Mahai – A gem in the Royal Natal National Park

Surrounded by the majestic Drakensberg, the Mahai Campsite in the Royal Natal National Park is a great spot to camp all year round. It is one of our favourite destinations during Autumn where the clash of gold leaves, green grass and crystal clear water paints the landscape. At the foot of the Northern Drakensberg Mountain range, within hiking distance from views of the 1200 meter high Amphitheatre, the camp is excellently positioned as a basecamp for exploring the Northern Drakensberg Mountains.

En route to the Royal Natal National Park, you will pass through a beautiful green landscape where you’ll witness a hint of the local culture; friendly faces, the locals selling clay animals and hand made African curios. Shepherds, dressed in warm coats and gumboots tend to various animals grazing around them. Combined with the unmistakable heights of the Drakensberg around you this hints at what to expect if you ever cross over the mountains into Lesotho.

The Mahai campsite is set at the foot of the mountains, about 4 kilometres from the entrance of the Royal Natal National Park. There are kitchens and ablution facilities on site and the shop at the Visitors Center is well stocked. During the day you can enjoy the views of the surrounding mountains and in the evening genets and deer roam the camp, with their eyes flickering in your headlamp. Depending on your travel companions you can choose an electrified stand at an additional cost. We suggest a stand close to the river if you enjoy the tranquil sound of water flowing through the small rapids.

No article about Mahai can be complete without mentioning the pine trees. During our stay at Mahai, we noticed that we were surrounded by pine trees, some of them measuring at a staggering 30m height and some chomped off. According to notice boards posted around the camp and the park visitor centre, these pine trees have a life expectancy of about 50 years. These trees were planted in 1955 and have reached their end of life, thereby rotting from inside and becoming fragile and with a higher chance of falling over. As a result, the camp management is in the process of cutting down the old pine trees and replacing them with indigenous saplings. This has upset some regular campers who have grown accustomed to the large pine trees surrounding the camp.

The Royal Natal National Park is a treasure trove of hiking routes. Several routes varying in distance and duration start from the parking area near the visitor centre. There are various degrees of difficulty as well, with easier routes such as the cascades trail even being wheelchair accessible. The Grotto trail ends at a waterfall at the base of a small cave and is well worth it for the more adventurous.

Some tips when planning your trip to the Royal Natal National Park:

• Watch out for baboons and monkeys at the camp, they open crates and cooler boxes to steal food. Rather lock your food in the car.
• Always sign the hiking register. This helps keep track of hikers and provides useful information to the trail maintenance team.
• Carry a water bottle with you. Even though there are streams in the mountains, these are sometimes inaccessible.
• When camping in the rainy season, take care not to pitch your tent in the various ‘dips’ around the campsite.