Naked hikers brave icy Drakensberg Mountain

Tladi Moloi

The Drakensberg Mountains were covered in a thick layer of snow over the weekend, but that didn’t stop a group of men from braving a naked hike in Qwaqwa, Free State.

The brisk walk, undertaken by a group of 13, was aimed at helping men to overcome insecurities about their bodies.

The adventure started with a fire-walk on Friday night in a cave at the Thabana tsoana village in Makeneng, before they proceeded on a 4km hike to a waterfall at the Drakensberg Mountains.

Camp organiser Fanafikile Lephakga said the hike was a bit challenging because of the icy wind.

“We have accomplished our mission. We also had guests from Limpopo and Johannesburg respectively. I must admit that it was a big challenge walking naked in that freezing weather condition but we helped each other to pull through,” he said.

Lephakga said he would love to have more men coming to the camp next year.

“I would love to have the white community come to join us. We started this last year with few people but now the number has increased,” he said.

Lephakga said that he wanted the walk to increase awareness of men suffering from mental illness.

“Men are depressed but don’t want to talk about it, nor seek professional help so things like this one will help,” he said.

Hiker Sipho Nkosi, from Johannesburg said it was for the first time in his life that he had to walk naked on the mountain. He said that the experience was mind blowing.

“I drove all the way from Johannesburg to experience the tour and believe me it was exquisite. I am very relaxed and empowered after that experience and surely I am going back next year,” he said.

Nkosi said he realised that nothing is impossible.

“It is important to have people with a positive mind around you because they make everything look easy. It was very cold on the day but the body adapted as we went on with the tour. The organisers were very professional and they knew what they were doing. They were very welcoming and free,” he said.

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