DrakensbergHiker
  • Upcoming Hikes
    • Aug - Sep 2026
      • Aug 2026
        • Mnweni Circuit Hike (7-10 Aug 2026)
      • Sep 2026
        • Drakensberg Amphitheatre Overnight Hike (5-6 Sep 2026)
        • Drakensberg Northern Traverse Hike (12-17 Sep 2026)
        • 3 Highest Peaks in South Africa (25-29 Sep 2026)
        • Bannerman Hut Giant’s Castle 2 Day Hike (25-26 Sep 2026)
        • Mnweni 3 Day Hike (25-27 Sep 2026)
    • Oct - Dec 2026
      • Oct 2026
        • Giant’s Castle Circuit Hike (2-4 Oct 2026)
        • Drakensberg Amphitheatre Overnight Hike (3-4 Oct 2026)
        • Mnweni Circuit Hike (16-19 Oct 2026)
        • Drakensberg Amphitheatre Overnight Hike (24-25 Oct 2026)
      • Nov 2026
        • Giant’s Cup Trail Hike (7-10 Nov 2026)
      • Dec 2026
        • Drakensberg Amphitheatre Overnight Hike (5-6 Dec 2026)
        • Mafadi, the Highest Peak in South Africa (12-15 Dec 2026)
        • Drakensberg Northern Traverse Hike (15-20 Dec 2026)
        • 4 Day Kosi Bay Turtles Tour (16-19 Dec 2026)
        • 5 Day New Year’s Overland 4×4 Tour of Lesotho (30 Dec 2026 – 3 Jan 2027)
        • Mnweni 3 Day New Year’s Hike (31 Dec 2026 – 2 Jan 2027)
    • Jan - Mar 2027
      • Jan 2027
        • Bannerman Hut Giant’s Castle 2 Day Hike (2-3 Jan 2027)
        • Drakensberg Amphitheatre Overnight Hike (9-10 Jan 2027)
        • Mnweni 3 Day Hike (15-17 Jan 2027)
        • 4 Day Kosi Bay Turtles Tour (22-25 Jan 2027)
      • Feb 2027
        • Amphitheatre to Mnweni Hike (4-7 Feb 2027)
        • Drakensberg Amphitheatre Overnight Hike (27-28 Feb 2027)
      • Mar 2027
        • Giant’s Castle Circuit Hike (20-22 Mar 2027)
        • Long Weekend 3 Day Overland 4×4 Tour of Lesotho (20-22 Mar 2027)
        • Drakensberg Northern Traverse Hike (21-26 Mar 2027)
        • Mafadi, the Highest Peak in South Africa (26-28 Mar 2027)
        • Blindmans Corner Overnight Hike (27-28 Mar 2027)
    • Apr - Jun 2027
      • Apr 2027
        • 3 Highest Peaks in South Africa (24-28 Apr 2027)
        • Drakensberg Northern Traverse Hike (27 Apr-2 May 2027)
        • Mnweni 3 Day Hike (28 Apr-2 May 2027)
      • May 2027
        • We are working on our 2027 Hike and Tour portfolio, check back soon for hikes in May 2027
      • Jun 2027
        • Wild Coast and Drakensberg Mountains (15-20 Jun 2027)
    • Jul - Sep 2027
      • Jul 2027
        • 5 Day Overland Winter 4×4 Tour of Lesotho (7-11 Jul 2027)
      • Aug 2027
        • We are working hard to add our scheduled hikes & tours for 2027, please check back soon!
      • Sep 2027
        • Long Weekend Overland 4×4 Tour of Lesotho (24-25 Sep 2027)
    • Oct - Dec 2027
      • Oct 2027
        • We are working hard to add our scheduled hikes & tours for 2027, please check back soon!
      • Nov 2027
        • We are working hard to add our scheduled hikes & tours for 2027, please check back soon!
      • Dec 2027
        • Christmas in Lesotho (16-18 Dec 2027)
  • About Us
    • Our Blog
    • Contact DrakensbergHiker
    • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
    • Meet the DrakensbergHiker Team!
    • Our Reviews
  • Our Hikes
    • Overnight Hikes
      • Drakensberg Amphitheatre & Tugela Falls Hike (2 Days)
      • Blindmans Corner Overnight Hike (2 Days)
      • Summit Cathedral Peak (2 Days)
      • Xeni Cave Overnight Hike (2 Days)
      • Bannerman Hut Giant’s Castle Hike (2 Days)
      • Our other Overnight Hikes in the Drakensberg...
    • Easy & Family Friendly Hikes
      • Bannerman Hut Giant’s Castle Hike (2 Days)
      • Xeni Cave Overnight Hike (2 Days)
      • Giant’s Cup Trail Hike (2-Days)
      • Pillar Cave Hike (2 Days)
      • Our other Easy & Family Friendly Hikes in the Drakensberg...
    • Intermediate Hikes
      • Drakensberg Amphitheatre & Tugela Falls Hike
      • Summit Cathedral Peak (2 Days)
      • Mnweni Hike (3 Days)
      • Amphitheatre to Mnweni Hike (4 Days)
      • Giant’s Castle Circuit Hike (3 Days)
      • Our other Intermediate Hikes in the Drakensberg...
    • Intermediate-Challenging Hikes
      • Mnweni Circuit Hike (4 Days)
      • Amphitheatre to Mnweni Hike (4 Days)
      • Sani Pass to Thabana Ntlenyana, Highest Peak in Lesotho (3 Days)
      • Central Drakensberg Contour Path Hike (4 Days)
      • Champagne Castle Hike (4 Days)
      • Our other Intermediate to Challenging Hikes in the Drakensberg...
    • Challenging Hikes
      • Drakensberg Northern Traverse (6 Days)
      • Mafadi, the Highest Peak in South Africa (4 Days)
      • Hike the 3 Highest Peaks in South Africa (5 Days)
      • Our other Challenging Hikes in the Drakensberg...
    • Extreme Hikes
  • Hike Planning
  • Services
  • KZN & Lesotho Tours
    • KwaZulu-Natal Tours
      • 3 Day Drakensberg and Beach Tour
      • 4 Day Kosi Bay Turtles Tour
      • 5 Day KZN Berg, Bush, Beach and Battlefields Tour
      • 6 Day Wild Coast and Drakensberg Tour
    • Lesotho Tours
      • Weekend Overland 4×4 Tour of Lesotho
      • 3 Day Overland 4×4 Tour of Lesotho
      • 4 Day Overland Tour of Lesotho & Golden Gate
      • 5 Day Overland Tour of Lesotho & Maletsunyane Falls
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DrakensbergHiker

