Cave Etiquette

Has anyone been to Lammergier Cave (in the Bushman's Nek area) recently? The Lammergier Cave area falls within the proclaimed Mzimkhulu Wilderness, so it has a type of 'double protection' under South African law. It belongs to us - the people of South Africa. So we are all 'interested and affected parties' and have a right (if not a duty) to comment on how these areas are managed. The Lammergier Cave area is zoned 'Primitive Wilderness' by EKZN Wildlife.

I was there about two weeks ago after an interval of about a year and was appalled to see the effects of rampant overgrazing by domestic animals from across the Lesotho border. The cave is full of cow dung and has a distinctly bovine smell. Cows and horses have knocked down a lot of the stones comprising the sleeping areas for hikers. The situation is a lot worse than a year ago.








Perhaps even more disturbing is the hoof tillage and plant disturbance, as well as the amount of mud in the nearby tarns caused by domestic animals drinking there and in the process disturbing the surrounding edges with their hooves.

Now I must be careful here. I have reported the situation to EKZN Wildlife (a year ago and again more recently). Also, I must say that I do not support the impounding of animals and the fining of their owners, as this has not proved to be a long term solution and creates antagonism that could be taken out on innocent hikers. But there is negligible grazing of domestic animals in the nearby Sehlabathebe National Park. Now that Sehlabathebe National Park is officially part of the Maloti Drakensberg WHS, perhaps the same incentives and penalties that prevent Basotho stock owners from grazing their animals in Sehlabathebe National Park can be applied to the Maloti Drakensberg Park in general and the Mzimkhulu proclaimed wilderness area in particular?

Hello Philip...I totally agree with you as you can see from imformation taken off the internet lammergier cave is 1km from the lesotho border and within the wilderness area, and the sooner the livestock grazing is stopped in this area the better.The longer the authorities leave it the more difficult it will become to stop.........."Bushman's Nek Wilderness Area, Southern Drakensberg. There is no path up to this cave, but careful navigation from the Ngwangwane River should put you in the correct valley, after which you can make your way up the relatively gentle slope towards the escarpment until you come across the cave on your left. The cave is hard to miss - it is by far the longest continuous overhang in the entire Natal Drakensberg, well over 100 metres in length! A fairly stiff 1 km uphill walk from the cave will take you past Goats Cave and into Lesotho. After Ngwangwane Pass, this route provides the easiest access into the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho"

GPS Coordinates: WGS 84

I was back at Lammergier Cave in early March 2016 and was pleased to note a marked (almost dramatic) improvement in the situation here. EKZN Wildlife have been patrolling the area and have impounded stock. It is definitely having the desired effect - so thank you to James Mthembu OIC Garden Castle / Bushman's Nek and his staff

Message to the last occupants of Secret Cave

‘Secret Cave’ is situated in the Garden Castle area. It has the distinction of being in Pristine Wilderness within the Mzimkulu Wilderness Area proclaimed in 1979. Pristine Wilderness is the most rare and special wilderness zonation. Proclaimed Wilderness Areas belong to all the citizens of South Africa.

I discovered (rediscovered?) this cave about 15 years ago on a solo day hike.

Trusting that others would appreciate the pristine and untouched characteristics of this special place, I led a hiking club hike there. We moved the rocks to create the sleeping space.

‘Secret Cave' (my name) was no longer secret.

I have just returned from an overnight visit to Secret Cave, a two day hike designed to introduce young people to Wilderness, more specifically Pristine Wilderness, part of our sponsored and voluntary Southern Secrets Wilderness Awareness Program.

I would like to thank the last visitors to Secret Cave for leaving the area free of litter and toilet paper.

Unfortunately you left something behind – a Ziploc bag containing candles and a box of matches. While I appreciate you may have intentionally and thoughtfully left these candles behind for future visitors, may I respectfully remind you that the use of open candles is prohibited in any cave within the Maloti Drakensberg Park.





There was also evidence the use of an open fire, also prohibited in the Maloti Drakensberg Park.





In retrospect I wish I had kept very quiet about discovering ‘Secret Cave’.

Having now shared my secret, I can only appeal to the ever increasing number of hikers who know the location of this cave, to respect the name ‘Secret’, tell as few people as possible of its whereabouts, appreciate the PRISTINE character of this place and the ‘Secret Valley’ in which it is situated and LEAVE NO TRACE – Please!