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We are due to head into berg in a couple of weeks to hike the stretch between Organ Pipes and Grey's Pass.

Can anyone answer the following:
1. Is the Camel's Back route to ascend Organ Pipes pass open (I am led to believe it was unpassable in April 2009 due to rockfalls)

2. Any reason to be concerned about leaving cars at Monks Cowl hiking station

3. How many hikers can it accomodate and in what state is in Inkosana cave?

Thanks
Rolf

Hi Rolf

We slept in Inkosana cave May last year, not the best cave, the back half was wet (although the remainder is still big enough to sleep a small group) and there were lots of traces of Basotho. (burnt paper and bags) The next morning we awoke to a big group of Basotho's begging for food, and had to move on to have breakfast somewhere else. They apparently use nearby Gray's pass as a smuggling route.

We left our cars at Monks Cowl camp site for 5 days with no problems at all. They lock the gate every night.

Hey Rolf,

1. First time I hear of this. Best thing is to phone Didima Camp and ask them. I'll try and find out more on this too. I'm guessing the smugglers have forged a new route through the rock-fall by now!

2. Have never heard of any issues, and I don't have any concerns leaving my car there. Bear in mind that if you are dropping a car off there and then driving across to Didima, you will pay the fees at some point and will need the receipt to prove at either end that you have already paid.

3. Accommodation size is seasonal, because as plouw mentioned, the cave is notorious for getting wet (other caves get wet too - just that this one is popular and thus has more of a reputation). I've used it on a number of occasions, but never in the wet season, and so my experience of it has always been good. When it’s dry it is excellent shelter (have felt snug in it through icy temperatures, howling winds and snowfall).

In good conditions it could accommodate 6 in the main sleeping area and even more if you are prepared to sleep in the areas which are less favourable. I find these ratings to be pretty subjective because preferences vary and people have different ideas about what is acceptable. In very wet conditions it could border on being unusable.

Years back the main area was in the furthest corner, and the area directly behind the rock wall was very wet - now this seems to have reversed somewhat, and the cave is a little more spacious.

The use of a ground sheet is recommended in any season - if it's not damp, it's dusty!

It does get used by the smugglers sadly and the effect is noticeable. I was up there last in September last year and we did a major clean up starting in the cave and all the way down Gray's Pass. We had bags full of rubbish strapped to our packs! plouw, you are quite right - Gray's has developed into a pretty major smuggling and cattle rustling route.

You mentioned that you are going "in the next few weeks". If you go soon the timing will be good - things will be fairly dry still, the smuggling will slump a little and there will be less shepherds around.

Thanks Interid and Plouw - very helpful.

We went up Grays Pass over the weekend and slept in Nkosasana cave and am pleased to report that it was in good condition, with no litter being visible and dry other than a few damp spots. It slept 5 comfortably. It was interesting to note 3 large white bags stashed at the top of the pass (possibly dagga..?), but we forgot to check if they were still there the following morning. We can't pick them up on our photos taken in the morning, so presumably they were taken down the pass during the night!

I'm planning a trip to the Berg in December. I've done numerous escarpment trips before, mostly in winter, and want to take some older family members with this time. Due to limited fitness levels in the group we're planning to explore the valleys of the little berg. Has anyone got any suggestions of remote and safe valleys (not on smuggler routes) with good caves.