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After doing the Bell Traverse from the hotel side, I want to hike from Mlambonja Pass to Tseketseke Pass and descend the latter.

I suspect that the fastest route would be to stay in the Kwakatse river and so bypass the Xeni cutback.

However, unless we are pressed for time or the escarpment is shrouded in mist, I'd like to enjoy some views on this stretch, especially at the cutback (this will be my first visit to the area). Which points on this stretch has the best views? My current targets are the top of Mlambonja Buttress and the Elephant, although this will be a much longer distance than bypassing the cutback. Any opinions?

And then, am I right in thinking that upon reaching Cockade Pass, the faster route to the hotel is moving on to Tseketseke and going down there?

Cheers
Gollum

By "Xeni Cutback", do you mean the section between Xeni Pass and The Elephant? That's on the route anyway. From Mlambonja, drop down into the Kwakwatsi and pick up a trail heading upriver (on the western banks). This trail tends to want to take you straight to the Elephant via the second last side valley coming in from the side (and thus bypassing Xeni Pass). I would walk right to the end, ie walk out the main valley. At the bend, you'll notice some gullies going down (which look like passes) - at this point you could make a quick excursion loop to the summit or end of Mlambonja Buttress and back (yes, its worth the look). If you have lots of time then simply stick to the edge all the way from Mlambonja. Continue along the river as it bends, pass Xeni Pass and continue on to the Elephant - the exact route is up to you - hug the edge or plod straight up grassy slopes...odd cairns exist along either way (note a large free standing tower along the way - you can only see that its free-standing from close). Directly behind the Elephant, at a neck, you can decide to descend Elephant Gully directly infront of you (taking you directly to Cockade Pass via a trail), or ramp up the grassy summit above the neck and pick up a trail taking you to Cockade more or less via the escarpment edge.

I think Cockade is a pretty fast direct route back down, so do Tseke if you want to do it specifically, I don't think its faster.

I meant the section between Mlambonja Buttress and Cockade (this is probably not the Xeni cutback?).

Thanks for the advice! Are there any obstacles in the Elephant Gulley and Cockade Pass requiring some stunts? If I get round to it I'll procure some ski rope today, else my trusty 8m cordelette will have to do...

Ah ok. Calling it Xeni Cutback is actually probably quite appropriate, just got confused for a sec. Neither Elephant Gully nor Cockade Pass present anything tricky that would require rope. The former actually has a pretty good trail.

Just been down cockade and found it quite tough. A lot of the route is just piles of rocks i.e. straight down the river bed. Took us about 5 hours to get down to the 'campsite'. No tricky bits, but trail finding wastes a lot of time, especially lower down where we fought through a lot of bushes...

I would say Tseketseke is a bit better at the moment (based on the views of two guys we met at the end).

Enjoy.

Sounds to me like you might have missed the path/trail at the bottom. I recall staying left (when going up) and it wasn't too bad. Certainly less than 5 hrs and going up is normally 1.5 times as long. Its generally easier finding the path on the way up than on the way down as you approach on the path on the way up but have to connect with the thing (having been off path) on the way down.