Amphtheatre Backpackers - Backpacker accommodation near to Royal Natal national Park, Northern Drakensberg

Amphitheatre backpackes offers about the most affordable accommodation in the Drakensberg. As with all backpackers you have the choice of self catering or you can buy simple meals at the backpacker lodge.  Amphitheatre Backpackers takes its name from a unique part of the Northern Drakensberg that is shaped like a natural amphitheatre. It is here that the world famous Tugela Falls has its source, rising at Mont Aux Sources (3282 metres up) and then plunging down the 1km basalt wall, into Royal Natal National Park. This is the HIGHEST waterfall in Africa and in fact the 2ND HIGHEST waterfall in the WORLD.

The main reason that this backpacker hostel is so popular is the fact that it is in such an excellent location. Apart from the fact that the Northern berg has all the most dramatic hikes it is positioned in such a way that the road and the mountains meet right on the end of the high escarpment so this means that you can access a lot more variety of things than anywhere else. Amphitheatre is the only hostel in the berg that the Bazbus stops ON THE DOORSTEP of, which means no hidden costs of pick-ups and shuttles. Hired cars also find it easier with the direct access.

Amphitheatre Backpackers is situated near the foot of the Amphitheatre, close to the bottom section of Royal Natal National Park with a picture postcard view of the Amphitheatre from the lawn. The backpacker lodge has a swimming pool, independent self-catering chalets, restaurant and a thatched cocktail bar. A river wends its way through the lands and there is a small dam.

The idea of the hostel is that it is a base from which you can explore different sections of the Drakensberg park each day. The idea being that you would only visit Royal Natal on one of your days.

Remember that even if you visited 2 of the areas on one day you would pay full entrance fee for each area. This would not be advised anyway as there is no point in paying an entrance fee and then not getting a full days benefit from the fee, especially as the best hikes are 6 or so hours in length (fees are maximum of R30 per person per day.)

From this particular hostel you spend a day in one of each of the following areas.

• ROYAL NATAL PARK (The bottom of the Amphitheatre )
• TUGELA FALLS (The top of the Amphitheatre )
• CATHEDRAL PEAK (The biggest indigenous forest in the Drakensberg, largest consolidation of rock art in the world.
• LESOTHO (Read about our day trip under 'activities' below.)
• RUGGED GLEN (This section has the stables from which you horse trek)
•  SPIOENKOP RESERVE (Game viewing - Rhinos, giraffe etc. and the site of the Spioenkop battle.)
• STERKFONTEIN DAM ( 3rd longest dam in South Africa, nature reserve with Zebra, wildebeest etc, biggest variety of indigenous fish in the country, visit the underground hydro-electric scheme for free.)

ACTIVITIES.

Our tours are extremely popular! I have written a small explanation of each tour for you to look at. Besides our main tours we also offer guides to take people through the Mazizi area (the tribal lands you drive through on your way to the bottom park.) Please note that we have all been approved and assessed by THEATA.

Please note that all trips must be booked the night before the tour's departure AT the hostel. No bookings are taken in advance for tours.

HIKING OPTIONS:

• TUGELA FALLS/ MONT AUX SOURCES/ SENTINEL HIKE
  As you can see this trip has many different names. It is the most famous hike in South Africa as it takes one to the highest waterfalls in Africa (the second highest in the world!!) It is not particularly difficult, but really spectacular.
  
  The trip starts at Amphitheatre Backpackers at 7:30 am. We drive around the spectacular Sterkfontein Dam, through Qwa qwa and up the side of the Amphitheatre via Witsieshoek Pass. If one decided to walk from the BOTTOM (Mahai campsite) to the TOP then it would take about 3-4 days to get there and back again. This is why we cheat and travel the extra distance to the base of the Sentinel where we walk to the TOP and back in one day (the perfect hike for impatient people!)
  
  We then set off around the massive Sentinel Peak, up the kloof gully and to the TOP of the Amphitheatre (over 3000m up) and the TOP of the Drakensberg. From here you get your first view of the Devil's Tooth and the 1km drop down the Amphitheatre Wall into the bottom section of Royal Natal.
  
