Tugela Falls Hike: A Complete Guide to Experiencing the World’s 2nd Tallest Waterfall
The Tugela Falls hike is a breathtaking adventure in South Africa’s Drakensberg Mountains, offering stunning views and the chance to witness the world’s second-highest waterfall.
This iconic trail combines natural beauty, a touch of challenge, and an unforgettable journey to the top of the escarpment. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or a nature enthusiast, this hike is one of the top bucket list experiences in South Africa.
Planning ahead is key to enjoying this hike to its fullest. From choosing the best season to hike to understanding the trail’s challenges, this guide covers everything you need to know for a safe and unforgettable adventure to Tugela Falls.
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Tugela Falls Hike: A Quick Intro
Before diving into the details of the hike itself, we're going to share some important details about Tugela Falls in South Africa.
How Tall is Tugela Falls?
Tugela Falls is 983 meters (3,225 feet) tall, making it the second-highest waterfall in the world, and it cascades in five distinct tiers down the Mountains.
What is Special About Tugela Falls?
Tugela Falls is renowned for its record-breaking height and its breathtaking location in the UNESCO-listed uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park. It’s not just a natural wonder but also a dramatic feature of one of South Africa’s most scenic hiking destinations, with panoramic views and unique geological formations.
As the second highest waterfall in the entire world, the Tugela Falls hike is certainly one of the top bucket list adventures in South Africa.
There are some dramatic landscapes surrounding Tugela Falls.
Can You See Tugela Falls Without Hiking?
The only way to get to the top of Tugela Falls is to hike. The most famous trail is the ampitheater trail, which a scenic (but a bit long) of a trek.
You have to hike to reach the top of Tugela Falls.
How Long Does it Take to Hike Tugela Falls?
The hike to Tugela Falls via the Amphitheater Route typically is said to take from 6 to 8 hours round trip. However, it took us less than 5 hours round trip, as we have a pretty quick pace, and we highly doubt it would take many people more than 3 hours each way.
That being said, we spent just 20 minutes at the top, but if the weather was better we probably would have spent closer to an hour enjoying the area, which would have brought us to about 5 1/2- 6 hours total instead.
The trek involves steep sections and the famous chain ladders, making it a moderately challenging but a truly rewarding adventure.
Where is Tugela Falls?
Tugela Falls is located in the Drakensberg Mountains of South Africa, within the Royal Natal National Park in KwaZulu-Natal province. It is part of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its gorgeous natural beauty and biodiversity.
How to Get to Tugela Falls in South Africa
There aren't really public transportation options that make it all the way through the Drakensburg mountains. For this reason, you'll either have to go on a tour, or rent a car to get there yourself.
Driving to the Drakensberg Region
Driving to Drakensburg is so great because there are incredible places to enjoy on the way! The most popular cities to drive from are Johannesburg and Durban, which are both a few hours away.
- From Johannesburg:
Drive approximately 4-5 hours (320 km/200 miles) south on the N3 highway toward Harrismith. From there, take the R74 toward Bergville and Royal Natal National Park. - From Durban:
Drive about 3 hours (250 km/155 miles) northwest on the N3 highway toward Ladysmith, then take the R616 and R74 to Royal Natal National Park.
The drive through Royal Natal National Park is super scenic.
Driving to Tugela Falls is pretty easy, and has beautiful views along the way. The ride to Royal Natal National Park is pretty straight forward, but the road from the park entrance to the trailhead is only suitable for high clearance vehicles.
Make sure to drive super carefully if you decide to go all the way to the trailhead, or you can hop on the shuttle from Witsieshoek Lodge, which is about a 30-45 minute ride, and costs R125 each way.
You will need a high clearance vehicle from the park entrance to the trailhead.
Tours to Tugela Falls
Tours to Tugela Falls are a good way to go if you don't have a car, are by yourself, or are afraid of heights.
Also, being with professional guides who have camping equipment and are experts in the area make this the most unique and comfortable way to experience the Tugela Falls hike.
There are a couple of them to choose from. One is an overnight hike that starts from Witsieshoek Lodge, or you can add a transfer from one of the pick up points in Johannesburg, and the other leaves straight from Johannesburg. Both allow you to camp on the top of the falls, experiencing a magical sunrise in the morning.
The Tugela Falls Hike: What to Expect
Now that you know how to get there, you are ready for the Tugela Falls hike! While everyone's journey to the peak may look a little bit different, we are going to share our experience, so you know how long it may take, and exactly what to expect along the way.
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Starting the Tugela Falls Hike
We woke up at the crack of dawn to start our Tugela Falls hike, hoping to make it there for sunrise (spoiler- we didn't).
The first half hour of hike to was paved, and super easy. Being in the pitch black, we ended up a bit lost though, and spent 15 minutes trying to find our way back. Then next half hour was flat and winding around the mountain.
We then arrived at a particularly confusing section. There were small ladders and chain railings that we had to use to scale the side of the mountain.
Then there was a rock that had painted on it two arrows pointing in opposite directions. Fortunately, we ended up going the right way (bring a flashlight and look out for all signage).
The trail then continues pretty flat around the mountain, and after 45 minutes the true adventure begins! Before you continue though, take a minute to appreciate the stunning views. The sun was just rising at this point for us, and although it should have still been dark, we loved the gorgeous layers amongst the pastel skies.
The Tugela Falls Hike Chain Bridges
Just under 2 hours into the hike, we arrived to the famous chain bridges! Wow, we read that they were scary, but it truly did live up to what others had said.
Nailed into the rocks, there were two sets of wobbly and extremely steep chain ladders to climb next to each other, and then a second set right after. It took us about 15 minutes to get up, and then the hike was on its last leg!