A search is underway near Cathedral Peak in the Drakensberg Mountains for a 73-year-old Scottish tourist, the Mountain Rescue Club of South Africa (MSCA) said on Tuesday.

Rescue organiser Andy Wood said Michael Hetherington was believed to have last been seen on Saturday looking for directions to Cathedral Peak.

Wood said Hetherington had checked into the Didima Camp near Cathedral Peak on Friday afternoon where he had signed the rescue register.

His car was found in the parking lot of the Cathedral Peak Hotel.

Wood said a group of hikers later came across an elderly man, believed to be Hetherington, who was asking for directions to the peak.

A search team was activated late on Monday when it became apparent that Hetherington had not returned to Didima Camp.

Inspector Jack Haskins from the police search and rescue unit said two dogs had been deployed to help in the search and a third dog would be brought in to assist.

Wood said the police air wing had been deployed on an aerial search of the area while a 12-man search team from the MSCA was searching on foot.

One could walk up Cathedral Peak, but, Woods said: "It's very steep. It's not for the faint-hearted. It's more like a scramble than a walk."

On Friday the area had been drenched with rain and this had been followed up on Sunday by extremely hot weather.

Wood appealed to anybody who may have been hiking or walking in the area during the weekend and had seen an elderly man to call the provincial Emergency Medical Rescue Service toll free number 0800-005133.

EMRS would then forward their details to the MSCA who would in turn contact the callers to get more details. - Sapa