Towards Sentinelle from Mahai

Park at Mahai.

(S/E) Take the path that runs alongside the river until you cross it via a stone bridge.

(1) At a fork, keep right (ignore the left turn towards Tiger Falls).

(2) At the next fork, turn left and cross the Mahai River.

(3) You will come to a perpendicular path; follow it to the left.

(4) At the next fork, keep left (west). Continue on the only road to the Witsieshoek Resort.

(5) When you reach the buildings, make a sharp left turn.

(6) Shortly afterwards, join another path and follow it to the left towards Sentinelle. Continue climbing to the top of the Neck/

(7) Turn back towards the car park (S/E).

To reach Sentinel Mountain more easily, if you are staying overnight in Mahai, it is best to take the car for 1 hour 20 minutes to Witsieshoek Mountain Resort.
Once you park there, you can take a shuttle bus, which leaves every 1 hour 30 minutes on average ( booking required). The shuttle ride takes 20 minutes, and then you can hike up Sentinel Mountain in three hours and back down in two hours. Take the shuttle back (7 km), then drive your car to Mahai, or stay overnight in Witsieshoek.
This route traces the hike from Mahai towards the path to Sentinelle. It is also possible to sleep in a refuge, which hikers say offers little comfort at the summit.
This is an easy but long hike, so bring water with you. There is a restaurant at the summit if you need it.

Witsieshoek Resort: restaurant (open all day) and hotel (reservation required).
(7) The Neck: here you can continue along this 4x4 track to reach the summits of Dome, Pudding and, higher up at 3,165m, the Sentinel car park.
Antelopes, baboons, bearded vultures, Cape vultures, wild cows, eland (large antelope) and secretary birds (very rare birds with a dinosaur-like appearance).