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Antbear Guest House is rated as the TOP Drakensberg accommodation. Superb food, comfortable and artisticly styled this boutique hotel is perfectly positioned to experience all that the Drakensberg has to offer. Check out the luxury cave too.

 

Northern Drakensberg
- Royal Natal
- Cathedral Peak
- Bergville
- Ladysmith
- Oliviershoek
- Van Reenen

Central Drakensberg
- Monks Cowl
- Champagne Valley
- Injasuti
- Giants Castle
- Highmoor
- Kamberg
- Winterton
- Estcourt
- Mooi River
- Weenen

Southern Drakensberg
- Lotheni
- Vergelegen
- Sani Pass
- Cobham
- Bushmans Nek
- Drakensberg Gardens
- Underberg
- Himeville

Natal Midlands
- Rosetta
- Nottingham Road
- Balgowan
- Howick
- Lidgetton
- Currys Post
- Karkloof
- Lions River
- Fort Nottingham
- Hilton
- Dargle

Drakensberg Attractions
- Bushman Rock Art
- Hiking Trails
- Hot air ballooning
- Horse trails
- Helicopter & Microlight flights
- Restaurants
- Arts & Crafts
- Drakensberg Boys Choir
- Canopy Tours
- Midlands Meander
- Fly Fishing
- Game Viewing
- Golf
- White Water rafting
- Birding
- Quad Biking
- 4x4 Offroad trails
- Battlefield Tours
- Wine Tasting
- Museums
- Bicycle tours
- Abseiling
- Wellness & Spas

Weddings

Conferences

Drakensberg Links

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Cobham - Southern drakensberg

Cobham is situated in the Southern part of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, and is approximately 150 km from Pietermaritzburg.

Cobham National Partk was established in 1959 by the Department of Forestry, and has been administered by KZN Wildlife (formely the Natal Parks Board) since 1988. Vergelegen is managed as part of Cobham and also provides opportunities for overnight camping and good river trout fishing. Cobham is dominated by Hodgson's Peaks which enclose the Giants Cup, Cobham is a 52,000 hectare section of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park in the southern Drakensberg adjacent to Himeville Village. The grasslands are interspersed with rocky outcrops / boulders, streams and rivers and indigenous forests.

Sani Pass, the gateway to Lesotho, falls within Cobham boundaries and is easily reached from the campsite by returning to Himeville and turning left onto the R315 for 3kms before taking the Sani Pass road. Please note that a 4 x 4 vehicle is required to proceed beyond the SA border post.

The Giants Cup Hiking trail starts from the Sani Pass road and follows the line of the escarpment through the little Berg into Garden Castle ending in Bushmans's Nek. The full route takes five days but it is possible to do shorter sections if visitors have limited time.

In the secluded valleys hikers are likely to see Cape Clawless otter and herds of eland well as a large variety of other animals and birds. Cobham has some of the best rock art sites south of the Didima valley and it is possible to hire a guide to visit a selection of them. The many Cobham Hiking Trails range from gentle ambles to extremely strenous day and overnight hikes. The area also has many large, scenic caves that are suitable for overnighting. Water is found near to most of the caves. Booking of the caves is essential.

Accommodation at Cobham

  • Pholela Hut: Pholela Hut is available for showers and rustic accommodation. The Giant’s Cup Trail hikers have first preferance.
  • Caves: Cobham has a number of caves for overnight hiking, which accommodates a maximum of 12 people. These caves are reached by three- to five-hour walks from the office. Fires may not be made in the wilderness area or in caves. For visitors own safety, the Mountain Rescue Register must be filled in. Visitors must ensure that their return is noted to avoid an unnecessary search being launched.
  • Camping: The campsite at Cobham is an open area where visitors can put up tents or caravans anywhere within the designated limits. The campsite is very rustic and there are only 4 toilets available. The ablution facilities are in the process of being upgraded with rustic showers. Visitors have to heat their own water.

Hiking Trails at Cobham

  • Gxalingenwa River Trail
    The trail begins beyond the culvert on the Sani Pass road, opposite the hotel golf course. It follows the Gxalingenwa River and passes patches of magnificent indigenous forest. There are numerous pools to swim in and at one point there is a beautiful waterfall with a deep pool at its base. The trail is an easy route and three hours should be allowed to enjoy nature at its best.
  • Giants Cup
    The Giant's Cup Trail runs along the foothills of the Drakensberg, from Sani Pass to Bushman's Nek. Some sections are steep, but reasonably fit people, including children, will have no difficulty in completing each section. The trail lies almost entirely within the Cobham and Garden Castle Reserves. Small patches of indigenous forest are seen on the first day, but most of the trail passes through mountain grassland with wide views to the crests of the mountains. Five days are required for this trail.
  • Ouhout Trail
    This trail leaves from below the campsite, where one crosses the swing bridge. It follows the Pholela River upstream for about a kilometre, passing a number of pools suitable for swimming, before it crosses the river again. It then heads back towards the campsite, passing through sections of indigenous Ntshishi (Ouhout) bush (Leucosidea sericea) and grassland, and is excellent in the early mornings for bird watching. Allow 20 minutes to an hour to complete the loop.
  • Troutbeck Loop
    Troutbeck loop is approximately 7 km in length and in parts is fairly steep. From the campsite cross the swing bridge and follow the trail away from the fence line into the Troutbeck valley. The trail crosses open grassland. There is a small waterfall along the route with a deep pool at its base, which is ideal for swimming. Three to four hours should be set aside for this route.
  • Emerald Stream Trail
    After leaving Cobham along the Pholela River, this trail branches off and heads upstream along Emerald Stream. The trail follows the valley between Ndlovini Mountain and Emerald Dome. If one continues for approximately 8 km a large flat plateau is reached with magnificent views in all directions. Another 2 km of walking along the plateau will bring you to Pinnale Rock. This trail is normally good for game viewing.
    The energetic hiker can leave the trail and walk around the base of Ndlovini and join up with the National Hiking Way Trail above Ngenwa Pool. It is then a further 8 km back to Cobham. If the circular route around Ndlovini is not completed one must return along Emerald Stream to Cobham. There are some fairly steep gradients that need to be negotiated on this route. A full day should be set aside to enjoy the entire route as it averages about an 18 km round trip.
  • Pholela River Trail
    The trail leaves from the camp and follows the Pholela River for approximately 15 km. The trail offers spectacular views of the Giant's Cup and passes through grassland and patches of indigenous forest.
    Towards the upper reaches of the Pholela there are interesting geological formations which tower over the river. The gradient is fairly flat and this is a very easy walk. It must be remembered that one will have to return along the same outward route. There are a number of large pools which are ideal for swimming.