Berg Alert 2024

I think the supposition that these attacks are close to the start of colder weather is a good one.  There also might be a strong link with long weekends as well as near to a full moon.  If there were actual dates this can be checked.  Although in this case, it was misty, so likely they trotted close to the cave and just waited until it was quiet.  Not sure if putting boots in the tent would have helped, perhaps.  I always pull my boots and gear into the tent at night regardless of where I am in the berg, just safer.  A portable remote motion sensor alarm at the entrance to the cave could help.  Only issue is pee breaks at night, don't want to set it off .  

Maybe a remote sensor and a gun would send a message...

Updated details include better refinement of dates and date of full moon plus days offset from full moon (if night time attack).
This list does not include sketchy encounters, being caught in the cross-fire of smugglers, events on the roads leading into the Berg or strife around picnic sites or resorts. The list is primary aimed at attacks and robberies on the high Berg, either during the day or at night.

Some of the precise dates couldn't be pinned down. In these cases (approx) has been used as the date estimate. These cover events usually reported by a third party with wording along the lines of 'last week....'.
This sort of inspection underscores the value of recording as much detail as possible about difficulties in the Berg.

2024
28 March  night Mafadi 
Full Moon 25 March (3 day offset) 

2023
15April day Walker’s Peak 

 2022 No reports  

2021 
27 Feb daytime Bollard Pass 
6 (approx) October night Giants Pass (wrong place at the wrong time opportunistic attack rather than more planned - I think)
Full Moon 20 September 

 2020
24 (approx) March daytime Mashai Pass 
Full Moon 9 March 

2019
LDF  incident - not the usual modis  

2018
3 April night Fangs Pass 
Full Moon 31 March
(4 day offset)

 2017
1 (approx) April night Tsepeng-Matabeng 
Full Moon 11 April
(10 day offset) 

 2016
23 (approx) April night Ribbon Falls 
24 April night Fangs Pass
Full  Moon 22 April (1 and 2 day offset) 

2015
26 April day base of Masubusuba Pass
Full Moon 4 May (8 day offset) 

2014
21 April night Tugela Falls
30  April day Rhino Peak
Full Moon 4 May (13 day and 4 day offset) 

2013
No reports 

2012
25 March night Amphitheatre
Full Moon 6 April (12 day offset)

In a cave putting boots inside a tent is obviously not always an option. Boots probably most valuable item when up there so important to secure. I have in the past put boots inside my sleeping back or tie the laces to the sips of the sleeping bag. Even tying them to pots and pans to make racket when moved. I'm also going to look into the motion sensors going forward.

We've used those solar lights triggered by movement in Sentinel cave once. Caught my wife red-handed as she was sneaking out of the cave for a midnight pee  . These weigh next to nothing and works quite well.

What I normally do in caves is to put the backpack and everything else near the back of the cave, so the would-be thief would have to take a bigger risk to get to it. I normally pack everything back in my pack, except food and stove (don't want a mouse gnawing through my pack to get to the cheese and nuts in my foodbag), and then I leave my hiking poles next to my side, pointy end facing towards the cave entrance. It does send a subconscious message to any would-be thief that we are maybe/possibly prepared for something. These people are cowards, but they are not entirely stupid, and if they see things like an LED light going off in their faces, packs at the back of the cave with nothing lying around and things that can potentially hurt them between them and your gear, they will (most of the time) run away.