Khulus

Does anyone know why Murch's list lists Mlambonja Peak at 3309m when the maps show it at 3255m, there are no peaks even close to this in height before Wilson's Peak (which is a fair distance away). From Rhino it looks like its a similar height, but thats only because it is much closer than Wilson's Peak.

If anyone is interested, the 172 khulu's list (which I will keep expanding as I come across unlisted khulus, eg The Auditor on Popple Ridge and Random Peak at Garden Castle) can be broken up by area as follows:
1. Didima 29
2. Mnweni 29
3. Garden Castle 25
4. Free State 20
5. Monk's Cowl 17
6. Injisuthi 13
7. Vergelegen 13
8. Royal Natal 10
9. Lotheni 8
10.Bushman's Nek 3
11.Cobham 3
12.Eastern Cape 2

Fair enough. I'm happy with a fairly accurate list of peaks, I see Mlambonja comes out at 42 once the height is corrected, looking forward to conquering it after failing at conquering Popple 3 times this year...

I have found about 4 other differences, one of which is around 150m too high (Lithabalong and Shepard's Ridge appear to be the same peak the closest other one I can find is 3225m). I guess I can just correct heights on my list when I plan to climb the relevant peaks. I have to say that when planning a hike, it is definately better to know its national ranking, even if it is 150th!

I agree that what is currently marked as Mlambonja is in fact Mlambonja peak since the Mashai pass tops out on its base and follows the Mlambonja river.

Its always a good source of jokes to have Mlambonja Peak at the summit of the Mashai Pass which follows the Mlambonja river, while the Mashai River has Wilson's and Bollard Pass, while Mashai Peak is at the top of Tsepeng and Bollard Pass. And then to confuse things further we have the Mlambonja Buttress and Mlambjonja pass following the Mlambonja river at Didima (an area that I am looking forward to venturing into once I have done some more south and central Berg peaks)! I beleive this was due to a naming mix up many years ago? If I'm correct, Garden Castle was origionally named Giant's Castle and I beleive that Cathedral Peak was not initially the same peak as it is today (not that I can see how some other peak would be more appropriately named Cathedral Peak, especially since it is one of the peaks that actually looks like its name - even more so with the Bell right next to it).

It would be interesting to know more about the history of the naming of peaks and passes, one thing I like about Langalibalele Pass as well as Bond, Erskine and Mount Durnford is that the names are such direct links to the history of the area.

As far as I know, the names of Mponjwane and Cathedral Peak have been confused over the years. Cathedral Peak is a much more appropriate name for the towering spire that is currently Mponjwane. As you point out, apparently the proximity of The Bell caused the initial mix-up.

Oddly enough I have still never seen Mponjwane from any angle other than photos from the top (I have never been to Mnweni). Does anyone have a pic of it from the bottom?

Not quite from the bottom, but a great view of Mponjwane from the Ledger's Cave side:

That peak from that angle looks very much like something related to a dragon (maybe its tail or neck). I was imagining something quite different to that, a person who I often talk to about the Berg (he has lots of experience, but over 50% of the time seems to have his facts wrong, him informing me that there are never snakes above 2600m almost resulted in me stepping of a berg adder, when it happened the first time I though I must think I'm at a higher altitude then what I actually am at, but then it almost happened again right at the top of Langalibalele Pass 3 weeks later). Any way, he alwas tells me a story about his friend who ended up with a crushed leg climbing down Mponjwane, the way he described it put a very different picture to that in my head.

I see what you mean, that looks a bit like a Gothic style Brittish cathedral.

I'm starting to notice that the names like "Barrier of Spears" and "Dragon's Mountains" seem to be references to the Northern Berg, especially that area, it does look a lot like a line of spears or the back of a dragon. I have never seen a part of the southern or central berg that gives me that impression.

I guess the angle of the range north of Champagne causes it to errode differently, maybe due to the angle of the sun on the rocks regarding errosion due to exfoliation, or possibly the distance to the sea factor (good old grade 11 geography). I also recently noticed on Google Earth that once you go south of Mzimude Peak the entire range looks fundamentally different, I'm guessing the cliff face actually ends around this point?