THE JACK and Jill Hiking Club had an enjoyable hike at the Royal Natal National Park: Mahai Campsite on the weekend of the 13-15 February. The Royal Natal National Park is situated 44km from Bergville and approximately 165km from Dundee.
The word “Mahai” is Sesotho for “Rocky Krantz”. The Mahai Campsite is well maintained and offers kitchen facilities with hydro boil for hot water. There are a number of ablution blocks which are well maintained and are kept neat and clean.
The hikers arrived at Mahai Campsite on the Friday afternoon where tents where set up and the camp arranged. The eager hikers took a lovely early evening stroll to the Queen’s Causeway and the Cascades and enjoyed the quietness of the mountains and the cool evening breeze.
Pizza and pasta was enjoyed as an evening meal which were purchased from the Tower of Pizza on route to Mahai. Others braaied, to ensure that they would have padkos for the following day’s hike.
Saturday morning saw the hikers raising early and making their way to the entrance for Thendele, where the Gorge Car Park is situated and the Gorge Hike begins.
The Gorge trail is a popular and picturesque walk; the hike distance varies on different pamphlets from 14km to 22km. As Saturday was an extremely hot day (34 degrees) the hikers welcomed the slightest of breezes that were found, and made the best of shady spots along the way for a break to drink water before moving on again.
The trail leads through a number of indigenous forests and these were very welcoming and offered refreshing shade. At one point a small waterfall was found just off the trail path but as the waterfall is so high the water running over the top is barely a mist when it reaches the bottom. However, the breeze managed to blow a very fine misty spray over the hot hikers.
The hike continued till the Gorge was reached where some hikers were very eager to find a crystal clear rock pool to cool off in and take a swim. As the water in these pools was bitterly cold, some hikers were only brave enough to immerse their hot weary feet in the water for a few minutes at a time, others who were braver, actually had a swim.
A picnic lunch, was enjoyed, at the sides of the pools, admiring the breath taking view of part of the Amphitheatre at the top of the Gorge. After a good rest, the return hike was started back to the Gorge Car park.
After freshening up at Mahai campsite the hikers made themselves comfortable and relaxed for a while before braai fires were started and supper enjoyed.
Sunday morning, the hikers leisurely packed up and enjoyed one last walk to the Queen’s Causeway and the Cascades, and from there a pathway was followed to the McKinlay’s pool.
Next month’s hike will be to Ingogo, on the weekend of March 13-15.
