The mountains beckoned. They were intimidating in size and formidable in formation, yes. But they also welcomed us in. The Zulu call this highest portion of the Drakensberg range uKhahlamba — the ‘barrier of up-pointed spears’. But as I looked at the sweeping arc of the Amphitheatre, its turreted extremities rising to 3,000m-plus peaks, I didn’t see a blockade. Rather, I saw an invitation: come here, walk with me.
My partner and I had spent almost two weeks in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, and a few days in the Drakensberg was our very grand finale. Many people think that holidaying in Africa involves mostly sitting in a jeep, looking for lions. And we had certainly done some of that. But the continent has far more to offer than wonderful wildlife, and now we were keen to stretch our legs in one of the world’s most spectacular places. We wanted to get our blood pumping, set our muscles moving, feel completely immersed in the mountains. This addon wasn’t only about getting a physical workout, it was about clearing our minds; letting troubles out and nature in. I’ve never not felt better for taking a walk. Especially in a spot like this.