Mafadi is a peak on the border of South Africa

South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

 and Lesotho

Lesotho

Lesotho , officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is just over in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name...

. At a height of 3450 metres (11,318.9 ft), it is the highest mountain in South Africa, but is lower than Thabana Ntlenyana

Thabana Ntlenyana

Thabana Ntlenyana, which literally means "Beautiful little mountain" in Sesotho, is the highest point in Lesotho and the highest mountain in southern Africa. It is situated on the ridge of the Drakensberg mountains near Sani Pass.-External links:* *...

, the highest peak in Lesotho which is, at 3482 metres (11,423.9 ft), the highest point in Southern Africa

Southern Africa

Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...

. Mafadi lies at S 29 12 08.4 E 29 21 25.5 in the WGS84 format.

Ascent

Ascents of Mafadi, attempted from the South African side, are normally made from the Injisuthi campsite. The route involves about an eight-kilometre hike to Marble Baths. This is followed by continuing up the river and with a combination of short paths and boulder hopping. This all ends at the bottom of the ridge, which leads to the Molar, with a campsite. The subsequent path up the ridge to the top of the mountains is known as Leslie's Pass. The path follows the ridge until below a rocky band where it traverses to southern side. The way continues up a short scree section, followed by more hiking up quite a steep gradient, until the final 20 metres are made up a grassy slope. From here, the top of Leslie's Pass (at S 29 09 12.7 E 29 20 38.0), the top of the mountains are followed to Mafadi.

A route referred to as the Corner-Leslies Loop is becoming a popular way of reaching Mafadi. It entails hiking to Centenary Hut in Injisuthi Nature Reserve on day 1, ascending Corner Pass and climbing Mafadi on day 2, descending Leslie's Pass on day 3 and reaching the car park on day 4.

29°12′S 29°21′E

Disputed name

The dispute regarding the name of Mafadi (which literally means the Mother of Fadi) is currently under dispute, its original Sotho name is Ntheledi (which means "Makes me slip", referring to the nearby stream) is considered by some to be more relevant and correct.

External links

• Mafadi, South Africa/Lesotho
• Mafadi Peak Photograph
• Lynx Africa: Trails Lesotho South Africa
• Peak High mountaineering South Africa