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I'm planning a trip in the Mnweni area. I dont know the area at all and would like to do a 3-4 day round trip. Which passes would you recommend? Not too technical. I've seen photos of Fangs pass, looks very inviting!!!

Mnweni is a beautiful area. And Fangs is a wonderful gully though it stretches the definition when called a pass. We did a multiday hike going up Rockeries (good, easy pass) and descending via Fangs. It took us all day to get the bottom of Fangs and there's a good deal of boulder hopping for about 2/3 of the pass.

As an introduction to Mweni it is hard to beat going up Rockeries, sleeping in either Mponjwane or Ledgers cave and going down Mweni pass.

Agree with above, the Mweni/Rockeries loop, either way round, is a definite classic over 3 days.

Check out this thread for more info on the Fangs-Rockeries loop.

In addition you could ascend Ntonjelana Pass and descend Rockeries over 4 days. Ntonjelana, like Rockeries, being heavily used by the locals, has a good trail.

Enjoy and feel free to share details of your trip afterward!

thanks everyone! i'm very keen!! just have to convince my hiking partners too, as they feel its unsafe since it doesnt fall within the park and you have to walk through kraals in the foothills.

Has anyone ever experienced problems in the area?

It is my subjective opinion that the Organ Pipes area in neighbouring Cathedral Peak is a higher risk area (considering the numerous reports of confrontations between hikers and smugglers, opportunistic equipment theft, shoot-outs between authorities and smugglers, and hikers getting shot at being mistaken for a patrol). Personally I feel more uneasy on The Amphitheatre and around Giants Castle, than in the Mweni.

It is also my own subjective opinion that the vibe of the Mweni has become much more positive thanks to the efforts of the Mweni Cultural Centre and Bergwatch. Generally I have found the locals to be friendly towards the hikers. I think walking through the kraals and fields is a special experience and I love the Mweni and it's special atmosphere. The fact that there is a lot of activity in the valleys and passes, and relatively little problems with hikers (that I know of), is rather peculiar.

Opportunistic theft is always a consideration however, so camp away from people, don't leave stuff lying around outside your tent, and don't leave equipment unattended. I know of someone that had their stuff lying around the campsite cleaned up during the night (they were camping near the school in the Mweni valley).