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Hi al you mountain lovers and hikers. I'm planning a 4 day hike in the berg in June. Could someone tell me if there is enough space for 4 tents near the Tseketskeke hut? I recall there were a few spots, but can't remember if suitable for 4 tents.

Thanks

Hi Dan. You might struggle with 4 tents. The campsite at the contour path junction could take 2 small tents. There is another slightly smaller site about 80m upstream. At the hut itself you might be able to get a tent up between the hut and the stream, under a tree, and another behind the hut. Within a 30m radius of the hut you might also find another very small spot. But why not all cram into the hut? How big is your group?

Thanks for the reply. Our group has now shrunk to 7 which reduced the number of tents to three only. The last time I had a look inside the hut it was quite dirty. I figured the tent option would probably be better and warmer. We would like to go up Windy Gap and spend two nights on top of the escarpment, coming down via the bell traverse. The idea is to camp somewhere on contour path altitude on the first night before going up “groot” berg.

Hi Dan. Why dont you camp just before Camel ridge. There are space for more than 3 tents and water is only about 500m away on the contour path to the south. From there you can start you day with the pass ensted of walking back tseki.

Thanks. I'm starting to think that might be the best option. I just wanted to alter, extend and make the aproach to Windy Gap a bit more challenging by going up past Xeni cave and along the contour towards Tseketseke hut, instead of straigh towards and over camel.

If you still land up going via Xeni Cave, then consider looking for a flat, grassy spur to camp on along the way. The Tseke area is rather bushy and the main Tseke campsite is gonna be tight. It might take 3 tents depending on how narrow they are, but I'm not sure. Going directly up the Camel and first camping at its base certainly is more warm-up friendly. If you get to the base and find that you have enough time and your group is not tired, you could carry on all the way to the top. This will give more time on the Bell Traverse which you might need.