GUNUNG · Afrika Selatan / Lesotho

Mont-aux-Sources

Mont-aux-Sources / tebing Amphitheatre, Drakensberg — foto kawasan, bukan close-up puncak sejati. Photo: source

Information

Elevation: 3.282 m
Country: Afrika Selatan / Lesotho (ZA)
Location / Range: Drakensberg (Maloti-Drakensberg), Amphitheatre — perbatasan Free State/KwaZulu-Natal & Lesotho
Mountain type: Tepi tebing basal Drakensberg (Amphitheatre), non-vulkanik (basal lava dataran tinggi tererosi)
Volcanic?: No (non-volcanic)
Coordinates: -28.7591, 28.8846
Difficulty: Sedang–berat (hike dataran tinggi panjang dengan dua set tangga rantai vertikal)
Best Season: Akhir musim gugur–musim semi (Mar–Mei & Sep–Nov); hindari badai petir musim panas
Permits & Rules: Daftar di Witsieshoek/Sentinel car park (biaya gerbang); area Royal Natal / Maloti-Drakensberg
Hazards: Tangga rantai vertikal terbuka, badai petir & kabut mendadak, suhu beku & salju di musim dingin, angin kencang di tepi tebing, perubahan cuaca cepat

Description

Mont-aux-Sources (~3,282 m) is one of the highest parts of the Drakensberg, mostly in Lesotho with parts in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal and Free State. It forms the rim of the grand curved ~5 km “Amphitheatre” escarpment, the birthplace of the Tugela River, which plunges as the Tugela Falls — among the world's tallest. The popular Sentinel/Chain Ladder hike starts from the Sentinel car park at Witsieshoek: a contour path below Sentinel Peak leads to two sets of vertical chain ladders that lift hikers onto the high plateau. The Amphitheatre top opens broad views and access to the lip of the Tugela Falls. The Drakensberg is eroded plateau basalt — not an active volcano.

Gallery

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

Routes

Gully Route (alternatif tanpa tangga rantai)

Berat (scramble gully terjal, batu lepas)

6–8 jam PP

An alternative up/down a steep gully beside the chain ladders for those avoiding the ladders — more strenuous with loose rock and scrambling. Often used as a descent when the ladders are busy.

Source

Sentinel / Chain Ladder Hike (dari Witsieshoek)

Sedang–berat (dua tangga rantai vertikal, eksposur)

5–7 jam PP

The most popular route onto the Amphitheatre/Mont-aux-Sources plateau. From the Sentinel car park (~2,540 m) a contour path skirts Sentinel Peak, then two sets of vertical chain ladders climb to the plateau; from there to the lip of the Tugela Falls. Prone to thunderstorms and mist — start early.

Source

Climbing Experiences

Mont-aux-Sources and the Amphitheatre are most often climbed via the Sentinel/Chain Ladder hike from Witsieshoek — a contour path then two vertical chain ladders to the plateau and the lip of the Tugela Falls. Below are real, verified sources.

References

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