Lotheni is a quiet gem.

I recently camped overnight at the Lotheni campsite in the Drakensberg. It's a bit of a thing to get there with a substantial amount of dirt road in from either direction. The benefit of its more remote and less accessible location, however, is the solitude that it brings. Arriving in the afternoon I took the 2.5km, 5km there and back, hike to Jacob's ladder falls. With the water being up the waterfall was cascading spectical and the number of stream crossings required to get there made sure my shoes were well soaked. A swim in the waterfall's pool refreshed by road weary body leaving me more invigorated and awake for the rest of the evening.

The Campsite is located a few kilometers further on from the office/chalet complex ensuring one is sufficiently embedded in the mountain landscape. The ablutions although old were clean and well maintained. A hot shower was a welcome treat after a humid hike, setting up camp and being somewhat smokey following the evening's braai. The cooler evening and clear night's starscape where both met with appreciation.

The following morning hike, some 11km, took me up the valley to Mpophomeni falls and beyond. Looking up the valley toward the escarpment and with river in full flow it was truly scenic hike, much enjoyed after not being sure what I'd find on my early morning explorations of the campsite sign simply marked trails. The trails were slightly overgrown, midsummer, and still very walkable. It was a really good morning out getting a sense and feel for the area, although not quite making it to Yellow Wood cave turning back in the forest due to time and a fair number of spider webs.

In all the night camping in Lotheni, hikes included, was worth the trip out there. It delivered more than I'd initially expected and I enjoyed unexpectedly finding myself well up the lush and wet valley on the morning after having not planned what my morning's hike would look like. If you're looking for quiet, or perhaps solitude, and a not too challenging hike up a river valley into the scenic surrounding mountains, Lotheni overnight camp might be your answer. If you give it a go, let me know what you think.