General help for overseas visitors to the Berg

I did a similar route to the Mashai one in December last year. Writeup at www.vertical-endeavour.com/forum/8-drakensberg-hiking/55192-in-the-midst-of-khulus.html#55771

We planned to do Mzimude Pass, but did Tsepeng pass due to taking too long to get there (we tried a different approach to the normal Hidden Valley route). I wouldn't recommend Tsepeng Pass, navigation on it is pretty tricky (although a beautiful pass).

Pillar Cave needs to be booked, but I don't think you can even book Mzimude Cave. There are actually 3 caves and I don't think any of them get used more than twice a year.

Great, I have my campsites booked and route planned. Thanks everyone for the input and tips, it's very much appreciated. I wouldn't be doing the hike without it

Hi guys,

I am writing to you in order to have information about Cleft Peak and Injisuthi Cave.

1-Is it possible climbing Cleft Peak from Mike’s Pass in one day (August 7th)? We are quite fit to hike 22,5 km and up 1.400m, but I think that the sunset in winter is at 5.30 p.m. Is it correct?

2- Do you know if we need a special permission, fee or something like that to cross Mike’s Pass Gate in Didima and to leave our 4 x 4 cars at the end of the parking for 10 or more hours?

3- We are planning to climb Mafadi from Injisuthi Hutted Camp in three days. The first night we will camp at Centenary Hut. On August 9th, we would like to sleep in Injisuthi Cave with our tents (three tents because we are 10 people). I think that the weather could be frozen. Maybe, 6 or 8 grades below zero? Do you have any idea?

4- Are the Caves GPS coordinates corrected in Geomaps published by KZN Wildlife?

Thanks in advance ,

Myriam

I'm just going to leave this hike report here...
www.vertical-endeavour.com/forum/drakensberg-trips/55924-cleft-peak-planning-is-overrated.html

myriam wrote: 1-Is it possible climbing Cleft Peak from Mike’s Pass in one day (August 7th)? We are quite fit to hike 22,5 km and up 1.400m, but I think that the sunset in winter is at 5.30 p.m. Is it correct?

That will be via the Camel route? Via Mikes Pass it is about 35km return. I haven't done the Camel, so I can't really comment on it, but it can be done in a day via Mikes and Thuthumi Ridge, if you are fit and keep moving. It is more than 1.4km in vertical though.

myriam wrote: 2- Do you know if we need a special permission, fee or something like that to cross Mike’s Pass Gate in Didima and to leave our 4 x 4 cars at the end of the parking for 10 or more hours?

You need a hiking permit to hike there, but you can park at the bottom of the pass for a full day without any problem. Just be prepared to wash bird droppings off your car

myriam wrote: 3- We are planning to climb Mafadi from Injisuthi Hutted Camp in three days. The first night we will camp at Centenary Hut. On August 9th, we would like to sleep in Injisuthi Cave with our tents (three tents because we are 10 people). I think that the weather could be frozen. Maybe, 6 or 8 grades below zero? Do you have any idea?

How long is a piece of string

myriam wrote: 4- Are the Caves GPS coordinates corrected in Geomaps published by KZN Wildlife?

Not really, look for the GPS track of Drakensberg Caves in the downloads section.

Thanks so much for your information! I am getting a little bit crazy organizing this trip!

According to Hiking Map n.2. (Cathedral Peak) by KZN Wildlife the hike return is 22,5 km and 1.400 m altitude… I think I am going to download every track from VE!

Anybody else does know how Tseketseke Pass is in winter? I have read that it is a little dangerous because of the ice…

For Cleft Peak, if you manage to get to the top of Mike's Pass (via a lift with the rangers as they won't let your vehicles up), the best route is Organ Pipes Pass via the Thuthumi Ridge. If you can't get up Mike's Pass by car, the most direct route is to start at Didima Camp, and ascend Camel Pass via Tryme Hill.

myriam wrote: Thanks so much for your information! I am getting a little bit crazy organizing this trip!

There is plenty of info about this particular peak on this site - ask as many questions as you like

If it's any help, I have climbed Cleft 4 times in the last year...

myriam wrote: Anybody else does know how Tseketseke Pass is in winter? I have read that it is a little dangerous because of the ice…

Tony Marshall did a great writeup on the pass, read it here www.vertical-endeavour.com/forum/11-drakensberg-passes/54259-tseketseke-pass.html?start=50

It is further, but if you are up for a slightly further route - I'd go up Cockade Pass instead of Tseke. Cockade Pass is more scenic (IMHO) and is a quicker route.

I wouldn't stress about ice on Tseke pass though.

Hi Myriam,

1 Mikes Pass is closed to all vehicle traffic, so you cannot drive to the top (or get a lift with EKZN Wildlife anymore) and must start hiking from the bottom of Mikes Pass, or the offices at Didima Camp. This increases the distance and ascent required to be hiked. The distance is approximately 34 km (17 km one way), and the total ascent/descent is 2100 m. As ghaznavid has indicated, it is possible to do this in a day, but it is a long day.

2 You must just fill in the hiking register at Didima office, and sign out when the hike is finished.

3 In August the summit (night time) temperatures are likely to be around 0°C, but could drop as low as -8°C to -10°C if there is a cold front. Please note that Upper Injisuthi Cave or Injisuthi Summit Cave is used by locals from time to time and may not be in a good condition, they often leave it dirty, move the rocks around or leave their things and firewood etc there. The cave is big enough (when clean) to sleep 10 people, but you will not be able to put up more than one tent in the cave due to the floor layout. We usually just sleep in the caves on groundsheets without tents. During heavy snow falls the cave also fills up with snow, so if there has been a recent snowfall, the cave may be unusable and full of snow. You can also tent next to the stream in the valley below the cave. Also note that the third day will be quite long from Injisuthi Summit Cave back to Injisuthi Hutted Camp will be quite long, either via Leslies Pass or Corner Pass.

4 The gps co ordinates of Injisuthi Summit Cave are S29° 11.835' E29° 22.279' at 3292 m, WGS 84. The cave position shown on the Geomaps, which are not WGS 84 datum, is slightly different.

Please feel free to pm me if you require additional information or gps tracks etc.