Challenging Hikes in the Drakensberg!

Join Drakensberghiker for the best challenging hikes in the Drakensberg…

DrakensbergHiker Home

Our challenging Drakensberg hikes.

This is my list of favorite challenging hikes in the Drakensberg. They are great bucket list hikes and should be on your to do trek.

Challenging Drakensberg hikes.
Challenging Drakensberg hikes get you to some incredible places.

The hikes below are challenging Drakensberg hikes but remember you can always contact us and ask us to arrange any other Drakensberg Hike you would like to do! If it is not one of my scheduled hikes then you will need to get your own group together.

When you contact us, remember to let us know whether you would prefer to do a Bronze, Silver or Gold Package hike, and choose your Souvenir Bundle!

 

What are our next Challenging Hikes?

Champagne castle.

3 Highest Peaks in South Africa (25-29 Sep 2026)

Northern Drakensberg Traverse Campsite

Drakensberg Northern Traverse Hike (12-17 Sep 2026)

Drakensberg Northern Traverse

Drakensberg Northern Traverse Hike (15-20 Dec 2026)

Mafadi highest peak in South Africa

Mafadi, the Highest Peak in South Africa (12-15 Dec 2026)

Amphitheatre to Mnweni

Drakensberg Northern Traverse Hike (27 Apr-2 May 2027)

Why I hiked the Drakensberg grand traverse

Drakensberg Northern Traverse Hike (21-26 Mar 2027)

On top of Mafadi Peak

Mafadi, the Highest Peak in South Africa (26-28 Mar 2027)

3 highest peaks in South Africa

3 Highest Peaks in South Africa (24-28 Apr 2027)

If none of these dates suit you to book a scheduled hike, or we don’t have upcoming hikes here … please use the contact form on the hikes below to book a private hike with us!

