Approach notes

Ride from Bloemfontein to Ladybrand via Thaba Nchu on the infamous “road of death” (N8) and just after going through Thaba Nchu you will see a lane of trees with the sign “Glamorgan.” Turn in there, and at the end of the road you will do a hairpin turn through two gates (MCSA signboards show the way) then follow the road till you get to the parking spot underneath some bluegum trees.

From the car park, the Power Pylon Path is the most direct way to the top, but it is quite strenuous (climbing the 478m from the farmhouse to the trig beacon on top of the War Zone straight up). From the car park, follow the track (climbing over a locked gate by an old ruin) and at a stage the track will cross the power pylons. Somewhere there (the cairn keeps getting lost) you will find the path, which basically follows the pylons. About an hour later you should be at the top, where you will cross a small broken-down rock wall. Turn 90 degrees left there and you will eventually reach a prominent rock buttress/wall. At the start of this buttress is Sky News—currently the only route in the Newsroom area. Walk left around the bottom to get to the Newsroom (with potential for a number of great routes). Walk right from Sky News around the top to get to the top of the War Zone, and over the top and down the other side to get to the bottom of the War Zone.