The Amphitheatre is an impressive rock wall that is 5km wide and approximately 1220 metres in height situated in the Northern Drakensberg, South Africa. Although we have passed through it many times, we have never explored the length of the escarpment that overlooks Kwa Zulu Natal, nor had I submitted Mont Aux Sources which is a high point in the region. We set out to remedy this and accomplished the first goal; walking along the cliff edges, but unfortunately we did not get around to Mont Aux Sources due to weather conditions and lack of time. We did however enjoy superlative views from Beacon Buttress , tenting our first night near the Tugela Falls. We were there over a long weekend but were still astounded to find that we were amongst some 65 other tent dwellers. The environmental impact must have been huge.
Sunrise the next morning was an epic one that sometimes occurs in the Drakensberg - a vivid sky greeted us and set the mode for the remainder of the day. We enjoyed a leisurely walk southwards along the escarpment edge and set up our tents that afternoon at Ribbon Falls. The next day we went to Rat Hole Cave with the intention of visiting Mont Aux Sources afterwards, but time and the weather had other ideas. Distances in the Berg are always a lot further than they appear on the map, and coupled with this, a thick mist began rolling in. We decided against it and headed down Beacon Buttress to Sentinel carpark. Mont Aux Sources remains unfinished business!
