Last Updated on July 19, 2023 by Lauren Melnick
The Drakensberg Mountains feature one of the most impressive cliff faces on earth.
Its amphitheatre forms a natural border between Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Kingdom of Lesotho which features the area’s most incredible natural feature.
Standing at 948 meters, Tugela Falls in South Africa plunges 1 km down in five leaps and is the highest waterfall in Africa.
There’s even a debate that it’s the tallest waterfall in the world instead of Venezuela’s Angel Falls.
To see the falls, you’ll need to conquer one of the best day hikes in South Africa.
I have been trying to do this Drakensberg hiking trail since January and finally succeed this April. Both my failed attempts were caused by bad weather, but luckily for me, this time, the odds were finally in my favour.
If you want to stand on top of the world’s unofficial tallest waterfall, here’s everything you need to know about hiking Tugela Falls!
Psst… Want more South Africa travel inspiration? Check out my other posts below:
- The Best Drakensberg Hikes That’ll Take Your Breath Away
- 10 + Best Hiking Trails in Johannesburg (A Local’s Guide)
- 45+ Hiking Essentials: The Ultimate Hiking Packing List For Beginners
- 12+ Best Hiking Trails in Cape Town With Jaw-Dropping Views
- Hiking The Otter Trail in South Africa
- 24+ Incredibly EPIC Things to Do in KZN, South Africa
Table of Contents
Important Information for Hiking Tugela Falls
- Distance: 13 km
- Duration: 4 hours+ return trip
- Tugela Falls Height: Tugela is the unofficial tallest waterfall in the world at 948 metres
- Tugela Falls Hike Difficulty: Moderate to difficult, depending on your fitness level.
- Costs: R75.00 pp fee payable at Sentinel Car Park and R45.00 pp at the entrance to the Royal Natal National Park.
How to Get to Tugela Falls, Drakensberg
From Johannesburg: It’s an easy 4-hour drive to Sentinel Car Park along the N3.
For Durban: It is a 4-hour 30-minute drive along the N3 and R74.
If you have time, make sure you stop along the R74 just before Bergville for some pictures of the beautiful sunflower fields flanked by the Drakensberg mountains in the distance.
Read More: 15+ Best Hikes in South Africa With Mind-Blowing Views
Where to Stay in the Drakensberg
Accommodation in the Drakensberg is a treat within itself. Whether you are on a tight budget or looking to splurge, you won’t be hard-pressed to find beautiful properties with incredible views of the Drakensberg Amphitheatre.
Budget Cheap as Chips
Camp inside Royal Natal National Park at Mahai campsite and hike to your heart’s content. Not only is it one of the best campsites in South Africa, but it is also super affordable at R 120 per person per night.
The only downside is that you will have to drive 2 hours to the beginning of the Tugela Falls hike at Sentinel Peak Car Park.
Ballin’ on a Budget
For those looking for something closer, Witsiehoek Mountain Lodge is a 30-minute drive or 2.5-hour walk from the car park. Hiker cabins start at R 495 pp while chalets will set you back R 935 pp.
The lodge is also close to various other trails in the area as well as popular rock climbing and mountain biking routes.
I stayed here on my second trip to Tugela Falls. There is am on-site restaurant, slow but free WiFi, and the hiker cabins have super comfortable beds!
Budget Mid-Range
I decided to stay at Amphitheatre Backpackers during my first hike up Tugela Falls. It’s one of my favourite accommodation options in the area, and it was halfway between the falls and the Drakensberg canopy tour I was doing the following day.
Double rooms start at R 200 pp per night, and eight-bed dorms are R 180 per night. There are also some beautiful hikes from the property, as well as a jacuzzi, pool, sauna, bar, and a bouldering cave.
The Best Time of Year to Hike Tugela Falls
Although it can be summited all year round, March to April (dry season) is the best time to hike Tugela Falls. The autumn weather conditions mean you’ll have blue skies, warm weather, and a small chance of rainfall.
Hiking during the hot summer months (November to February) comes with humidity and high chances of thunderstorms that could spoil your trip. The winter months (June to August) still have clear days, but temperatures plummet at night, and the possibility of snow means a more slippery ascent and descent.
Over the years, I hiked to the Tugela waterfall in February, March, April, and October. I didn’t experience any storms except in the evening in October, but there was a thick mist that rolled in once we reached the top of the waterfall in February.
Luckily, the mist melted away by the morning, and we had clear skies for an incredible sunrise!
Read More: 15+ Wonderous Waterfalls in South Africa That Will Make Your Jaw Drop
Hiking The Tugela Falls Trail
Before arriving at the Sentinel Peak Parking Lot, I had read a blog post about the trail that made me worry. Words like “strenuous,” “hard,” and “I felt like I could not go on” filled the page.
What had I gotten myself into?
I am happy to report that the hike is not THAT bad. I’m moderately fit and found it an easy climb after the initial incline. I did stop to take loads of photos on the way up, and I’ve also done the hike with 20-25kg backpack.
The hike up to the falls is pretty straightforward. After filling in the hiking register and paying the park entrance fee, the path gradually climbs up the mountain in zig zags.
