Maluti Community Trail

About Maluti Community Trail

Start: Matatiele on the edge of the Eastern Cape, KZN and southern Lesotho borders
End: Matatiele
Duration: 4 days, 5 nights
Fitness: there are reasonable ascents and descents every day and you will need to cover long distances
Our tip: spring and summer are the best times of year for flowers

The Mehloding Adventure Trail walks through rural villages, traverses mountainous foothills of the Little ‘berg, visits ancient rock art, crosses streams and sees the world from the mountain tops.

This fully guided and catered, five-night, four-day trail is community owned, set in the southern parts of the Drakensberg that are not as well-known to hikers.

The route is guided by a professionally trained and qualified community guide, whilst nights are spent in simple and comfortable chalets made with local materials and built according to traditional design with hot showers, fresh linen and a meal prepared with locally grown vegetables.

Day one: 14 km
Head off in a north-easterly direction, cross the Jordan river, take in rock art en route, a quick climb onto a grassland ridge with easy walking before a descent down to the Masupha village, followed by another climb before descending to the Mpharane village.

Day two: 19.5 km
Cross the Seeta river, which can be deep in summer. Climb steadily along footpaths and sled tracks to a ridge with wonderful views. Head through a nek and follow a contour path, through open grassland, followed by a climb to Mboloka just below the Twin Sisters and Makalane peaks.

Day three: 12.5 km
Climb along stock paths up an interesting sandstone contour, heading down to the Kinira river. Wend your way through Goxe and Pepela villages, cross the Makomoring stream and then up to Madlangala, surrounded by mountain peaks.

Day four: 12 km
A pleasant contour walk through patches of indigenous forest, groves of protea and sandstone features. The trail ends near Qachas Nek on the border with Lesotho.