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I have read on numerous threads about security precautions taken by hikers in the berg but thought it good to have a topic dedicated to this.

Firstly it should be said that not all Basutho's encountered in the berg is a thread although it would be wise to be suspicious of all. Be friendly wherever you encounter them but vigilant at all times.

Here are some thoughts on precautionary measure taken by other hikers with some ideas of my own:

A.When camping
1.Check and plan all camping spots beforehand, as far as possible, by knowing the area and past bad incidents encountered.This can be done by reading through the security topics for now although attempt's are now being made to map these areas and incidents on an map.
2.Choose your camping spot away from these identified areas, smuggler routes and known kraals/villages.
3.Scope out your indented camping spot area for any persons watching/following you.Move away if needed.
4.Try where possible to occupy the high ground and thus making it for difficult for the attacker to stone you/your tent.
5.Pitch camp late afternoon/dusk.
6.Don't use lights at night, while camping.
7.Cook before dark.
8.Don't talk loud. Sound can travel very far, especially at night.
9.Keep all equipment inside tent or bell/vestibule.
10.Tie all equipment together and either to your wrist or tent peg.
11.Set traps/alarms and early warning signals ie. trip wires,mouse traps,balance a pot filled with small stones on top of your equipment, tie tent zips together,etc.
12.Have your boots,cell phone, light and a weapons (pepper spray,walking stick,pocket knife)close by.For those from Boksburg, you're wheel spanner
13.Should your hear anyone snooping or one of your alarms are tripped, act immediately and decisive. A loud "F-Off"/"Bliksem" is your first deterrent. Should this not work go for pepper spray or what ever other force necessary.
14.Discuss a plan of action with your hiking partner/s for different scenarios beforehand.

Make no mistake that should your equipment be stolen you would be in real danger from the elements.Protect it by all means.

B.When hiking:
1.Keep your pepper spray within easy reach.(lumber pack or belt clip)This is useful for Shepard dogs as well.
2.Be vigilant of someone following you.
3.Do not disclose your intended camping spot,direction of travel or destination to anyone encountered on trail, unless to deliberately mislead them.

C. General
1.A red tent is almost invisible at night whereas a yellow tent is highly visible.
2.Inform someone at home/friend of your camping co-ordinates and check in every morning with them.(where possible)

I would like to hear others ideas,opinions and suggestions.

A less obvious one is hiking at night: this can be risky along a smuggling route. The smugglers can mistake you to be a patrol and shoot at you. This has actually happened.

Intrepid have done a blog on this issue in the past.

www.vertical-endeavour.com/drakensberg/20-security/38-general-security-precautions-drakensberg.html

This past weekend whilst lying in the tent, I thought of "night-visitors" and that, that in itself is not so bad if at least you have an early warning system. I have heard of someone on VE that has a trip wire system running around the tents guy ropes which could work if you are a real light sleeper and there is no wind, the latter being wishful thinking in the berg. I then thought of the Ellies alarms that you stick to a door or window that are very sensitive to any vibration or movement.




They work really well, are light and small and makes one hell of a sound. Now my idea with these is to leave them in a sleeping bag stuff sack or something luring and visible a couple of feet from the tent. A couple of stones can be added to the sack to keep it anchored in windy conditions. My guess is that the prowler will obviously pick up the "trap" that will set of the alarm. The alarm would not only wake you but sent the perpetrator running. (Hopefully over the escarpment edge)

Using this method you needn't listen for sounds.

When ST² and I did a trip in Aug 2003 up the chain ladder and across to Ribbon Falls, I rigged up a similar alarm system device and it make a huge noise if activated. Ours had a small plastic key that when pulled out set the alarm off. I rigged a fishing gut trip wire around the perimeter of the tent which we tested and it seemed to work ok. Fortunately we did not have any nocturnal visitors.

On our recent Injasuti to Cathderal Peak hotel hike, we could not make Didima cave from the bottom of Leslies Pass in 1 day. We hiked until about 19:00 and decided to just pitch our tent right where we were. When we woke up the next morning, we saw a Basutho hut about 200 meters from us haha. Also saw a few huts close to Leslies Pass top (with the woman tending to the sheep), another younger guy shouting from far for a cigarette, as well as another guy tending to his sheep who asked for food. He was friendly, but the others did not even wave back at us as we waved at them.

We were probably lucky, as we did not setup any alarms etc. but being only 2 we were probably inconspicious most of the time, and sticking to escarpment also helped.

But I was surprised to see alot of Kraals (which was not on GE), more than I expected.