Jack & Jill visits the Royal Natal National Park

THE Jack & Jill Hiking Club visited the Royal Natal National Park, where they camped at Mahai Campsite on the weekend of August 15-17.

The Royal Natal National Park forms part of the uKhahlamba Drakensburg Park World Heritage site, managed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and was proclaimed in 1916. The Mahai Campsite is a lovely campsite with kitchen facilities and very clean ablutions. There are numerous trails leading off from the Mahai Campsite and all hiking routes are well marked.

On arrival the hikers pitched their tents in between showers of rain. Once the hikers were settled in and enjoying their pizzas and pastas, bought at the nearby Tower of Pizza Restaurant, a very tame Bush Buck made its rounds to greet all the campers.

The hikers woke to a rather damp, misty morning on the Saturday. Once we started our hike to the Grotto (10km) we soon warmed up and could take our jackets off. The walk with the mist covering the area was lovely and to witness the mist slowly rising and giving way to the most spectacular mountain ranges was absolutely stunning.

A few buck species where spotted along our trail. Our hike to the Grotto took us through the most amazing natural forests. The Grotto has a cave entrance but on further investigation it leads down to a stunning waterfall and rock pools.

After the Grotto we decided to hike to the Camels Hump, but due to time constraints we had to abandon our hike and return to the camp site via Sunday Falls.

Back at camp the hikers rested a while before starting a braai fire and then had a lovely visit while keeping warm around the fire.

On the Sunday morning the hikers did a 5km hike to the Cascades. The path way was concreted and wound its way through lovely scenery next to the trickling river to the Cascades. We passed a number of lovely trees, some of which were spectacular Yellow Wood trees.

It was a lovely weekend. Even though the weather was a bit dicey on the Friday night it greatly improved for the rest of the weekend and the weekend was enjoyed by all.

There will be a day hike in September