RAINBOW GORGE 1994

Ó Copyright: Grobler du Preez
e-mail: dPreezG@NetActive.co.za
No photograph may be reproduced without permission of the owner.

Cathedral Peak, Natal Drakensberg.

The date...

December 1994

The hikers...

The Du Preez's from Bloemfontein:
Grobler, Marlene, Nico, Maatje, Ignatius (only 4 yrs old)

The trail...

This scenic trail starts at the Cathedral Peak Hotel or the forrestry offices. A short uphill walk take you to the start of the gorge. The walk gets progressively wetter and the gorge narrower until there is no other option than to walk in the water. The trail passes below two boulders wedged in between the walls of the gorge. Follow the gorge until no further progress is possible. Return the same way.

Near the end of the gorge, it is possible to scramble up the grassy slopes to the top of Thyme hill and follow a footpath back to the Cathedral Peak hotel.

This route is approximately 11 km return and is not difficult. Take a pair of sandals with for walking in the water.

1. Near to the start of the trail. Marlene looking back towards (from left to right) the Inner Horn, the Outer Horn, the Bell and Cathedral Peak.

2. Marlene with her back to the start of the Rainbow Gorge.

3. The trail isn't called the Rainbow Gorge for nothing. You will get wet.

2. A boulder wedged in between the gorge walls.

4. A second boulder wedged into the gorge.

5. Rainbow Gorge as seen from another trail, the 2000m contour route. The gorge is the narrow black line in the valley below.