Highmoor Office
The Highmoor Wilderness Area can be accessed most directly via the small village of Rosetta, which is situated along the old main road between Nottingham Road and Mooi River on the Midlands Meander route. Highmoor is quite unusual in that, as its name suggests, it consists of a relatively flat plateau area. This is surrounded by large, deep valleys separating it from the Kamberg Wilderness Area to the south, the Giant’s Castle Wilderness Area to the north, and the Natal Midlands with its highly productive dairy and potato farms on the approaches. The only exception is a long ridge which joins the plateau to the Giant’s Castle Wilderness Area in the vicinity of the Giant’s Castle hut.
While the plateau section of Highmoor may make for some relatively easy walking, it is fairly featureless, so if the mist rolls in it is very easy to become disorientated unless you have a compass and / or GPS to guide you, especially if you go off-piste. On a clear day the plateau offers spectacular views of a huge expanse of the Drakensberg escarpment in the distance, dominated by Giant’s Castle. Highmoor does not adjoin the escarpment itself, but still offers a range of backpacking and sightseeing opportunities most suited to young or beginner hikers.
As with several other sections of the Natal Drakensberg, the entry point to Highmoor was originally a farmstead but was taken over by the Department of Forestry and later transferred to Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. The old stone-built barns and buildings remain to this day and help add to Highmoor’s charm.
Highmoor is a popular fly-fishing destination. Some of its dams are well-stocked with trout and are the highest in South Africa used for this purpose. Another attraction is Fulton’s Rock, the site of some San rock art, but you will need a guide to visit it. The “Dangerous Hole” indicated on hiking maps for the area may have been used by cannibals in the past.
Besides Aasvoëlkrans Cave and Caracal Cave, Highmoor also has a very rustic campsite but a vehicle with good ground clearance is needed to reach it.
Road access: 4/5
There is only a short section of dirt road. The tarred district road is very badly potholed so drivers will need to exercise extreme caution.
Parking: 3/5
There is a good, safe, grassed parking area near the office, but not much in the way of shade or shelter for your vehicle.
Toilet facilities: 1/5
There is only one flush toilet behind the office.
Washing facilities: 0/5
There are no washing facilities unless you are prepared to drive out to the campsite. It offers male and female ablution facilities with hot showers.
Sales: 1/5
You may be able to purchase Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife maps from the office if they have stock, but they are often sold out of the one for their area (i.e. Highmoor).
Atmosphere: 5/5
Highmoor has a quaint, rustic, welcoming appeal all of its own.
Overall rating: 14/30