area that are stocked as well as wild trout in the rivers, but one of the most famous aspects of this area is that Sterkfontein Dam (which we are next to) besides being the longest and deepest of South Africa's dams is also the dam with the largest variety of indigenous fish which includes Yellowfish that are far better fighters than trout or bass!

For those who prefer spin fishing you can catch Bluegill, Yellowtail, Bass, Catfish and numerous other fresh water varieties.

conditions: PLEASE NOTE: For payment on arrival we do not accept credit cards.