Backpackers and backpacking -
Drakensberg, South Africa

Inkosana Lodge in the Drakensberg Mountains has catered for backpacking since 1983 when host Ed settled in the Champagne Valley to start a backpackers hostel.

The aim was to serve hiking and climbing in 'the berg'. In those days a backpacker was a person hiking with a rucksack and this is who Inkosana Lodge catered for. Ed led hikes and trails up all the peaks and also long treks traversing the summits of the Drakensberg Mountains into Lesotho.

The name Inkosana came from the old Zulu word for the Monk's Cowl Peak, n'Kosana, meaning the heir or little chief. This peak is illusive and hides behind Mdedelelo (the Bully) which is the Zulu word for Cathkin Peak. In Nepal the term 'trekking' was borrowed from the colonial English. This is of course taken from the Afrikaans and means to journey or travel slowly. The Sherpas now use this term for walking expeditions and so Ed came to call his business, Inkosana lodge and Trekking.

As the years passed South Africa became a popular backpacking destination for foreign travellers, especially the budget minded. The concept, backpackers, changed to mean budget travellers, young or old. The aim of these travellers is to experience adventure and the local ethnic flavor of far-away places with strange sounding names.

Inkosana caters perfectly for this new genre of backpackers - whether they are desperate to scale the highest peaks, traverse the whole Drakensberg Mountain range in 8 days, or just wish to drink in the serenity and beautiful views. At Inkosana the staff are sensitive to the needs of the individual backpacker and qualified to give expert advice on the whole Drakensberg.