THE TUGELA GORGE 1982, 1991, 1995, 1997

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

Royal Natal National Park

The date...

December 1982, December 1991, January 1995, January 1998

The hikers...

The Du Preez's from Bloemfontein:

1982: Grobler, Andre Esterhuizen (sister's son)
1991: Grobler, Nico
1995: Grobler, Marlene, Nico, Maatje, Ignatius (4 yrs old)
1997: Grobler, Marlene, Nico, Maatje, Ignatius (6 yrs old)

The trail...

If the Sentinel trail is the king of one-day trails, this trail is the queen of one-day trails. The route starts at the parking area next to the Tendele hutted camp and follows a route high above the Tugela river, slowly ascending towards the Amphitheatre. It passes below the Policeman's Helmet and through alternative Yellowwood forests and Protea veld. The Amphitheatre continiously grows in front of you and the silver reflection of the second highest waterfall in the world, the Tugela Falls, becomes visible after a few kilometers.

After about 6 km, the trail descends into the Tugela river and a further 1 km of boulder hopping and sand brings you to the mouth of the Tunnel, a narrow gorge of approximately 65 m with overlapping cliffs that forms the roof of the tunnel.

It is not advisable to try and pass through the Tunnel as a deep pool surrounded by high rocks blocks the exit at the other side. A chain ladder near to the mouth of the Tunnel and narrow gully takes you to a trail leading down to the other side of the Tunnel.

Proceed about 50 m towards the Amphitheatre for a magnificent view of the Tugela Falls (picture 4). If you have enough time and stamina left, you can boulder-hop to the foot of the falls (picture 7). This will take about 2-3 hours return.

Return to Tendele through the tunnel. Jump into the pool at the far end and swim through.

The return route to the tunnel and back is approximately 14 km and is physically not very demanding. The first two visits took us only about 4 hours from the parking area to the far end of the Tunnel and back. A typical outing should take 6-8 hours. The route to the foot of the falls is difficult and consists of continual boulder hopping. Ad at least 2 hours for this return trip.

There is sufficient drinking water available on route during the rain season.

1. The view from the parking area towards the Amphitheatre.

2. Maatje on the chain ladder. The mouth of the Tunnel is visible in the back.

3. Marlene, Maatje, Ignatius and Nico at the far end of the Tunnel.

4. The spectacular view of the Amphitheatre and the Tugela Falls as seen from a short distance past the far end of the Tunnel.

5. Nico jumping into the pool at the end of the Tunnel.

6. Ignatius, Marlene, Maatje and Nico inside the Tunnel.

7. The last cascades at the foot of the falls.