The Mnweni area covers the wilderness between Royal Natal in the north and Cathedral Peak in the south — a long stretch of escarpment with multiple passes into Lesotho, deep valleys accessible only on foot, and a cluster of dramatic peaks including Mponjwane and the Rockeries.
This is serious hiking country. The terrain is rough, trails can be faint, and the weather on the escarpment changes fast. Most hikers doing the Mnweni traverse carry permits from the local community-run camping structure and hire a guide who knows the passes. The experience is different from the more developed parts of the range — wilder, quieter, requiring more self-sufficiency.
The San rock paintings in the Mnweni Valley are among the most atmospheric in the Drakensberg, viewed on flat rock faces in river shelters with the mountains rising steeply on both sides. A guide is almost essential to find the best sites. The base camp at Mnweni is reached on a dirt track from Langthoek, east of Bergville.