Challenging Drakensberg Hikes

Drakensberg Northern Traverse
Drakensberg Northern Traverse (6 Days)

The 6 Day Sentinel to Cathedral Peak Northern Drakensberg Traverse is also known as the Mini Drakensberg Traverse.… Read More

Mafadi the highest peak in South Africa
Hike the 3 Highest Peaks in South Africa (5 Days)

The 3 highest peaks in South Africa include Champagne Castle, Mafadi and Injasuthi Dome. This is a popular hike over 5 days.… Read More

Judges Pass, Mafadi Hike
Mafadi, the Highest Peak in South Africa (4 Days)

This 4 day hike to Mafadi, the highest peak in South Africa starts from Injasuthi camp in the central Drakensberg Mountains.… Read More

Cathedral Peak Circuit Hike
Cathedral Peak Circuit Hike (5 Days)

The Cathedral Peak Circuit Hike is a 5 day hike in one of the best known areas in the Drakensberg and we get to climb Cathedral Peak!… Read More

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DrakensbergHiker
Ian Shooter
+27-72 947 1174
ian@drakensberghiker.co.za

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SAfricaOverland
Ian Shooter
+27-72 947 1174
ian@safricaoverland.co.za

Copyright 2012 - 2026 DrakensbergHiker, Terms & Conditions here.

