Spekboom Tours

08/10/2026

Last day of the Ch*****ne Valley Slackpack 🥾⛰️
Our final day of the Drakensberg Ch*****ne Slackpack started at Bergview Estate, where we backtracked through the game reserve and were greeted by a rather impressive foul stink!
It turned out to be Roy, the estate manager, towing a large carcass in his bakkie on its way to one of the reserve’s vulture restaurants. He very kindly gave us permission to have a sneaky peek.
We waited patiently for the Cape Vultures to descend from the ridge – they definitely saw us. After about half an hour it became clear that they weren't planning on sharing their feast with the likes of us, so we reluctantly moved on.
But the vulture story here is actually a really positive one. An earlier survey recorded up to 400 vultures, which is fantastic news given the dramatic decline of these magnificent birds elsewhere.
From there we descended into the steep, beautiful Grotto Valley, lined with ferns and the rather magical Taiga elegans— known locally as the re-erection flower. In winter, when the water levels drop, the plant becomes stressed and wilts and turns a dark purple, before seemingly coming back to life and producing beautiful white and purple flowers in spring.
And then there was Blue Grotto.
What a special place. On a Monday it was almost completely empty, giving us the whole place to ourselves — including the deep plunge pools. A pretty spectacular spot for a swim!
Eventually we dragged ourselves away and rejoined the main trail, continuing downhill towards the Nkwankwa and onwards to the Drakensberg Sun.
And then, happily, back home.
*****neValley *****neSlackpack

07/10/2026

Sunset, sundowners and an uppy-downy tractor ride
I always love combining personal experiences of an area with hiking. Sometimes finding the balance between long hiking days and giving everyone enough time to recover in the afternoon can be tricky.
In this case, the tractor ride up Sunset Hill was actually the perfect answer. A few glasses of w**e, complemented by local chocolate and produce from the valley, while taking in the views. Although, in hindsight, we probably should have had a few more snacks to soak up the vino!
Our charming sommelier, Mandoza from KwaMashu, entertained us with quirky stories about the origins of the w**es — including a rather unique selection of Pandemonium, Bertha and “Coves Frey”
And the views from the top of Sunset Hill in the Central Drakensberg are absolutely exquisite. The big mountain chiefs — Ch*****ne Castle and Cathkin Peak — dominate the skyline, but there is also the rare and rather special glimpse of Monk’s Cowl tucking in behind them.
Then, slightly more merry than when we started, we climbed aboard the bumpy tractor for the ride back down. 🚜🍷
As one of the ladies quite rightly pointed out, there is something wonderfully grounding about it. It strips away some of the pretence and sophistication that can creep into luxury travel and brings everyone back to a much simpler, shared experience.

*****neValley *****neCastle

03/10/2026

Day 2 – Drakensberg Ch*****ne hike Monks Cowl to Bergview
Today’s hike took us up the scenic valley and onwards to the beautiful Nandi’s Falls.
The Monk’s Cowl area covers more than 20,000 hectares and, interestingly, was actually a forestry reserve for experimental forestry until 1986, when the Natal Parks Board took it over as a wilderness reserve. Its other name is uKulelela, which means “to push away” in isiZulu. I found myself wondering whether this referred to the displacement of local people by settlers, or perhaps to the geological shifting and pushing that shaped these dramatic landforms.
Anyhow, we pushed away onward and upward following the Sterkspruit River to the magnificent Nandi’s Falls.
Sitting beside the falls with our incredibly knowledgeable and diverse guide, James, who also happens to be a marketing genius and strategist among many other things, we got onto the subject of San hunting techniques. He explained how different poisons were used to weaken and slow their prey until eventually the animal succumbed. The discovery and use of iron changed things considerably. Iron arrowheads were sharper and more durable than their stone predecessors — quite literally, technology taking a leap forward.
From Nandi’s Falls we made our way through the ravines of beautiful Afromontane Hlatikhulu Forest, stopping along the way for a swing on a tangled liana. A wonderful reversion or perhaps acceleration back to childhood play!
The final stretch towards Bergview Estate offered a completely different perspective of the landscape, with the enormous Mkhulumani Rock looming above us.
It’s hard to believe that this stretch of wilderness eventually leads all the way into Bergview Game Reserve, where you can encounter wildebeest, zebra and bontebok.
*****neValley *****neCastle

30/09/2026

Day 1 – Ch*****ne Valley Slackpack: Sunset Hill 🥾⛰️
Whilst lots of hikers who have explored the Monks Cowl area have visited Crystal Falls and the Sphinx, I was looking for a gentler approach than the 400m steep ascent from the Monks Cowl Officers.
With the kind permission of the old, historic Ch*****ne Castle Hotel, we negotiated access through a gentle grove of old eucalyptus trees. It’s a fascinating historical setting – the area was once used by the Forestry Department before becoming part of the reserve.
Our very informative guide, James, really knows the area intimately and was able to show us some secret, “off the beaten track” San rock paintings.
Using a special app to better illuminate the painted eland, a deeply spiritual animal used by San shamans to connect with the ancestral spirit world, James gave us a fascinating interpretation of San spirituality. Although the San believed in their creator, Ngu, it wasn’t necessarily a direct, personal relationship with the creator, but rather an engagement with the spirit world through transformation into therianthropes – beings that are part human and part animal.
It was really lovely to receive a more balanced interpretation of the spiritual beliefs of the San, rather than some of the drab, realistic versions I’ve heard before.
From here, it was onwards towards Crystal Falls, where we found the mudstone beneath the waterfall that was used by both San and Nguni people for sharpening their spears. It’s amazing how much history is tucked away in these seemingly ordinary rocks when you know what you’re looking for.
Then it was up to the Sphinx, an impressive basalt outcrop overlooking the Ch*****ne Valley, with the Cathkin Mountain range stretching out behind it. A great spot for a breather after another good climb
From there, we had a wonderfully breezy walk along the ridge before making our way back down towards Ch*****ne Castle. Cold b**r and merriment!!
An absolutely brilliant first day – a mix of history, San rock art, lots of botanical discoveries, some serious hills, beautiful views and, most importantly, plenty of laughs along the way.
*****neValley *****neCastle

