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Ice Climbing in Drakensberg Mountain, Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal South Africa

Best Season:
June-August
Grade:
1-6
Rising from the Eastern Cape and running along the Kwazulu-Natal's western border, the Drakensberg mountain range is the highest in South Africa standing at 3482 m/11424 ft in height. The mountains are capped by a layer of basalt 1400 m/4593 ft thick and offers amazing flora and fauna.

Experience the Alpine feel right at the southern tip of Africa!! The Southern Drakensberg mountain range offer an amazing ice climbing adventure to the surprise of many. There are two main documented routes, mainly the Water-Ice routes and the Neve-Ice routes.

The Water-Ice routes are formed as a result of summer streams and seepage icing up on south facing slopes and very consistent, while the Neve-Ice or hardened snow routes are usually found on long deep gullies on the south and east slopes of the mountain range.

Climbing seasons here are during the winter months, starting from June through to August. Grading system here is the shortened version used in the Canadian Rockies and is graded between 1-6. No experience is needed, however some of the routes require some climbing skills.