Once you reach the viewpoint overlooking the Amphitheatre, Devil’s Tooth, and the Inner Tower, follow the path right towards the sign that says the “Summit.”
If you take the wrong path and end up at the faux-summit (which offers stunning views of the valley below), climb over the rocks and head towards the Sentinel. You will see the path going around the base of Massif, and it’s easy to get back on track from there.
From here, the terrain is flat with minor scrambling. If you want to avoid the famous chain ladders, take the steep gully to the top of the Beacon Buttress.
However, if you want to test your nerve, continue following the contouring path past the Sentinel Cave until you reach the series of chain ladders. As someone who doesn’t enjoy heights that much, it’s always the ultimate comfort zone test.
After those ladders had come into sight, I did not think I was going to be able to make it to the top. But I mustered up whatever courage I had left, tried to ignore the wind howling around me, and just focused all my energy on taking it one step at a time.
After making it to the top and a brief inner celebration, it was another 30-minute walk to the edge of the Amphitheatre, where the Tugela Falls plunged into the gorge below.
At 3,121 meters above sea level, this is by far the highest place I have been to in my life.
After finding a spot for lunch (forget to practice leave no trace principles), taking photos, and investigating the hut where campers can stay overnight, I retraced my steps back to the parking lot.
However, if you want a circular route, you can also finish your Tugela Falls hike by descending via the Beacon Buttress gully.
Camping on Top of Tugela Falls
In February 2019, I climbed Tugela Falls for the second time with the crew from The Journey Africa. Instead of heading back down on the same day, we packed our backpacks and decided to camp on top of the mountain.
It was an incredible experience to watch the sunrise over the highest waterfall in Africa!
If you have the time and the right gear (it gets super cold on top), I highly recommend spending the night. We had the entire plateau to ourselves, and some wild horses came to graze near our campsite.
Some of the guys also decided to take a dip in the Tugela River. So if you can handle icy cold water – pack a swimsuit!
Since then, I’ve camped at the top 5 times and regularly host group overnight hikes to Tugela Falls.
Here are some overnight camping tips if you want to do the same:
- Pack warm clothing: Base layers, fleece jackets, puffers, beanies, gloves, and warm socks.
- Bring rain gear: Always have a rain jacket and a rain cover for your backpack in case of heavy rain.
- Wear hiking shoes: Try to get a waterproof pair with ankle support.
- Bring a portable stove: I use a Jetboil. The wind is usually strong on top of the escarpment, so making a fire is not allowed.
- Use a four-season tent: The wind shows no mercy here. Make sure your tent can survive the weather conditions.
- Winter sleeping bag: Even if you’re camping in the summer, the temperatures plummet once the sun sets.
- Eat dehydrated food: My go-to is Mama Alles.
P.S. If you want to explore Tugela from a different angle, spend another day in the area and tackle the Tugela Gorge hike. You’ll get to see the mighty falls from the bottom as well.
What’s your favourite hike in South Africa? Do you have any tips for hiking Tugela Falls? Leave a comment below!
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Marcelo says
Amazing post Lauren. Congrats !I ‘ve just added you in instagram !I´m going to South Africa for 20 days between 28 october and 15 november and still looking for places to go !I will check ur posts.. if u have any recomendation of itinerary…. would be amazing. thanks
Menzi says
Thank you very much for the article, that’s wonderful info. I going there in October. Now I have a clue on what to expect
Tamsyn Schimmel says
Thanks, what a great help. Did you do this hike alone?
lauren says
Hey Tamsyn!
I hiked Tugela Falls with my boyfriend 🙂
Tamsyn Schimmel says
Ok, third time I’m going to try post this… Not sure if you’re getting these. haha what would your thoughts be on doing it alone?
lauren says
For some reason, I never got the notification for your comment :/ If you’re an experienced hiker I think it’s okay to hike alone. However, if something goes wrong, there really isn’t signal at the top and people have died on the mountain from exposure. It gets super cold once the sun goes down.
Domi says
How is road to the sentinel car park? Is a 4 wheel vehicle required? Thinking about booking a tour or going on our own. Just have a Toyota Corolla
lauren says
The road isn’t great. A 4WD is the best option, but I have done it in a Kia Picanto. You just have to go really slowly.
Joshua says
Hi! Do you pay extra to camp on top or do you just pitch up (literally)?
lauren says
Hi Joshua! It is extra 🙂 I’m not sure how much it is as we were filming for a brand when we camped at the top. But Witsiehoek Hotel should know!
Celesté says
Just booked this epic adventure and your article hyped me up even more, Lauren! ?
lauren says
Yaaaas! Cannot wait!
Karabo Moeketsi says
Thank you, this has been very helpful
lauren says
Glad to hear 🙂
Robyn says
Hi Lauren, thanks for the very insightful article. I am planning to take a camping trip with my boyfriend in February 2021. We’re planning on camping at Mahai Campsite, I noticed there is a 2 hour drive to Sentinel Car Park, I am guessing this is the bumpy/not so great road? A part from that, I was curious about the wildlife aspect, when you hiked/camped in February were there any snake sightings?
lauren says
Hey Robyn! No the bumpy road is what you’ll drive on to get to the start of the trailhead. The 2-hour drive is tar road. I can’t remember if I saw any snakes.
