South Africa Highlands

Day 3: Mzimkulwana Hut to Winterhoek Huts
From Mzimkulwana the trail rises gently towards the Little Bamboo Mountains, named after the berg bamboo (Thamnocalamus tessalatus). It is the only bamboo indigenous to KwaZulu/Natal and grows in the montane belt where it occurs occasionally in moist areas with yellowwood forests.

After about 4 km (2.5 miles) the trail reaches its highest point at Crane Tarn, a natural pool on top of a plateau. The name is derived from the blue crane, which migrates to the Little Berg to breed during the summer. Non-breeding birds congregate in large flocks, but breeding birds usually occur in pairs.

A short way beyond Crane Tarn the trail passes an interesting site where the remains of petrified trees can be seen in the exposed Beaufort Group. Do not expect to see a petrified forest in the true sense of the word, though, as the remains are scattered about. Unless you have a closer look they look like ordinary rocks. Tempting as it might be, do not remove the smallest piece of petrified wood, but leave it untouched so that other hikers can also see it!

The trail continues along the lower western slopes of the Bamboo Mountains where the San recorded the entry of the white man into their domain. These sites are, however, not on the trail route.

You then follow Killiecrankie Stream and about halfway between the 5 km and 6 km (3 to 3.75 miles) mark there is another beautiful swimming pool beneath a massive boulder. From here the trail descends gradually and as on the previous day the huts can be seen several kilometres away. About 1 km (0.62 mile) beyond the pool you cross into private land and then follow the road to the Drakensberg Gardens Hotel for about 1 km before branching off to the left.

From here the route leads over a small koppie, with the Winterhoek Huts being reached about 1.5 km (1 mile) farther on. The overnight stop is completely different from the others on the trail and consists of five rondavel type huts, a cooking hut and an ablution hut, all under thatch. The oak trees in the vicinity were probably planted towards the end of the 1800s or the early 1900s around the homestead of an early settler. A weir has been built in the stream that flows past the huts and it is possible to have a refreshing dip in the pool, which is overlooked by the impressive Garden Castle.

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