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Any info on the pass please. We are taking the ridge up, from Vergelegen(We go back time and again for the fab ablutions !), and then up the pass.

Day 1 Vglgn to summit via Mlahla
Day 2 Top of ka-Ntuba
Day 3 ka-Ntuba R to Vglgn.

Seems from a VE search that this pass may be a blown out dagga train route, complete with bread packets and ash.

Please advise.

Thanks

Re the fab ablutions:

Mlahlangubo is a straightforward pass, that can easily be done in a day. The trail up the Mlahlangubo omkulu valley leads you straight to it. I have not taken the ridge route before. Trail seems to disappear at junction C6, though from there its easy to find your own way and the vegetation is not too thick. Not much water in the dry season beyond this point. The "gully route" as shown on the map seems to be simply a suggestion. Sounds like you've discovered the GPS tracks in the download section already. There is evidence of smuggling and rustling on this pass. A path does lead up the pass, but seems to come up from the Hlatimba valley. Coming up the gully route you'll be over halfway up before you hit it. You could try traversing north from C6 first - you might hit the trail at the base of the pass.

Your day 2 sounds long, and day 3 even longer. Haven't done kaNtuba, but very curious, so please let us know about it. Its one of the highest passes in the Berg and the valley seems to cut back quite far there. I would expect bushy boulder beds at the bottom and I don't think there is a trail.

@Intrepid

Thanks for the feedback.
It looks fairly straightforward, we were wondering more about the smuggling/dagga angle than anything.

Am interested to see how the ridge goes [prefer ridges] in terms of water as there seems to be some major seep lines that the "path" traverses just above.

We have to make it up on day 1 as we only have 3 days total, but it doesn't look difficult.

Ka-Ntuba up in 1 day on the other hand??!! - anyone out there done it in one day??
We have tried once.

Will post after the 22nd.

Cheers

The reason we go Vergelegen [besides the classy ablutions] is the isolation. We have yet to have met another party while missioning in and around this area.

PS: If you wait long enough hot water EVENTUALLY comes out of the sink tap behind the office.
Take your own Register Sheet. They don't know what it looks like there.

These pics are on Mlahlangubo. The guy at the top was waiting for someone.



As a matter of fact I do remember a member of this site mentioning to me that he had done ka-Ntuba Pass in a day before. Can't remember who it was and can't find the related messages. Still, must be a seriously long day!

For sure.

One Bigsnake, with whom I am associated has done it in a day.[possibly more than once !}

We had planned to last year, but then took a diversion to find the sulphur springs, [quote] "in which one can soak weary limbs" [unquote]. We did in fact find them, by using my nose. A delightful series of 2 inch deep stagnant pools dug by the local fauna.

There were a number of suggestions as to the punishment that was due the Author of said quote , as even in summer it would be difficult to soak your foot in one of these! Even after scooping out the animal droppings.

We camped just after and took the ridge up and over to ka-Ntuba the following am.

Will post a schplurb and pics soon. Nice Pass !!