Wolkberg Wilderness Area

Wolkberg Wilderness Area

Lying just off the R71 outside Haenertsburg where the Drakensberg meets the Strydpoort Mountains, the Wolkberg Wilderness Area is a selected few hikers’ idea of bliss - the tracks through the awe-inspiring 22 000 hectare piece of paradise are pretty indistinct, meaning that a hiker can choose his own strenuous route and the number of days he spends bisecting the wilderness with his pack, staff and boots - although setting out alone through this particular wilderness is strongly discouraged.

The Wolkberg Wilderness Area has as its fulcrum the incredible Wolkberg, part of both the Drakensberg and Strydpoort ranges. You have to know your stuff to venture forth here: the remoteness and the sheer splendour of the krantzes, kloofs and challenging streams; the densely forested ravines and magnificent scenery, together make this not only incredibly beautiful but also incredibly tough. Weather changes within minutes, quartzitic cliffs like the Serala, Steilkoop and Tandberg (sometimes called the knuckles or the apostles) are an exertion for even fit hikers. And if you’re venturing onto the route from the Serala plateau over Kruger se Neus, through Wonderwoud Forest, then you’ll need rock climbing skills to boot!

But the sheer mountain splendour and mystery of the mist-covered mountains is worth any amount of exertion. Some describe the Wolkberg Wilderness and its inspiring ravines, valleys, incredible forests filled with wild fig, lemonwood, real yellowwoods, wild peach and Cape beech trees, clear rivers, waterfalls, and rough mountain peaks as reminiscent of the South American Andes. In one respect they are not wrong - this is a back packer destination of note.