Do you feel safe in the Berg?

Okay, here's my 2c.

First, don't act like a white man. Yellow and red are out, green and black are in. A white man's camp is an advert for \"get free stuff here\". Get a camouflage tent, camp off trail, not in the open, occupy the high ground, make dinner before dark, don't use lights.

After I make camp, I string a thin tripwire line around my tent on the guy wires about half way down. This will jiggle my tent if anyone approaches. I can sleep soundly and not have to listen for noises. Then I tie all my zippers shut - usually there are 2 sliders, I tie them together so my tent cannot be unzipped. Nothing is left outside and nothing in the bell. Then I run a long string through everything - boots, stoves backpack, etc - and then to my wrist or sleeping bag. Then I arrange a light and a weapon of some kind and if I am woken I am ready for blood. I will not leave my tent, but I will defend it from the inside.

I cannot defend from rocks, but I am willing to pack up and leave, even in the dark.

Most of this does not work in a cave, but it seems the caves are safe, at least up until now, and I can't say why. Perhaps in a cave you have the high ground. Perhaps one should camp where there is no high ground from where an attacker can stone you.

I was once followed at Ntonjelana pass. I never saw them, but as I came through I could hear them whistling to each other from two points which moved as I did. Lucky for me, the mist moved in, and I immediately took a sharp left uphill and backed up, and made camp way uphill behind a ridge where I was sure they would never find me.

I suppose my attitude is - they can get me in the city, they can get me in the dark, but if I have to go, I prefer uKhahlamba park!

Trip wire - 5 minutes. Simply take some fishing nylon and go guy-wire to guy-wire, as I said, about half way down. I rigged my guy wires with loops so all I have to do is thread the nylon.

Don't forget to step over it when you go out to pee, no light of course!

For the long-fingered under-the-flysheet thieves... MOUSETRAPS



(just don't leave food out or the real mice will get hammered)

Trip wire just shakes the tent if tripped, so I can sleep soundly. it just runs completely around the tent on the guy wires.

No i dont. I am very aware that there is potential security threat in the berg. I've had issues on the Amphitheater and now try to choose my routes/campsites with security in mind. I intent to use a trip wire/alarm system on my next trip, a very sad state of affairs.