  • Upcoming Hikes
    • Aug - Sep 2026
      • Aug 2026
        • Mnweni Circuit Hike (7-10 Aug 2026)
      • Sep 2026
        • Drakensberg Amphitheatre Overnight Hike (5-6 Sep 2026)
        • Drakensberg Northern Traverse Hike (12-17 Sep 2026)
        • 3 Highest Peaks in South Africa (25-29 Sep 2026)
        • Bannerman Hut Giant’s Castle 2 Day Hike (25-26 Sep 2026)
        • Mnweni 3 Day Hike (25-27 Sep 2026)
    • Oct - Dec 2026
      • Oct 2026
        • Giant’s Castle Circuit Hike (2-4 Oct 2026)
        • Drakensberg Amphitheatre Overnight Hike (3-4 Oct 2026)
        • Mnweni Circuit Hike (16-19 Oct 2026)
        • Drakensberg Amphitheatre Overnight Hike (24-25 Oct 2026)
      • Nov 2026
        • Giant’s Cup Trail Hike (7-10 Nov 2026)
      • Dec 2026
        • Drakensberg Amphitheatre Overnight Hike (5-6 Dec 2026)
        • Mafadi, the Highest Peak in South Africa (12-15 Dec 2026)
        • Drakensberg Northern Traverse Hike (15-20 Dec 2026)
        • 4 Day Kosi Bay Turtles Tour (16-19 Dec 2026)
        • 5 Day New Year’s Overland 4×4 Tour of Lesotho (30 Dec 2026 – 3 Jan 2027)
        • Mnweni 3 Day New Year’s Hike (31 Dec 2026 – 2 Jan 2027)
    • Jan - Mar 2027
      • Jan 2027
        • Bannerman Hut Giant’s Castle 2 Day Hike (2-3 Jan 2027)
        • Drakensberg Amphitheatre Overnight Hike (9-10 Jan 2027)
        • Mnweni 3 Day Hike (15-17 Jan 2027)
        • 4 Day Kosi Bay Turtles Tour (22-25 Jan 2027)
      • Feb 2027
        • Amphitheatre to Mnweni Hike (4-7 Feb 2027)
        • Drakensberg Amphitheatre Overnight Hike (27-28 Feb 2027)
      • Mar 2027
        • Giant’s Castle Circuit Hike (20-22 Mar 2027)
        • Long Weekend 3 Day Overland 4×4 Tour of Lesotho (20-22 Mar 2027)
        • Drakensberg Northern Traverse Hike (21-26 Mar 2027)
        • Mafadi, the Highest Peak in South Africa (26-28 Mar 2027)
        • Blindmans Corner Overnight Hike (27-28 Mar 2027)
    • Apr - Jun 2027
      • Apr 2027
        • 3 Highest Peaks in South Africa (24-28 Apr 2027)
        • Drakensberg Northern Traverse Hike (27 Apr-2 May 2027)
        • Mnweni 3 Day Hike (28 Apr-2 May 2027)
      • May 2027
        • We are working on our 2027 Hike and Tour portfolio, check back soon for hikes in May 2027
      • Jun 2027
        • Wild Coast and Drakensberg Mountains (15-20 Jun 2027)
    • Jul - Sep 2027
      • Jul 2027
        • 5 Day Overland Winter 4×4 Tour of Lesotho (7-11 Jul 2027)
      • Aug 2027
        • We are working hard to add our scheduled hikes & tours for 2027, please check back soon!
      • Sep 2027
        • Long Weekend Overland 4×4 Tour of Lesotho (24-25 Sep 2027)
    • Oct - Dec 2027
      • Oct 2027
        • We are working hard to add our scheduled hikes & tours for 2027, please check back soon!
      • Nov 2027
        • We are working hard to add our scheduled hikes & tours for 2027, please check back soon!
      • Dec 2027
        • Christmas in Lesotho (16-18 Dec 2027)
  • About Us
    • Our Blog
    • Contact DrakensbergHiker
    • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
    • Meet the DrakensbergHiker Team!
    • Our Reviews
  • Our Hikes
    • Overnight Hikes
      • Drakensberg Amphitheatre & Tugela Falls Hike (2 Days)
      • Blindmans Corner Overnight Hike (2 Days)
      • Summit Cathedral Peak (2 Days)
      • Xeni Cave Overnight Hike (2 Days)
      • Bannerman Hut Giant’s Castle Hike (2 Days)
      • Our other Overnight Hikes in the Drakensberg...
    • Easy & Family Friendly Hikes
      • Bannerman Hut Giant’s Castle Hike (2 Days)
      • Xeni Cave Overnight Hike (2 Days)
      • Giant’s Cup Trail Hike (2-Days)
      • Pillar Cave Hike (2 Days)
      • Our other Easy & Family Friendly Hikes in the Drakensberg...
    • Intermediate Hikes
      • Drakensberg Amphitheatre & Tugela Falls Hike
      • Summit Cathedral Peak (2 Days)
      • Mnweni Hike (3 Days)
      • Amphitheatre to Mnweni Hike (4 Days)
      • Giant’s Castle Circuit Hike (3 Days)
      • Our other Intermediate Hikes in the Drakensberg...
    • Intermediate-Challenging Hikes
      • Mnweni Circuit Hike (4 Days)
      • Amphitheatre to Mnweni Hike (4 Days)
      • Sani Pass to Thabana Ntlenyana, Highest Peak in Lesotho (3 Days)
      • Central Drakensberg Contour Path Hike (4 Days)
      • Champagne Castle Hike (4 Days)
      • Our other Intermediate to Challenging Hikes in the Drakensberg...
    • Challenging Hikes
      • Drakensberg Northern Traverse (6 Days)
      • Mafadi, the Highest Peak in South Africa (4 Days)
      • Hike the 3 Highest Peaks in South Africa (5 Days)
      • Our other Challenging Hikes in the Drakensberg...
    • Extreme Hikes
  • Hike Planning
  • Services
  • KZN & Lesotho Tours
    • KwaZulu-Natal Tours
      • 3 Day Drakensberg and Beach Tour
      • 4 Day Kosi Bay Turtles Tour
      • 5 Day KZN Berg, Bush, Beach and Battlefields Tour
      • 6 Day Wild Coast and Drakensberg Tour
    • Lesotho Tours
      • Weekend Overland 4×4 Tour of Lesotho
      • 3 Day Overland 4×4 Tour of Lesotho
      • 4 Day Overland Tour of Lesotho & Golden Gate
      • 5 Day Overland Tour of Lesotho & Maletsunyane Falls
  • Shop