Mafadi

Mafadi
Mafadi Location of Mafadi in South Africa (on border with Lesotho)
Highest point
Elevation	3,450 m (11,320 ft)
Listing	Country high point List of mountains in South Africa
Coordinates	29°12′08.4″S 29°21′25.5″E / 29.202333°S 29.357083°E / -29.202333; 29.357083Coordinates: 29°12′08.4″S 29°21′25.5″E / 29.202333°S 29.357083°E / -29.202333; 29.357083
Geography
Location	South Africa and Lesotho
Parent range	Drakensberg

Mafadi (Afrikaans: Mafadipiek) is a peak on the border of South Africa and Lesotho. At a height of 3,450 metres (11,320 ft), it is the highest mountain in South Africa, but is lower than Thabana Ntlenyana, the highest peak in Lesotho which is, at 3,482 metres (11,424 ft), the highest point in Southern Africa. Mafadi lies at S 29 12 08.4 E 29 21 25.5 in the WGS84 format.

Ascents of Mafadi, attempted from the South African side, are normally made from the Njesuthi 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 / 29.200°S 29.350°E / -29.200; 29.350

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