Drakensberg Photography Adventure - Part 1 - The Amphitheatre

The first in a series of videos of my hikes along the Drakensberg Escarpment of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
I arranged this trip for five photography friends, all of whom are independent photographers and hikers so I was able to find time to talk to camera. This trip was 8 days and 7 nights long with some really crazy conditions along the way so I have a lot of material to share!
On our first day we hike the 400m ascent to the top of the Drakensberg Amphitheatre.
If you are interested in joining a photography workshop backpacking in the Drakensberg next year then follow this link:
www.alexnail.com/workshop/epi...

[@NicolasAlexanderOtto]

Damn, I want to be able to travel back in time just to do this again. Seemed like such a simpler time, just a bunch of cool folks and epic scenery.

[@dunhillmendoza888]

this is amazing. i did this hike for the first time at the end of last month and now im watching this, almost reliving my hike almost a year after you posted this video. incredible shots! the nostalgia is unreal. cant wait to go back again.

[@alexnail]

Cool, really glad you enjoyed it!

[@NoworriesBro]

Thanks a lot for your videos!! Was very helpful for us to plan our hike in Drakensberg

[@alexnail]

No worries :)

[@vicsafric]

Thank you very much for sharing this video Alex.

[@rambling_rambler]

Thanks for vlogging this. It's somewhere I've heard of but knew nothing about, except hiking stories. It looks fantastic. Really like the final shot the tents highlight the scale. Looking forward to the rest of the series

[@AdventureDeNorthVlogs]

Awesome I love this climb huge love and respect for Mat adventurers thumbs up my friend

[@PhilippLutz]

Great stuff, keep them coming!

[@AlynWallace]

Awesome mate been looking forward to some Drakensberg vlogs for a while now!

[@alexnail]

Alyn Wallace cheers Alyn! Still early days but I can learn as I go!

[@mibreit-photo]

Oh, nice! Didn't expect a vlog so fast :-)

[@jameseasson4489]

This is simply amazing

[@MegaDwilkinson]

very fond memories Alex - thank you, and looking forward to the next ones

[@alexnail]

david wilkinson my pleasure David and yes, lots more to come

[@JamesRBurnsVLOG]

Looking forward to this series Alex of a place I know little about. I like the detail you put in with explaining your compositions and then review after. Nice touch. 👍

[@alexnail]

Thanks James, appreciate it.

[@GarethHart]

Stunning video. Makes me homesick!

[@alexnail]

Thanks Gareth - not a bad place to call home!

[@andychattaway5620]

Wow what an awesome adventure you must have had here Alex. And some spectacular images to show for your trip 👌

[@alexnail]

Andy Chattaway thanks Andy, plenty more to come!

[@markmcmullan3351]

Been waiting a long time for a vlog from here Alex , it didn't dissapiont . The image looking down into the valley with the green vegetation is seriously good . What a place . Thanks Alex .

[@alexnail]

Mark Mc Mullan glad you enjoyed it Mark - there’s bits about this that I really like but the final part is a bit disjointed. Expect I’ll find the others a bit like that but we’ll see!

[@markmcmullan3351]

They are deinately progressing every time Alex in quality of content for me , keep the music too it really works too .

[@NicolasAlexanderOtto]

Great Vlog mate! Looks like we should've joined you guys up the slope for the morning shoot! Can't wait for the next one. ;)

[@alexnail]

Stick to me like glue and you don't go far wrong Alex ;)
But seriously there is a large element of luck of the draw - damned if you do, damned if you don't!

[@pompoOr]

Good stuff Alex! And I’m on my way to Mnweni tomorrow so this came just in time for some inspiration 👍

[@alexnail]

Ruan Bekker cool stuff, have fun out there!

[@TomHadleyEarthStories]

Great video Alex, I have photographed parts of the Drakensberg, but not this area. Makes me badly want to go back!!

[@alexnail]

Thanks Tom, where have you been?

[@TomHadleyEarthStories]

@@alexnail I did a safari a few years back at Moditlo near Hoedspruit which the Drakensberg backs onto, so I shot some views of them from low level, but I never got the chance to do any hiking so I'm loving the insight your videos are sharing about the views from up high!

[@francoislegrange395]

10 minutes in you talk about the strange shape of the basalt I think you are looking at the fibers of a massive tree

[@thomphotography3662]

Thank you Alex! You did not disappoint
Why is this the best time of year to visit?

[@alexnail]

Thom Photography the best times are November (start of summer a little colder, short nights) and mid-Feb to start of April (the end of summer, getting colder again). Autumn and spring can also be beautiful, just colder and with more stable weather (harder to find water, less clouds). Winter is generally dry, cold and windy. The height of summer it’s a bit too hot and the thunderstorms are more dangerous. People do hike through the summer, but generally not long trips on top.

[@thomphotography3662]

@@alexnail Sweet. Thanks for the response!