All about the amazing Sani Pass and the Southern Drakensberg area
Drakensberg is a beautiful mountains chain, the highest in South Africa, 3,842m high and 100km long. The Mountain of the Dragon is a heritage site, and it´s definitely a place not to be missed in a trip to SA!
You can visit either the Southern or the Northern regions. This post is about things to do and to see at the Southern area, such as the famous Sani Pass, the dirty zig zag road that connects KwaZulu-Natal to the high lands of Lesotho.
You might also like:
SANI PASS
The Sani Pass is a beautiful and scenic road, that goes snaking all the way up to Lesotho, considered the highest country of the world. It´s a 4×4 track, with amazing views of the rocky cliffs and the scenery around.
The road reaches 2,873m when it gets to Lesotho. It´s recommended to drive it in 4×4 vehicle, especially when it shows or during the rainy season.
Are you going to Southern Drakensberg? Here you can check all the accommodation options, from hostels to hotels and resorts. And if you book it through this link, you help to maintain this blog online, and you don´t have to pay anything for that.
You can visit the Sani Pass driving yourself (Underberg is the nearest city), or in an organized tour. Make sure you have your passport with you – you leave South Africa at the middle of the road. The SA border is opened from 6AM to 6PM.
Bloggers tip: you can also cycle through the Sani Pass, but it´s lots of effort, uphill all the time! The sceneries are amazing, though.
WHO DOES THE TOUR
If you´re staying at Sani Lodge Backpackers (which, btw, you should, it´s a great place!), you can book the Sani Pass tour with their agency, Drakensberg Adventures. It´s a full day tour, that costs 650 rands (Oct/16), including lunch, the Lesotho and the Sani Pass tour and a visit to the highest pub in Africa.
I did the tour with Major Adventures, which starts in Underberg (they pick you up at the hostel in the Sani Pass too). We visited the same places as described above, but it was much shorter than the other tour (9:30 AM to 3:30PM). It costs 800 rands (Oct/16 – lunch is not included).
The tour was nice, but in my opinion we didn´t stay time enough in Lesotho (only about 40 min, just by the border at a small village). Also, the company didn´t let me know that many countries need a visa to Lesotho, including Brazil, and that it can´t be done on arrival.
Bloggers tip: here you can check all the countries that need a visa to Lesotho.
I managed to join the tour, paying the extra money the company informed that was necessary, but in the end I found out that this was actually a bribe…
THE HIGHEST PUB IN AFRICA
At the border with Lesotho, where the Sani Pass ends, you can find the highest pub in Africa. It´s opened all day long, and it´s very popular amongst the tourists that visit the Sani Pass.
It´s a nice place, though the prices are a bit expensive. To save some money, you can just have a beer there, and take a sandwich with you at the tour. A beer can costs about 35 rands.
Bloggers tip: Travel safe using the best travel insurance, which covers even adventure sports! Get a quote here
LESOTHO
The Kingdom of Lesotho is a small country, located inside South Africa, considered the highest country in the world. Their main economic activities are sheep breeding and agriculture, and their population is mostly poor.
When you do the Sani Pass Tour, you visit a small village at Lesotho, near the border, where you learn about their culture and way of living.
Some countries need a vista to Lesotho, and it can´t be done on arrival – here can check if you need a visa. In case you do, you gotta do it some days in advance, at the Consulate/High Commission in Johannesburg, Pretoria or Durban (it takes 2-3 days working days to be ready).
HIKES AND ACTIVITIES AT SOUTHERN DRAKENSBERG
Southern Drakensberg is a great area for those who like to hike, there are many options around. Some of them are the hikes to Hodgson’s Peak, the trail to Giant´s Cup, the three days Semokong Abseil, not to mention the waterfalls, horse riding or cycling around.
Here you can find more info about the hikes at Southern Drakensberg.
How about you? Have you already been to Drakensberg and have some cool tips about it? Or do you plan to visit it and have some doubts? Share your ideas leaving a comment here!
If you like this post, please share it! Sharing is caring! =)
Planning your trip:
– Accommodation: you can book your accommodation here – hotels/hostels comparing and free booking cancel
– Travel Insurance: travel safe using the best travel insurance that covers even adventure sports – get a quote here
———————
The blogger did the Sani Pass Tour by invitation of Major Adventures, and stayed at Sani Lodge Backpackers by invitation of the hostel. I’d like to thank again for the opportunity, and also make it clear that all the opinions present here are independent and personal.
