Hiking starts heading up to the top of the mountain with spectacular views looking out over the Drakensberg Mountains. Then down into the valley where you feel far away from everywhere
About the Giants Castle Drakensberg Slack Packing Trail
Explore the Drakensberg foothills without the burden of a backpack walking from lodge to lodge, having your luggage transported for you and looking forward to excellent 3 course meals. The Drakensberg Slack packing trail is a luxury hike offering comfortable and varied accommodation experiences each night, luggage transfers and delectable catering.
The Drakensberg slack packing hiking trail includes some of the most scenic and bio diverse parts of KwaZulu Natal. This hiking trail provides access to private land, a game reserve and locally forged conservancies. Special places where people normally would not have access. All you need to do is organise a group of friends or join one of our prearranged trips, and look forward to a gentle stroll carrying nothing more than a packed picnic, some binoculars and a good birding book.
This is a three day round hike encompassing curated paths past the Zulu Waters Private Game Reserve and throughthe Lowlands Conservancy. Well known for its rich biodiversity, the daily hikes are gentle in distance and gradient making this hike a perfect beginner’s hike for families and for those less experienced and fit. The lodges offer locally grown, home cooked meals as an added bonus.
In the summer, there are rivers and dams to swim in and plenty of picturesque picnic spots on route.
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Drakensberg Slack Packing accommodation
Day 1. Leopards Lair Lodge
Leopards Lair is one of those lovely places full of family atmosphere offering an authentic agri tourism experience. Meet Lalie their hand reared eland, their rescue emus and ostriches and the rest of their farmyard menagerie.
Your walk from here starts off easy and then drops back down into the Mbogta Valley. And then through the valley to your highlight of the trail Antbear Eco Lodge
Day 2. Antbear Eco Lodge
What makes Antbear Lodge special is that this is quite possibly one of them most sustainable lodges in South Africa. Here you will find home made cheese from their own milk, own eggs from their own home grown chickens and a wonderful organic garden. They also offer a luxury cave for accommodation
day 3. San Boutique Resort
San Boutique Resort which is a community owned and run lodge in the Ntabamhlope Valley.
Following the road out of Antbear Eco Lodge and after crossing the historic Dalton Bridge your trail climbs out of the Bushmans River Valley and into the Ntabamhlope community tribal area. The path winds down through the community to the unexpected delight of San Boutique Resort. Expect a traditional food experience from this home-stay nestled in the magnificent green foot hills of the Drakensberg Mountains.
Fast facts
Duration: 3 days, 3 nights
Recommended fitness level: Easy to Moderate
Average daily walking distances: 12-15km
Accommodation types: Lodges including dinner and breakfast. Lunch packs are supplied daily. All dietary requirements available.
Prices: are per person inclusive of accommodation, all meals, luggage transfer, registered guide & conservancy fees.
Group size: Max 6 persons in a group. Min 2 (special arrangements can be made for larger groups)
Guide: Deon Small registered mountain guide.
Bespoke tours can also be arranged for organised groups with special interests like butterflies, birding, ecology, wild flowers, mediation and star gazing.
The following morning after a leisurely traditional African breakfast you will be transferred back to leopards Lair lodge for departure.
Slack packing activity add ons
- Giants Castle vulture hide for close and personal wildlife encounters.
- Star gazing hammock camp telling African folk stories of the night skies
- Hot air Balloon flights that take off from Antbear Lodge
- Abseiling down some daunting cliff faces
- Game drives and rhino tracking hikes in Zulu Waters Game Reserve
