Nguza Pass

Has any one done this pass?Had a look this weekend looks like a little climbing has to be done, and if so how what does it entail?

Edit:
Trip report www.vertical-endeavour.com/forum/drakensberg-trips/55423-nguza-pass-trip-report.html?limitstart=0

This pass seems like it has eluded most people,so it has to go on the tick list,maybe abseil down and check it out first

How bad is the bundu lower down in the pass?

On the August long weekend, elinda, Richard Hunt, Thora and tonymarshall ascended Nguza Pass. We had overnighted in Sunshine Cave the previous night, and departed in misty weather up valley along the path to the Rockeries/Nguza Pass split. We didn’t cross the stream coming down from Nguza Pass, but headed up the left (true right) bank, managing to avoid the bush in the valley.



Soon we were in the boulder bed, which we followed the entire time we were in the valley, being easier to boulder hop than deal with the steep grassy sideslopes or bush. At times the mist would lift and we could see ahead to the upper section of the pass and Nguza Falls, which we hoped to bypass using the gully to the left and grass ledge traverse described by Sabine. In the photo below the grass ledge traverse can be seen in the distance, above the grassy slopes in the centre of the photo.



We encountered one obstacle in the valley, a low, slippery waterfall, which we climbed fairly easily with the ladies removing their packs and getting some help up from the men. (Photo courtesy of elinda.)



At times some sleet/snow was falling, but not enough to even get damp, although as we went higher it became quite cold. We approached a steep side gully to the left, wondering if this was the gully we had to ascend to bypass the waterfall. (Photo courtesy of elinda.)



We could identify the gully from the chockstone described by Sabine,



and the small cave with rocks on the floor next to the gully on the left hand side.



We headed up this gully and were soon confronted with getting around the chockstone, which we did on the right using a narrow, slippery, slanting rock slab. Richard helped me up, supporting my feet from below, while I lay on the slab on my stomach to reach some handholds at full stretch, by which I could pull myself up; photo below. Once on top of this, I hauled the packs up and assisted the others up with a short rope. (Photo courtesy of elinda.)



We then headed up the gully, which was quite treacherous with ice on all the rocks and grass.

From time to time the mist/cloud would lift a bit and we could see the pinnacle at the top of the gully, which didn’t seem to get closer. The location of the grassy ledge we used to traverse around to the top of the waterfall can be seen in the photo below on the right of the gully, above the lower rock band and below the upper cliffs.



After an age in the gully, we made the grassy ledge, and were pleased to see that it had got some sun and wasn’t also iced up everywhere.



There was a vague trail along the ledge which we followed, crossing some iced sections in the shaded areas.



We turned several corners and the grassy ledge went on for about 500 m.



The trickiest section was a short, narrow ledge crossing an iced rock outcrop, with a considerable drop off below.



Once we were directly above the waterfall which disappeared into the misty depths below,



we found the grassy gully heading up to the top of Nguza Pass.



A short way up the grassy slope and we were at the top of Nguza Pass.



We emerged into sunshine in Lesotho, and headed down to the Koakoatsoan stream for lunch before following the valley up the long ridge towards Easter Cave where we were to overnight.

Thanks again Sabine for your kind assistance with additional detailed directions and photos which assisted us greatly in finding the correct side gully and grass ledge to do Nguza Pass in misty conditions.

And a big thank you to our leader Tony for a great hike. This is an amazing Pass and worth doing!

Amazing documentation of the pass. The images really show the mood nicely. It reminds me to keep my camera more handy when in the pass itself, however it is a long time since i have had interesting weather conditions in a pass.

This site is really opening up the berg in a way that has not been done before and these trips reports make for great reading.

Thanks Tony for leading us up this nail biting pass! you did not mention the tricky section halfway along the grassy ledge, without a rope this was definitely my limit!!! I don't know how you short legged fellows made it over that one, with the icy wet conditions and sheer drop below!!! What a relief it was to get to the top of Nguza Pass and great leadership by Tony )

Any images of the grassy slope tricky section?