Secluded and Glorious
Route: Starting either at Monk's Cowl station or Drakensberg sun, past Stable and Anton's caves and down into the Nkwazi River Valley.
Distance: 32 km return trip
Duration: 12 to 14 hours (2 to 4 days)
General: This hike can be done from either Cathedral or Monk's Cowl, as the Nkwazi is a tributary of the eMhlawazini that converges at Solar Cliffs, on the Cathedral side of Didima Gorge. The hike described here does not go all the way to Solar Cliffs, but you could make it a one-way 25-km hike from Monk's Cowl to Cathedral (a little like reversing the Contour Path route). Either way, you're in for a secluded, glorious time.
Toughest Section
The first section of this route takes you to Stable Cave, 10 km from the start. But since this is the toughest section, and will take you between four and five hours (six if you're camping out in the Valley of Pools and are carrying a heavy load, or are a slow walker), I would recommend that you spend your first night here (just remember to book the cave if this is your plan).
From Stable Cave return down the grassy spur to the top of Jacob's Ladder and keep on going north, along the narrow plateau. Falling away to your right are the forested valleys of the Mtoti River basin, while to your left the land drops into the eMhlawazini Valley, and beyond that the spiny scales of the Dragon's Back are in view.
After 500 m, a path heads off to the left across Vaalribbokkop (grey rhebuck hill) and down Hospital Spruit. Continue on along the narrowing ridge with cliffs on your right for another 2.5 km past Anton's Cave after 2 km to a four-way junction, climbing about 50 m in the section around Anton's Cave. This cave is right on the path but since it has rock paintings you may not use it other than in an emergency.
No End Point
The path to the left goes down a grassy spur to find its way to Hospital Spruit; the path to the right heads for the old Upper Tugela Location and rural KwaZulu-Natal along a broad grass arm of the Little Berg. We continue along the middle path, heading into the wooded valley that lies just near the grassy lip a few hundred metres to the north-east (effectively straight ahead). From this point it's about 7 km to Solar Cliffs, but that is a long way away. For the first 2 km from the four-way junction the path heads down through healthy protea veld near the Nkwazi River. It then enters the denser bush, crossing seven side streams by the time walked 28 km down the valley below.
There is no specific end point to the hike, and you will have to decide for yourself where to put down your load and make your temporary home in the wilderness. You might meet people from over the hill ahead which is called eSikhaleni Senyoka.