The climbing is all on the Escarpment Basalt (wether on the Escarpment proper, or Free Standing Peaks) which is characterised by being difficult to protect as well as having enormous approaches (Except Sentinel). The general methodology for climbing on The Basalt is to spend a day (possibly 2) hiking in to establish a high camp, from where an Alpine start is still needed in order to climb/return to camp in the daylight. Car-2-Car ascents of the other peaks are rare, but possible.

Mike Cartwright enchanted Sentinel, (Angus Lepan route), Mpunjwana (Standard Route) and The Column (Escarpment Arête route) over 3 days!

The Sentinel, on the other hand, is easily climbed car-2-car in a day and due to being outside of the Ezemvelo National Park, bolting is permitted and there are a handful of multi pitch bolted routes as well as a Via Ferrata (on Beacon Buttress).

Climbing in The High 'berg offers incredible adventure climbing (Alpine Rock), but has a reputation of not being easy to protect (pitons are common), friable in in places and often requiring "climbing" the alpine grass. As a general rule the rock quality improves the harder the route is, this is due to the climbing taking place more on the vertical sections and less in the natural "breaks", chimney's and so forth. A rule of thumb is that anything F2 or harder (fr5 / SA16)) or harder is generally cleaner.

It is worth noting how low the general grades are in pure technical terms, and this should indicate the difficulty in protecting Basalt faces with traditional gear. It is also worth noting that, as mentioned, this is big country with a real Alpine seriousness to it, and you will get full value even at what, on paper, seems "easy" climbs.