We differentiate between safety and security in the Natal Drakensberg. Safety has to do with the natural risks associated with mountain backpacking, and how to manage those risks. Backpacking is an adventure sport and there is always a higher level of risk associated with such activities, compounded by the fact that assistance will not be immediately available should you need it.

Security concerns behavioural problems that may arise in encounters with people outside your group. Since we cannot control the behaviour of others, the strategy is to be alert and spend as little time in known problem areas as possible.

Basically, we manage risks we consider to be acceptable to backpacking, and we avoid areas with unacceptable behavioural problems.