GUNUNG · Afrika Selatan

Mafadi

Information

Elevation: 3.450 m
Country: Afrika Selatan (ZA)
Location / Range: Drakensberg / uKhahlamba (Maloti-Drakensberg)
Mountain type: Escarpment peak (basalt/dolerite, non-volcanic)
Volcanic?: No (non-volcanic)
Coordinates: -29.2029, 29.3583
Difficulty: Strenuous (multi-day expedition, non-technical but long and high)
Best Season: March–May & September–November; winter (Jun–Aug) is snowy and very cold
Permits & Rules: A per-night permit paid at the Injisuthi guard post (KZN/Ezemvelo) at trailhead registration
Hazards: Freezing temperatures and snow in winter, strong escarpment winds, a first-day river crossing, freezing water sources, and the steep climbs of Judges/Leslie's Pass

Description

Mafadi (about 3,450 m) is the highest point of South Africa, on the Drakensberg (uKhahlamba) escarpment right on the South Africa–Lesotho border. Rather than a sharp free-standing peak it is a high point on the escarpment plateau, so reaching it is a multi-day expedition, usually 4–5 days, starting from Injisuthi Camp in the central Drakensberg (KwaZulu-Natal). The most-walked route climbs Judges Pass onto the plateau and descends via Leslie’s Pass. The hike is non-technical but long and strenuous, with no facilities on the mountain and nights that can drop below freezing with winter snow. The Upper Injisuthi Cave (~3,300 m) is a common high shelter.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

Injisuthi via Corner Pass

Berat

4–5 hari

An alternative escarpment approach from Injisuthi via the longer, more demanding Corner Pass (~7 hours, 1,000 m+ gain on the ascent day) with scrambling, often combined with a Leslie’s Pass descent. Considered tougher than the Judges Pass line.

Source

Injisuthi via Judges Pass (turun Leslie’s Pass)

Sedang–Berat

4–5 hari

The most-described route: start/finish at Injisuthi Camp, ~44–53 km round trip with ~2,700–2,800 m total gain. Two strenuous ascent days up the valleys and steep Judges Pass onto the escarpment, summit Mafadi (~3,450 m), then descend the long steep Leslie’s Pass (~1,050 m vertical) past Marble Baths. Judges Pass is the crux; the rest is sustained non-technical hiking.

Source

Leslie’s Pass langsung (Marble Baths)

Berat

2–3 hari

The fastest option: follow the Marble Baths trail and Buttress Fork streambed to Leslie’s Pass, gain the Lesotho plateau and reach Mafadi from that side; roughly a 40 km round trip, best done as an overnight expedition.

Source

Climbing Experiences

Climbing Mafadi is a 4–5 day expedition from Injisuthi Camp to South Africa’s highest point on the Drakensberg escarpment. Below are real, verified trip reports and films of the hike.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.