Supriya says
Hi Lauren, Loved the blog. Thank you. I am planning this hike with my friends. We are planning to stay at Thendele Royal Natal national park. On the maps, it shows that it is 126km drive to the Sentinel car park. Do you perhaps know if this full ride is bumpy or just the road near the Sentinel Car park? I would really love to know approx. how long is this bumpy road exactly and where it starts?
Regards,
Supriya
lauren says
Hi! The Sentinel car park road isn’t in the best condition for normal cars. While I have done it once, it was quite hairy. I use the shuttle service with Witsiehoek now. But if you have a 4×4 it will be fine! I can’t really tell you how long the road is lol but it’s a drive. If you look on Google maps, it’s the whole stretch from Witsiehoek.
Notevenablogger says
Heyz. Do you have a video on the tugela hike on YouTube ..♡
lauren says
Nope sorry! I don’t do travel videos on YT.
Tina says
Hi Lauren, thank you for such a detailed blog. We are driving straight from Joburg to Sentinel Park and starting the hike at about 10 am, is that too late, do you think? And we are using a small car OMG!!
lauren says
I wouldn’t suggest taking your small car on that road. Rather pay for the shuttle service at Wiesiehoek. If your car gets stuck/breaks down on that remote mountain pass, you’re going to pay out of your ass. The road is not in great condition. I went in March this year again and wouldn’t recommend unless you have a 4×4. If you guys hike fast and don’t mind hiking at that time, it should be fine in theory.
Benjamin Lubini says
Hello Lauren,
Thanks for your blog, it was really informative. I am planning to do this hike solo in early May. (I have done the Mafadi summit before so I am confident about this one). I just need your insight on the following if you don’t mind please:
1) I’ll be driving up from Durban en-route back to Pretoria. I would like to camp at Mahai or stay at the backpackers. Are those roads fine to drive with a Sedan?
2) From where do the roads get bad? if i stay at the backpackers or Mahai, can I leave my car there and still get to Witsieshoek and catch a shuttle even though I won’t be a guest? Witsieshoek seems to be nearer to Sentinel car park than Mahai and the backpackers so coming up from Durban, how far into the royal natal do the roads get bad?
3) I would like to experience the over night camp, I have contacted Witsieshoek for detail about overnight camping. You mentioned that there was a hut of some sorts where campers stay etc, is that owned by Witsieshoek?
Apologies for all the questions, I just want to make sure i am well informed before making this trip.
Warm Regards.
lauren says
Hey Benjamin,
You can’t access Tugela Falls from Royal Natal. You have to drive around from Mahai or the backpackers (2-hour detour) to Witsiehoek and take the shuttle from there to the trail head. The road is only bad where the trail starts and that’s why you need to take the shuttle from the lodge.
The shuttle only departs from Witsiehoek, so you’ll need to leave your car there. Unless you sign up for the Tugela Falls guided hike at the backpackers, then you’d use their transportation.
The hut isn’t owned by Witsiehoek, it’s just a hikers hut that the national park built. You don’t need to camp there though. It’s only used by hikers when the weather is bad.
Tatenda says
Hi Lauren
What does one need (i.e essential itenary apart from tents) if they want to do an overnight Tugela falls hike?
lauren says
Hey Tatenda! You just need your overnight hiking essentials. Here’s a blog post of mine you can read: https://www.wanderlustmovement.org/hiking-packing-list/
Jess says
Hi there
We are doing the overnight hike, without a guide in July. Any idea if we have to book to sleep in the cave? And if so, how do we do that?
Thank you
Lorayn says
Good day,
We would like to do the 1 day hike. Is it possible to hire a guide? If so who do we phone? I cant seem to find any contact information.
Hope to hear from you soon
lauren says
You can book guides at Witsiehoek when you arrive.
Marta says
Hi Lauren!
Awesome blog, so much inspo for SA. We are heading there this Saturday and I was wondering how you go about withdrawing money? Is it safe to use at atm on the way in like a SPAR supermarket Harrismith? Thank you so much in advance for your answer 🙂
Rafa says
Hi Lauren!
We are thinking of doing this hike before the twilight to try to reach the summit for sunrise.
Is there any time restrictions for hiking overnight?? 🤔
lauren says
I’d recommend contacting Witsiehoek. You need to get your permits from them before you can start the hike.
ANISTASARI GUSTINI says
AWESOME! Your post really helped me.. wish me luck to have an awesome experience like you~
Shahbaaz Moosa says
Hi I am looking forward to hiking up the Tugela falls and then camping on top of the mountain for the night I would just like to know the following :
1) Is there a fee and how do I pay it ?
2)What should I do to prepare to spend the night?
3)And is it safe for people under the age of 18?
Lauren Melnick says
Hi!
1. All the payment information is under the “important information” section. You can pay at Witsiehoek as well.
2. Read the “camping at tugela falls” section. All the info is there 🙂
3. It can be safe, but it depends on the people and their fitness/hiking experience. I would recommend hiring a guide if no one is experienced at wild camping and navigating the mountains.