THE SENTINEL 1991, 1997, 1998, 2004

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

Quaqua in the Free State

The date...

December 1991, January 1997, October 1998, 8 April 2004

The hikers...

The Du Preez's from Bloemfontein:

1991: Grobler, Nico
1997: Grobler, Marlene, Nico, Maatje, Ignatius (only 6 yrs old)
1998: Maatje together with a group of "Voortrekkers"
2004: Grobler, Ignatius

The trail...

For me, this trail is the king of one-day trails. On very few one-day routes will you experience so much in such a short distance. The trail takes you to above 3000m on the plateau of the Amphitheatre in the Drakensberg via two successive sets of chain ladders and on to the second highest waterfall in the world.

The scenic access road through Phuthaditjaba to the parking area winds up a part of the Drakensberg that forms the border between Natal and the Free State. From the parking area the trail zig-zags up the slope of the Sentinel to above the first cliffs. The trail skirts the Sentinel and then follows the contour of the Western Buttress, slowly ascending to the chain ladders.

This route is not very far and is not difficult. The first time it took Nico and me only 4 hours from the parking area to the top of the waterfall and back. A typical outing should take 6-8 hours. Although you are constantly above very high precipices, there are no real dangerous places on the trail. (I do have a very bad fear of heights, so believe me. You are nevertheless always aware of the great heights and it is a fearful experience for someone who is afraid of heights.)

There is sufficient drinking water available on top of the Amphitheatre during the raining season. Do not attempt this trail when there is a danger of thunderstorms or low clouds. You may get lost in the clouds once you are on top of the Amphitheatre.

See also the Tugela Gorge trail for the ideal conclusion of this trail.

1. The view from the parking area towards the chain ladders. The chain ladders are in the small valley indicated by an arrow. The trail follows a contour line from the left above the cliffs in the middle of the picture.

Google Earth coordinates: 28°44' 48.37"S 28°52'48.07"E


2. The chain ladders. One first climbs the bottom set of ladders (picture directly above), and then the top set of ladders (top picture). The top set of ladders is only a few metres from the bottom set.

3. The Devil's Tooth and it's Toothpick as seen from the edge of the Amphitheatre.

Google Earth coordinates: 28°45' 07.50"S 28°53'40.06"E

4. Nico, Marlene, Ignatius and Maatje next to the top of the second highest waterfall in the world. The Tugela river falls 850m in five steps from the top of the Amphitheatre into the Royal Natal National Park.

The Tugela river falls 850m in five steps from the top of the Amphitheatre.

On top of the Amphitheatre. Ignatius, Marlene, Maatje and Nico are walking back towards the top of the chain ladders. Maatje is hiding behind Marlene.