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Any recent info on the Mnweni area? I am taking a group of 5 high school boys for a weekend out (17th birthday request!). I plan to walk in to Shepherds or 5 Star cave on Fri, up Mweni Pass on Sat to Mponj Cave and down Rockeries on Sun. Last weekend in Feb. I descended Mweni many years ago, but never up. Have been to Mponj many times.

I am aware of the dope trains and am not too worried about them. Is 5 Star a better option than Shepherds? Also I seem to recall there is a Shepherds 1 and 2, one a bit higher up? We don't plan to carry tents and with the regular sauce falling out of the sky am keen to find decent shelter on the way up.

thx Spook

Spook, when you get to the confluence of the Mbundini and Mnweni rivers, look up at the little berg ridge between them. At the base of the major cliff band on this ridge, there is an obvious cave which can be seen from quite a way down the valley already.

This is the cave I refer to as 5-star cave (not the one marked on the map). While the cave is not by any means 5-star, it is well out of the way of the locals and is hence in a better condition than Shepherd's Cave, etc. Quite a stiff hike (off-trail) straight up the slope from the path but the view and seclusion is well worth the effort.

The cave offers good shelter for a small party (6-8 max).

Thx Stijn sounds like the answer. Stiff stalk to get there will put off the donkey drivers!

Yes the cave in question is 5-Star Cave. The one directly below it, which doesn't have a name, is marked on the maps these days but does get confused with 5-Star Cave. I refer to this one as "Dagga Planter's Cave" - anyone else have a name for it? Either of these 2 is probably better than Shepherds Cave. Last time I used Shepherds Cave was in April last year. It always tends to be a bit dirty (fires and litter), and that time it also had an annoying rotting stench.

Be warned however that all caves on this area (and there are several) get used by the locals, 5-Star Cave included. While 5-Star is out of the way of smugglers, you may, especially at this time of year, find that the shepherds and dagga planter's are occupying it. This is more or less when the dagga harvest starts, so they are bound to be there and you'll probably see the dagga fields.

From Dagga Planter's Cave there is another shelter directly opposite, across the Mbundini river. There are 2 additional caves in the Rwanqa valley, not far from the junction with the Mnweni.

Thanks for the info. We will prob go for 5 Star as the first choice but keep the other options as backup if occupied. In winter I would be tempted to head up the pass a way and find a flat bivy spot. But with summer this would turn out more moist than comfortable.
Spook