26/09/2026

Introducing the Ch*****ne Trail, Drakensberg Slackpack.
For those of you looking to do a Drakensberg slackpack without the daunting idea of being lost, cold and forgotten in the Champagn Valley, this is definitely the slackpack hike to pencil in this year!
Four nights of catered accommodation, with hiking paths crisscrossing some of the best sections of the Central Drakensberg.
Over the next month, I’ll be taking you through a day-by-day account of the recce we recently completed the good, the beautiful and, no doubt, a few moments of “are we going the right way? I suppose that’s the point of a recce. Understanding but skeptical followers.

The Ch*****ne Trail is a 3 day, 4 night all-inclusive Drakensberg slackpack through the beautiful lower trails of the Ch*****ne Valley.

24/09/2026

It’s only just the beginning of spring, and already the Ch*****ne Valley Drakensberg is putting on a colourful little show!

From Helichrysum, Halleria and Wild Peach to delicate Monopsis, Ledebouria, Buddleja and Rhodohypoxis, there’s plenty happening along the trail.

Spring in the Berg really is something special — and this is only the beginning! 🌿💚

*****neValley

24/09/2026

Knolle Bank Accommodation – Karkloof Valley, KZN Midlands
Accommodation in the Karkloof Valley is becoming quite a sought-after commodity. With what seems like half of Joburg coming down to retire at Amber Valley, combined with the growing number of sporting and cultural events in the area from the Karkloof 100-miler and Karkloof Mountain Bike Classic to Midlands Meander open studios, music festivals and art galleries – there is certainly no shortage of things to do. Just a shortage of places to stay!
For this reason, I was super excited when my good friend and local sheep farmer decided to open up her farmhouse, Knolle Bank Farm, to friends and visitors for a limited number of stays throughout the year.
Whether you come as a couple, a family or a group of friends, the entire farmhouse and its shared spaces are exclusively yours to enjoy.
There is a guaranteed immersion into authentic Midlands farm life at Knolle Bank Farm. The kids can wander the pastures and witness small-scale, ethical farming in practice. It’s wonderfully homely, a real home away from home where you can simply slow down, switch off and enjoy the peace and space of the Karkloof countryside.

I’m hoping some of my Karkloof Midlands Falls to Falls guests will choose to stay an extra night or two to explore more of the area – or perhaps return another time with family and friends.
WhatsApp: 078 072 1035
Email: [email protected]
Instagram:

22/09/2026

Setting up a slackpack in the Drakensberg, Ch*****ne Trail slackpack means a lot of route scouting which, to be honest, is not exactly a hardship! It is also a great excuse to get out into the mountains with friends, sharpen up my map-reading skills and clock up some of the hours I need towards qualifying as a Mountain Guide.
These are a few photos from our recent hike into Wonder Valley, approaching from Monk’s Cowl, via Crystal Falls, the Sphinx and around the Matterhorn. It was a proper opportunity to take a break, reset and remind myself just how incredibly lucky we are to live in this beautiful country.
I really feel the Central Berg is hugely underrated. It is easily accessible from the cities, but once you get your boots on and start exploring, you realise just how much incredible and diverse hiking there is. Dramatic mountains, pockets of cool Montane forest, waterfalls, streams, sandstone caves and those big, BIG Berg views.
And if hiking isn't your thing and you'd rather be a lazy bum braaiing outside your accommodation, most places will still reward you with spectacular views of Ch*****ne Castle and Cathkin Peak!
But for me, the real magic is getting out and hiking right underneath the Berg. Yes, there are some proper hills but my goodness, what a view! 🥾⛰️

27/08/2026

Meeting a 600-Year-Old Giant
One of the highlights while scouting my new Ch*****ne Valley Slackpack was coming across this magnificent Yellowwood tree (Podocarpus latifolius), estimated to be around 600 years old.
For nearly two centuries, South Africa's indigenous Yellowwood forests were heavily logged for their beautiful timber. Countless giants were lost, yet every now and then you stumble across one of these ancient survivors. Standing nearby was an old saw, a poignant reminder of the forests that once disappeared around them.
What spared this remarkable tree? We may never know. Perhaps it was too difficult to reach, perhaps someone chose to leave it standing, or perhaps it was simply fortunate. Whatever the reason, its survival feels like a gift.
Like every family or community, a forest would be poorer without its elders.

20/08/2026

Sunset on the uMlalazi Estuary
One of the unexpected highlights of the Spekboom Tours Zululand Rover Slackpack isn't on the hiking trail at all, it's the leisurely barge cruise around the horseshoe-shaped uMlalazi Estuary.
Gin and tonics in hand, the shrill call of African Fish Eagles echoing across the water, the occasional jellyfish drifting past
Our skipper, .brendan of Nature Way Cruises, is a true Mtunzini local. With a lifetime of stories, plenty of tall fishing tales and an easy-going sense of humour, he quickly became a favourite with our group. His down-to-earth style perfectly suits the experience.
And then there's Herbeta the Hippo his delightfully quirky pontoon boat. It's not a luxury cruiser, and that's exactly its charm. With its weathered grass roof, colourful cushions and relaxed atmosphere, it's the perfect place to put your feet up, enjoy a sundowner before a locally caught fish braai!