EXPEDITIONS

FOLLOWING THE DRAGON 2026

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Objectives

• Geographic: trace the mighty Drakensberg range in 5 chapters, from Iron Crown in Limpopo to Rhodes in the Eastern Cape Highlands and including the high-altitude mountain passes of Lesotho.

• Humanitarian: provision of malaria prevention for women and children, eye tests and reading glasses to poor-sighted elderly community residents.

• Youth conservation: fun-filled education through the Wildlife Art campaign with school children.

• Ranger support: in partnership with Jim Green Footwear, provision of rugged boots for rangers working to protect the Drakensberg unique biodiversity and archaeology.

Route

DRAGONS, DINOSAURS AND DEFENDERS

 We live in the shadow of a mountain range so vast and ancient that it quietly shapes the land, the people and the stories of Southern Africa. It is called the Drakensberg — Mountains of the Dragon in Afrikaans — and by its Zulu name, uKhahlamba, Barrier of Spears.

The Drakensberg is more than a mountain range. Rising like the jagged spine of a mythical beast against the horizon, it is never far from sight, nor from spirit. Its presence is constant — a line of dark peaks at dawn, a wall of fire at sunset, a silent witness to centuries of evolution and change.

It is a place of ancient rock formations, waterfalls and wild rivers, towering cliffs and extraordinary biodiversity — a landscape that has shaped people, wildlife and cultures for millennia.

It is this ever-present outline of the Dragon — watching over valleys, wildlife and communities — that has inspired the 44th Kingsley Holgate geographic and humanitarian expedition.

It’s time to Follow the Dragon.

This new journey is not simply about traversing a spectacular mountain landscape, but delving deeply into its remarkable world, uncovering its stories and engaging with the people who live in its shadow.

Following the jagged skyline will be the Expedition’s backbone — a line of adventure linking remote valleys, high mountain passes, conservation areas, communities and places of historical and cultural significance.

From the symbolic starting point of Iron Crown near Haenertsburg in Limpopo, the journey will trace the length of the Drakensberg escarpment through the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal, cross into the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho and finally reach the sweeping Eastern Cape Highlands.

Along the way, the team will explore the history, cultures, fauna and flora shaped by this extraordinary landscape and meet historians, geologists, conservationists, palaeontologists, traditional leaders and community champions working to safeguard its future.

But exploration is only half the story. As always, the expedition will combine adventure with action —improving and saving lives through humanitarian initiatives and supporting community-conservation activities with schoolchildren.

Expect remote 4×4 tracks, high mountain passes, tricky river crossings, unpredictable weather, long days and the inevitable surprises that make an expedition a true test of endurance, ingenuity and spirit.

Following the Dragon is an expedition into the heart of one of Africa’s great mountain massifs — a journey of discovery, adventure and purpose.