Outer Horn Cave

I've only seen vague references to this cave on the net. Has anyone seen it or know of its approximate location, if it even exists? Its supposed to sleep 10 people. I've looked for it along the Bell Traverse without success, since its supposed to be a high altitude cave, but it may be a sandstone cave somewhere in the valleys below Outer Horn, such as the Oqalweni.

Spotted this cave from the Bell Traverse trail over Easter. This may very well be it. Didn't have time to check it out. You cannot see it from this pic, but it does appear to be very deep and spacious with a level floor.

Had an opportunity to visit the cave depicted in the above post. It is a deep, proper cave, which would offer good shelter if it is dry inside. I visited the cave during the onset of summer and it was extremely wet and drippy, making it totally unusable - so it is obviously only a cave to use during the driest time of year. Chances are the cave may even be damp during the early winter. Though it is a fairly large basalt cave, the sleeping area is currently very limited because of the vegetated and rock-strewn floor. There is currently only one sleeping area which accommodates 2 people. The rocks arranged around this area is evidence that the have has been used. There are 2 interesting tunnels on one side of the cave which are joined at the back. Photography of these features didn't turn out well because of the lighting inside.




There is a large overhang adjacent to the cave, but again its use is extremely limited because of drips and lack of a defined sleeping area.


Access to the cave is by means of the prominent West ridge/spur of Outer Horn. It may not be the most useful cave for a Bell Traverse because of the amount of altitude loss from the trail required to reach it, as well as the fact that you would need to carry all your water in. It may only be useful if you are using the West ridge to connect the Bell Traverse with the valleys below, connecting to the Ntonjelana, and this is exactly what AndrewP and I were doing on the occasion that I visited the cave.

I am not sure if this is "THE" Outer Horn Cave referred to on berg.co.za - does anyone know? Certainly it would be a candidate, except that in its currentl state it can only sleep 2 people. I am not sure about 10 people, but theoretically it could accommodate a good sized group if it is possible to clear the floor.

The Cathedral Range has a lot of interesting things to offer, and there are several more caves along it than what are shown on the hiking maps. Pity that they tend to have damp/drip issues in the summer.