weather conditions & climate at the Antbear guesthouse
The Antbear Guesthouse
See more about weather climate and accommodation in the Drakensberg
This mountain range is located in the central area of the Republic of South Africa. Located west of the range is the small land locked country of Lesotho. The range forms a natural eastern international border between Lesotho and the republic. East of the mountains the province of KwaZulu-Natal is located.
The "Berg" as it is often referred to, consists of a high 180km long escarpment, in-cut by deep valleys that run easterly toward the Indian Ocean. In-between these valleys, peaks rising to 3300m are found. In addition several peaks stand free from the escarpment forming serrated ridges and massifs. To the west of the escarpment lie large rolling mountains inhabited by Basotho herdsmen.
Durban and Pietermaritzburg, the nearest large cities to the Natal Drakensberg, are large, modern, westernised cities with good hotels, B&Bs, entertainment and outdoor shops.
The Berg is usually accessed from South Africa via a good network of highways and district roads. However foreign visitors may find that getting to the entry points for climbing/hiking can sometimes be confusing and time consuming if on a first visit as there is not a good mountaineer information service for the Drakensberg. Distances by road from point to point can also be longer than European visitors are used to.
If flying to South Africa, Durban International airport gives the best access. Pietermaritzburg also has a small airport where domestic flights can be caught. Travelling with a guided party is best, as there is not a good public transport system to the mountains.
The Kwa-Zulu Natal Nature Conservation Service (KZNNCS), who manage much of the Drakensberg Park, controls access to most peaks. In order to enter these areas it is necessary to obtain a permit from the office of the ranger in charge of the relevant area. Rescue registers are located at all offices and must be completed. There is no hazard of malaria in the Berg or Durban area.
Unless you intend to be staying in one of the many KZNNCS hutted camps all other trips into the Drakensberg require you to be fully prepared for all eventualities. This means that you will need to carry your own shelter or tent, (unless you are using caves or the huts in Giants Castle area), Food, Sleeping bag, Cooking equipment, and clothing for any weather type or temperature. The weather can change very fast and it is common to experience four seasons in one day in the Berg.
It is recommended that the minimum party size is three to four persons and that a walking rope is carried. Even on day walks, rivers can cut you off when the Berg storms cause the rivers to swell so prepare in case you need to spend the night out.
Most of the time the weather is good by Northern Hemisphere standards. Many days can go by with perfect sunny weather. However it should be noted that the Drakensberg lies in the summer rainfall area of Southern Africa (October to March). During this time thunderstorms, accompanied by sleet and hail, could occur several days in succession. From September to April it is also usual to get periods of several days of rain and mist shrouding the summits, making climbing very unpleasant, if not impossible. Daytime temperatures can become very high and may be accompanied by high humidity.
From May until August is certainly the best time for climbing - with long spells of mild, stable skies. These fine periods are broken by cold fronts moving in from the south west of the country, bringing rain and often-heavy snow falls even to valleys of the little Berg.
Warning: Blizzards can occur for many days, making travel at high altitude impossible, with temperatures well below freezing.
The basalt formation of the Drakensberg expresses itself in a variety of structures - peaks, buttresses, pinnacles, needles, spires and so on. Southward from Mount Aux Sources (3282 m) are such well known peaks as Mponjwane ( 3117 m), the saddle between North Peak (3153 m) and South Peaks (3153 m ) . Champagne Castle (3248 m) a rounded dome set some hundred metres inland from the edge of the escarpment . Giants Castle (3314 m), where the berg turns its direction southwards. The two Hodgson's peaks (3244 m and 3256 m) Several stand out from the general line of the escarpment, including the Sentinel (3165 m) Outer and Inner Mnweni Needles at 2890 m and 2905 m respectively. The giant Cathkin Peak (3149 m) is a huge free-standing block of mountain completely separate from the escarpment. Cathedral Peak (3004 m) is another example. The highest peak in the Drakensberg escarpment is Injasuti at 3459 m. The highest peak in Africa, south of Kilimanjaro is on the Lesotho side of the watershed and therefore not a true Drakensberg peak is known as Thabana Ntlenyana, and stands recorded at 3482 m above sea level.
Horse riding - Trout Fishing - Bass Fishing - Paragliding and Hand gliding -Ornithology and Botany - Mountain Biking and 4 x4 drives. - Bushman paintings - Golf and sports - Helicopter and light aircraft scenic rides - Anglo Boer War Battlefields
There are a number of options for accommodation from Five Star resorts to B&B's, Camping to Family orientated holiday resorts & Self catering chalets.
Medical emergencies in the Drakensberg fall under the authority of the Provincial Ambulance and Emergency Medical Service (AEMS). However, due to the hazards and technical difficulties encountered in the Berg, the Kwa-Zulu Natal Section of the Mountain Club of South Africa carries out rescues. Helicopters from the South African Air Force support the highly efficient and well-equipped rescue team.
In the event of an accident or death, the nearest Parks Board ranger or police station should be notified as soon as possible. They will make the rescue call. Phone 10177 anywhere in KwaZulu-Natal.
The Berg is a hikers paradise. There is a good net work of paths from the lower altitudes up to the 8000ft level. Above this level the vegetation is usually quite short making for easy cross-country trekking. At high altitude one can do multi day treks along the escarpment edge in a true wilderness area.
The outpouring of molten lava formed the upper Berg, giving rise to what is today called Stormberg Basalt. Many climbs tend to have rock located between broad grass ledges. The rock is also formed into rounded overhangs, blocks and gullies, making the climbing often quite awkward. The would-be Berg cragsman must also bear in mind that, in addition to the general hazards of rock climbing, these are large mountains with the usual dangers of rain, snow, lightning and rockfalls. Climbers should be equipped physically, mentally and technically for the challenges they could encounter.
See more about weather climate and accommodation in the Drakensberg
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