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Rhino Peak is a mountain in Garden Castle, the southern Drakensberg. The hike up is a great and relatively easy way to reach the top of the escarpment, Lesotho, and fabulous views.
Location
This hike starts from Garden Castle campsite, in the Southern Drakensberg. If you’re not staying here overnight, there is parking for day visitors. It’s about 3½ hours drive from Durban, and 1 hour from Underberg, the last town on the way.
Trail Route
First sign the mountain register by reception. Then head to the campsite, and out the far side, towards the mountains.
Tips
- Make sure to sign the mountain register outside reception before you leave.
- Make sure to sign it again when you get back!
- We used the Cicerone hiking guide: Walking in the Drakensberg*, to plan this hike. It also suggests other hikes here, and elsewhere in the Drakensberg.
- We staying in Hermit’s Wood campsite. There are only 10 spots here, so booking in advance is necessary in busy periods.
- There is only a shop selling basics within the park
- Gate times: 05:00-19:00 Oct-Mar, 06:00-18:00 Apr-Sep
- A variety of other accommodation is available just outside of the park, and an hour away in Underberg.
- In summer start hiking early to avoid the common summer afternoon thunderstorms, and in winter start early to use the day light.
- Make sure to take warm clothes and a waterproof, weather can change quickly, and the peak is over 3000 m high, so much colder than down below.
- Read more about the Drakensberg in our guide (coming soon).
The trail heads very gently upwards, initially keeping to the left-hand side of the stream. Rhino Peak looms up ahead, soon disappearing behind the nearer cliffs.
About 4km along this trail, having crossed the river a couple of times, you reach Pillar Cave. There is an option to stay here (see Alternatives below).
Alternatives
Pillar Cave, roughly 4 km away from Hermit’s Wood Campsite, would be a wonderful spot to overnight. It’s quite large, cozy and sheltered. The walk to here is mainly flat. Staying here would slightly shorten the Rhino Peak hike. Alternatively, a simpler aim could just be to stay in the cave and return the following morning. This cave must be booked in advance (max 12 people), and is very popular in the summer (Christmas) holidays.
After the cave, you cross the river a few more times before the path steepens. The valley narrows, and you zigzag ever upwards.
This is the main section of climb, and is almost over before you know it. The sun doesn’t reach into this narrow valley until later in the day, making for a nice climb in the cold.
Once you reach the top, you get to a surprisingly flat plateau. You’re now on the edge of Lesotho, over 3000 m high. It can be chilly up here! It’s only a 2 km fairly flat walk along the top to the peak.
The Top
There’s one place just by the top where you have to use your hands to get up a small cliff. There is no exposure, and there are good hand and footholds. Then you’ve made it!
The top itself is a mini plateau, with two tall cairns (rhino horns?).
We had lunch on the top plateau. In the sun it was warm, even though we hiked in June. However in the shade, it was cold. The views were amazing, stretching far into the distance below, and the other way back towards Lesotho.
It’s an out-and-back hike, so the way down in the same. Retrace your steps back across the flat plateau, before heading down the narrow valley. The early afternoon sun and clear air were very refreshing.
With only a few hundred metres to go, we saw a very large orangey-red snake. We were scared, but the snake was scareder, and slithered quickly away. We signed back in at the mountain register, before returning to our car, tired but happy.
Click to find out more about the Drakensberg (coming soon), or Camdeboo National Park (10 hours drive) where we went next.
