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High5 Candlewood to Pongola via Rafiki's Cathedral

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Photo ofHigh5 Candlewood to Pongola via Rafiki's Cathedral Photo ofHigh5 Candlewood to Pongola via Rafiki's Cathedral Photo ofHigh5 Candlewood to Pongola via Rafiki's Cathedral

Author

Escarp Trails
307 34 454
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Trail stats

Distance
3.27 mi
Elevation gain
495 ft
Technical difficulty
Moderate
Elevation loss
1,142 ft
Max elevation
5,770 ft
TrailRank 
50
Min elevation
4,811 ft
Trail type
One Way
Moving time
one hour 54 minutes
Time
3 hours 19 minutes
Coordinates
924
Uploaded
September 10, 2022
Recorded
September 2022
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near Gemsbokhoek, Mpumalanga (South Africa)

Viewed 163 times, downloaded 9 times

Trail photos

Photo ofHigh5 Candlewood to Pongola via Rafiki's Cathedral Photo ofHigh5 Candlewood to Pongola via Rafiki's Cathedral Photo ofHigh5 Candlewood to Pongola via Rafiki's Cathedral

Itinerary description

Fairly easy, perhaps moderate trail (depending on age and hiking fitness) to Pongola Express Railway Coach camp via the almost sacred "Aloe Garden", then grassland flats roaming with different species of antelope and even a resident, harmless aardwolf, then a daring walk along a ledge, down along a drop-off and then through Rafiki's Cathedral (keep an eye out for the frequently seen Knysna turaco and shy Narnia trogon), down to Big tree lane, WOW pool, waterfalls, Albert's tumble and ending all along a beautiful little mountain stream close to Pongola.

To book any of the High5 trails, Mt Komati Hiking Trails, Kruger House Lodge or Kudu cottage contact Pieta on 0829502417 (Vodacom & WhatsApp) or 0717108835 (MTN).

Waypoints

PictographMountain hut Altitude 5,566 ft
Photo ofCandlewood camp

Candlewood camp

PictographFlora Altitude 5,745 ft
Photo ofAloe Garden

Aloe Garden

PictographIntersection Altitude 5,757 ft

Main road crossing

PictographCave Altitude 5,511 ft

Rafiki's Cathedral

Enter crack and exit on the other side

PictographCave Altitude 5,516 ft

Rafiki's Cathedral

Exit point (Check out the caves to your right and come BACK to this spot and go left along the trail).

PictographIntersection Altitude 5,379 ft

Take note:

Trail & animal path split, stay on hiking trail!

PictographTree Altitude 5,151 ft

Gentlemen open the door

PictographRiver Altitude 5,100 ft

Seasonal stream

Safe drinking water

PictographTree Altitude 5,064 ft
Photo ofThe devil's cooking pot

The devil's cooking pot

Natural wonder, hollow tree

PictographIntersection Altitude 5,056 ft

Big tree lane

Go right to WOW pools.

PictographWaterfall Altitude 5,010 ft
Photo ofWOW pool

WOW pool

Picnic spot

PictographIntersection Altitude 5,040 ft

WOW pool loop end

PictographBridge Altitude 5,120 ft

Small wooden bridge

PictographWaterfall Altitude 5,236 ft
Photo ofFew little waterfalls on this stretch

Few little waterfalls on this stretch

PictographWaterfall Altitude 5,261 ft
Photo ofCascade falls

Cascade falls

PictographInformation point Altitude 5,278 ft
Photo ofnull

null

PictographWaterfall Altitude 5,283 ft
Photo ofAlbert's tumble

Albert's tumble

PictographIntersection Altitude 5,156 ft
Photo ofTar road crossing

Tar road crossing

Be very careful

PictographIntersection Altitude 5,101 ft

Tar road

Rejoin trail here

PictographBridge Altitude 5,097 ft

Wooden bridge

PictographIntersection Altitude 4,942 ft

Pom pon | Kokoboompad

Pongola keep right.

PictographIntersection Altitude 4,821 ft

Pom pon | Kokoboompad

Pongola keep right

PictographWaterfall Altitude 4,832 ft
Photo ofStream crossing

Stream crossing

PictographIntersection Altitude 4,910 ft

Pom pon | Bergbas

Pongola keep right

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