High5: Pongola to Aloe Kaya

Download

Trail photos

Author

Escarp Trails

317 23 398

See more trails from this author

Trail stats

Distance: 4.19 mi
Elevation gain: 1,217 ft
Technical difficulty: Difficult
Elevation loss: 456 ft
Max elevation: 5,745 ft
TrailRank: 53
Min elevation: 4,928 ft
Trail type: One Way

Moving time: 2 hours 32 minutes
Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
Coordinates: 1194
Uploaded: September 11, 2022
Recorded: September 2022

Be the first to clap

near Gemsbokhoek, Mpumalanga (South Africa)

Viewed 422 times, downloaded 5 times

Trail photos

Itinerary description

Rather technical, but beautiful trail. Medium to difficult depending on age and hiking fitness.

Will take the hiker past different ruins from different eras, past a fresh mountain stream, the Giant's dice bolder garden, indigenous mountain side forests, up and down the escarpment with scary, but great views, and wonderful rock formations all the way to Aloe Kaya camp.

Contact Pieta on 0829502417 (Vodacom & WhatsApp) or 0717108835 (MTN) to hike this or any other High5, Mt Komati Hiking Trails, the Kruger House Lodge or Kudu cottage.

Waypoints

Bergbas

Aloe Kaya keep right

Tar road crossing

Ruins

Different era ruins, from ancient to modern.

Stone circle ruins

Ancient, perhaps even alien? (Google "ancient stone circles in Africa).

Small seasonal stream

Seasonal pond and stream

Aloe Kaya | Children's loop

Aloe Kaya keep left of stream, Pongola loop right.

Bolder Garden view point

Bolder Garden Bolder

Bolder Garden Boulder

Big kiepersol (cabbage tree)

Huge 'starburst' kiepersol

Passage steps

Bergbas | Nçala link split

Aloe Kaya keep Left for standard trail OR go Right for shorter option to Aloe Kaya via Nçala link tgen Left in main road (2 strip cement) all the way to Aloe Kaya.

Skoonspruit Valley view

Be EXTREMELY CAREFUL, especially in misty and rainy conditions!! Cliff edge!!

Cliff edge!!!!

Cliff edge!!!

Take extreme care!!!

Cliff edge!!!

Be EXTREMELY CAREFUL!!!!

Bergbas | Old 'bicycle' track

Aloe Kaya keep Left. In case of emergency, go right and navigate with your map. Immediately let the owner know if you are taking this option: 0829502417 (Vodacom & WhatsApp) or 0717108835 (MTN).

Morning shady spot

Gate through fence

Peter's Splash Pool

Seasonal flow

Old Candlewood loop

Non existent now, stay on Aloe Kaya trail.

Crevasse lookout

Passage

Secret spaces

Steeple

Shapes and textures

Don't loose focus, you're almost there!

Bergbas | Hell's Bells

Aloe Kaya keep Right. However, if you are still STRONG for another 5 hours and 5 difficult kilometers with steep uphill for the last 2 odd kilometers then you may turn left. You HAVE TO contact Pieta to let him know if you do the Hell's Bells, to: 0829502417 (Vodacom & WhatsApp) or 0717108835 (MTN).