  Off we tramp across the escarpment and along the Tugela River where folk can dip in the rock pools. Here you can stand a chance of catching a glimpse of the elusive and famous Bearded Vulture. To your right is the highest point, Mont Aux Sources, (and the source of 4 of our major rivers.)
  
  Then it's on to the lip of the Amphitheatre to watch the highest waterfall in Africa (2nd highest in the world) as it drops 1km down the Basalt Cliffs. Here we have lunch, explore the plateau and then off back to the car with knee-tingling chain ladders on your descent.
  
  The trip goes whenever we have customers who wish to take the trip.
  
  This is a full day, costing R250, which includes lunch, entrance fees, community levy, a guide and transport.
• SHUTTLE TO ROYAL NATAL BOTTOM PARK.
  We take people to the lower park every morning and fetch them in the afternoon. The shuttle is R20 per person (R10 there and R10 back.) You pay your own entrance fee.

OVERNIGHT HIKING.

If you wish to do overnight hiking we will organize this for you. There are great hiking trails across the escarpment towards Cathedral, Champagne and even as far as Sani Pass! Be prepared.

• LESOTHO
  This day trip is very special as no other tourists ever travel to the area that we visit. We take you over Monantso Pass (a rugged pass on the side of the Amphitheatre) and into Lesotho. This mountain Kingdom is still as it was hundreds of years ago. The secret of the area that we visit is that it is not featured in any of the travel books and so it remains completely 'untouristy.'
  
  The day begins from Amphitheatre Backpacker's at 7:30am.
  
  The bus travels around Sterkfontein Dam and through Qwaqwa, a town that has an interesting mix of both Sotho and Zulu people. It was also one of South Africa's first 'homelands' during apartheid.
  
  It takes about 60 minutes to arrive at the South African border post. Visitors must ensure that they have a 'multiple re-entry' visa into South Africa in order to be allowed back across this border on their way back.
  
  The day is spent hiking to San cave paintings, visiting sangomas (witchdoctors,) tasting Sotho food and beer, playing sport if there's a match on, visiting a local school and basically taking part in anything that is happening in the area at the time . A percentage of the money received from visitors is used to buy books etc. for a local school. This is an extremely popular trip and highly recommended.
  
  This trip is also R250 and includes guide fees, food, transport, donation to the school, Sotho food and beer.

CYCLING.

There are also a number of mountain bike routes that take you past various points of historical and geographical interest.

These include cycling with zebra, wildebeest and other game, visiting the vulture feeding site (where you have the opportunity of spotting the elusive Bearded Vulture) and going off road to the cave where the first settlers signed their initials in the 1800's

The mountain bikes are kept in good condition in order to ensure you are able to take in the beautiful surrounds! We also provide maps that we have personally designed for the trails, which highlight the different sites. You can choose whether to travel on or off the tar roads.

Half a day is R25 and a full day is R40

HORSERIDING.

Spend a day enjoying top quality horse riding with a conservation ranger. The rides are extremely popular. This is at the BOTTOM of the Amphitheatre. Get there by taking our daily shuttle there and back or driving in your own car.

9:00am = 3 hours or 6 hours

10:00 am = 2 hours

2:00pm = 2 hours

2 hours = R90, 3 hours = R220, 6 hours = R265

For the 2 hour ride you do not need to be an expert, but the 6 hour rides are not recommended for beginners.

FISHING.

For those who want to you can hire a guide who provides equipment, there are numerous dams in the area that are stocked as well as wild trout in the rivers, but one of the most famous aspects of this area is that Sterkfontein Dam (which we are next to) besides being the longest and deepest of South Africa's dams is also the dam with the largest variety of indigenous fish which includes Yellowfish that are far better fighters than trout or bass!

For those who prefer spin fishing you can catch Bluegill, Yellowtail, Bass, Catfish and numerous other fresh water varieties.