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A visit to Waterfall Cave in the Mweni in January was a grim disappointment. Far from it's glory days described by Pearse and Bristow, it has been degraded through use by local herdsmen. Most of the cave floor is covered with a 10cm layer of manure stuck with what appears to be goat hair. The smell is not pleasant.

Of the 3 main sleeping areas, only one is dry enough to use in the rainy months and even this area has been affected by the manure and by camp fires. The other two areas are well sheltered but are low roofed and dark. They would be usable in the drier months though the bottles, papers and tins would need to be cleaned up.

Most people intending to use the cave would probably opt for camping in the forest next to the pool the bottom of the falls. This is a good campsite.

I believe the locals have a right to make use of this area since it is their land, but it is very disheartening to see this kind of degradation, especially for a cave with a reputation such as this one. The guys at the Mweni Tourist Center have heard that the locals using this cave now have another shelter and so hopefully they will not be using it so much anymore.

But what of the current mess? One would need a bunch of people to spend some time there cleaning it up. But would it get messed up again?

I intend sleeping over in Waterfall Cave in the coming weeks. I remember some negative reports on the condition of the cave about 3 years ago. Anybody have more recent information on the state of the cave?

Haven't been there recently and curious to hear what state its in. I've merged your post with the one above that I posted a while back. You could try phoning Agrippa at the MCC and asking him. I actually did sleep in it even in that state - there was a small sleeping area in the furthest spot in the cave. But it doesn't smell great and its probably not that hygienic. There is a great camping spot below the cave close to where the waterfall comes down.

Thnks intrepid - can you elaborate on campsiet - size etc. I intend taking a group of about 8 up - want to actually show them the cave since it is renound for its beauty - wouldn't want to disappoint them - but good site could amke up for it.

@BergAttie:

The pic below is the classic front view of the cave. It shows the forest in which the campsite is situated. A little further along from the view position, before you enter the main overhang, is a smaller shelter which may be used (too small for 8 though). When I saw it last it didn't have manure in it but does have a bit of litter and summer drips. The first, main sleeping area which you can see to the left of the waterfall is small but extremely well protected. A little dark and dingy though (and wet in the summer), but at least didn't have manure in it either.


This pic I uploaded a while ago. It is taken from the furthest sleeping area along the cave which was also manure-free. You can see how eroded and messed up the floor of the cave is. Particularly behind the water, which you can't see very well, there used to be a big level sleeping area from what I understand.


This is a shot of the campsite. There was place for us to sit and cook, which could be place for a third tent. 8 will probably be pushing it - it depends on the size and number of tents and on what you consider comfortable and how creative you care to be with camping spots.

Ok - since no fresh info out there and since I wanted to take newcomers to the berg to waterfall cave next weekend I decided to reccie myself. Went up this past Saturday and unfortunately I have to agree that this cave is not what it used to be. Conditions are better in dryver winter months when grazing and thus goats/sheep are not around. Visible signs of goat shit. Fortunetaley no signs of rubbish but this cave not worth a special effort but will be good option if you run out of light or weather. The entire valley is dodgy due to massive Basutho traffic- even worse than Rockeries or Mweni. Doable but avoid if you have a choice. A pitty since the setting is spectacular.