Access roads to the Drakensberg

Beard wrote:

Anyone have pics of the main bridge down? We were JUST there before this....

 

Before you go over the bridge to the camp, the road is giving in.. 



Same location as the previous image, just looking back at the river

 

They are clearing debris with an excavator. 

 

Photo credits for first two photos: Michaela Geytenbeek

Extremely sad i wonder if marble baths is saveable. Its a pity such an enjoyable place

supertramp wrote:

Wow, now that is quite something. Looking on the bright side of things, perhaps the Leslie's Pass approach got a bit of a shake-up 

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Definitely much kinder, pretty much just boulder hopping all the way to the Leslie's camp site.

 

The damage to the river bed. It seems most of the damage was limited to injasuthi river catchment leading to the entrance rd
Before 
After

Thank you for all the information. This is shocking and sad for the personnel working there. We actually have a Mafadi trip planned for next week with some friends who have not been up. So was quite a surprise to hear the camp is closed after phoning this afternoon. 

We have not done Mafadi from Injisuthi yet, so was looking forward on doing Corner's pass up and Leslie's down with centenary hut and the caves( U-Injisuthi and marble bath's) for accommodation. 

Might be stupid question, but does anyone know of any other options close by to leave cars. It is not looking promising on maps . 
 

Hi Jamesvg15, welcome on VE!!!

You can always leave your cars at Moncs Cowl. Not the closest but definitely a viable option to consider. Will add about 12km to your journey (one way). Up the Sphinx, take a left at Blind Man's Corner, up Shada Ridge and then down Van Heyenings Camp will get you into Injasuthi camp. Alternatively you can go up Grays Pass and then walk South to Mafadi. Also a beautiful stretch of mountain.

hikingviking wrote:

supertramp wrote:

Wow, now that is quite something. Looking on the bright side of things, perhaps the Leslie's Pass approach got a bit of a shake-up 

This image is hidden for guests.

Definitely much kinder, pretty much just boulder hopping all the way to the Leslie's camp site.

 

Thank you for sharing hikingviking, that looks like a total revamp! Thanks also for your great Instagram post, very insightful. Makes me think about the Cockade/Xeni valley that underwent similar changes a few years ago, the power of water is absolutely astonishing! 

Carl Gebhard wrote:

supertramp wrote:

Wow, now that is quite something. Looking on the bright side of things, perhaps the Leslie's Pass approach got a bit of a shake-up 

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And perhaps now Marble Baths cave will get the respite that's been debated?
Perhaps.

I would definitely think so, yes. Its popularity has skyrocketed over the last few years. Perhaps some change is good... "No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man."

Serious tribe wrote:

@supertramp - I have only used the river approach once, decades ago.  Never again!  I use the terrace path to get to the base of the path, way easier...  Hopefully this didn't damage the terrace path

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   Any word on how the staff got out, certainly not with their vehicles?

Might have to start calling it Boulder Baths.  

@Serious tribe - Likewise, used the riverbed only once in both directions before and have been using the terrace path ever since, although it has also become quite overgrown in recent days. Based on hikingviking's photos, the riverbed might be the way to go now .