Garden Castle hikes - 3 days
03 Jan 2012 20:15 #5198
by Rollingstone
Garden Castle hikes - 3 days was created by Rollingstone
Hi All
I am planning to do a 3 day hike, starting and ending at Castle Garden(Swiman). I don't have the hiking maps yet but I would like to sort out a route. Can anyone recommend a good route (possible avoiding going on to the escarpment, as our tents aren't really suitable)?
Thanks
I am planning to do a 3 day hike, starting and ending at Castle Garden(Swiman). I don't have the hiking maps yet but I would like to sort out a route. Can anyone recommend a good route (possible avoiding going on to the escarpment, as our tents aren't really suitable)?
Thanks
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04 Jan 2012 14:41 #5204
by ghaznavid
Replied by ghaznavid on topic Garden Castle hikes - 3 days
Go to www.berg.co.za and you can download the old maps for planning purposes. What level of difficulty are you looking for?
A nice 3 day option is going to the Hidden Valley, sleep night 1 in one of the 3 million caves in the area (there are about 6 on the map as well as around 12 other very well sheltered ones in the area), day 2 hike to the escarpment via Mzimude South Pass and descend via one of the passes at the top (Mzimude North, Tsepeng, Bollard or Willson). I know you say you don't have a suitable tent, hence this recomendation, Mzimude South Pass and Bollard Pass have good caves at the top. If you descend via Bollard Pass you also have the option of overnighting in Waterfall Cave, Engagement Cave or Sleeping Beauty Cave (Cod's Eye Cave is not easily accessible and is fairly close to the car park).
If you don't want something so difficult there are also plenty of nice routes with good caves in the area. Hidden Valley is really nice at this time of the year, you can also do some off-path hiking and cross one of the ridges, eg into the sleeping beauty guly - one of my personal favourites of the berg. The hidden valley must have some of the highest concentration of caves in the Berg.
A nice 3 day option is going to the Hidden Valley, sleep night 1 in one of the 3 million caves in the area (there are about 6 on the map as well as around 12 other very well sheltered ones in the area), day 2 hike to the escarpment via Mzimude South Pass and descend via one of the passes at the top (Mzimude North, Tsepeng, Bollard or Willson). I know you say you don't have a suitable tent, hence this recomendation, Mzimude South Pass and Bollard Pass have good caves at the top. If you descend via Bollard Pass you also have the option of overnighting in Waterfall Cave, Engagement Cave or Sleeping Beauty Cave (Cod's Eye Cave is not easily accessible and is fairly close to the car park).
If you don't want something so difficult there are also plenty of nice routes with good caves in the area. Hidden Valley is really nice at this time of the year, you can also do some off-path hiking and cross one of the ridges, eg into the sleeping beauty guly - one of my personal favourites of the berg. The hidden valley must have some of the highest concentration of caves in the Berg.
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16 Jan 2012 10:50 #5284
by intrepid
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
Replied by intrepid on topic Garden Castle hikes - 3 days
Hi Rollingstone and welcome to this community.
The Garden Castle area does not have a proper contour path system as the Northern and Central Berg has and thus ideal loops through the little Berg are less apparent.
Definitely consider Hidden Valley as ghaznavid suggested. You may be content with heading for a cave and spending 2 nights there, using the in-between day to explore and enjoy the area. In this case also consider heading for Sleeping Beauty Cave or Engagement Cave, as the Mashai valley is very picturesque too. If you are confident to navigate without trails then you can also link Hidden Valley with the Mashai Valley, via the valley which leads up to Tsepeng Pass. This will give you a neat little loop.
Only other option which comes to mind is heading off from the Castle View farm, which is on the way to Garden Castle. You still have to pay Garden Castle KZN Widlife, as well as getting permission from Castle View. From there you can head towards Wilson's Cave (more in the Cobham area) on the first day, linking to the Mzimkhulu valley on day 2 (which has several caves) and walking out along the valley on the last day. Haven't tried this myself but looks do-able on paper.
Do get hold of the map and study it for yourself. Let us know if you need more info, and also post back after the trip to let us know how it went.
The Garden Castle area does not have a proper contour path system as the Northern and Central Berg has and thus ideal loops through the little Berg are less apparent.
Definitely consider Hidden Valley as ghaznavid suggested. You may be content with heading for a cave and spending 2 nights there, using the in-between day to explore and enjoy the area. In this case also consider heading for Sleeping Beauty Cave or Engagement Cave, as the Mashai valley is very picturesque too. If you are confident to navigate without trails then you can also link Hidden Valley with the Mashai Valley, via the valley which leads up to Tsepeng Pass. This will give you a neat little loop.
Only other option which comes to mind is heading off from the Castle View farm, which is on the way to Garden Castle. You still have to pay Garden Castle KZN Widlife, as well as getting permission from Castle View. From there you can head towards Wilson's Cave (more in the Cobham area) on the first day, linking to the Mzimkhulu valley on day 2 (which has several caves) and walking out along the valley on the last day. Haven't tried this myself but looks do-able on paper.
Do get hold of the map and study it for yourself. Let us know if you need more info, and also post back after the trip to let us know how it went.
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
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20 Jan 2012 14:02 #52936
by Clark
Replied by Clark on topic Garden Castle hikes - 3 days
Hey all
Planning on doing a 3 day hike in the Cobham area in 2 weeks time. Thinking of overnighting in Pholela Cave (is Lakes a better option? there are 3 of us) then making a dash up Amakehla pass. Any ideas for where to stay the second night bearing in mind that we are not into doing any ropework (although we should be able to manage Amakehla). Recommendations for things to see/do greatly appreciated as this is my first visit to the area.
Cheers
Planning on doing a 3 day hike in the Cobham area in 2 weeks time. Thinking of overnighting in Pholela Cave (is Lakes a better option? there are 3 of us) then making a dash up Amakehla pass. Any ideas for where to stay the second night bearing in mind that we are not into doing any ropework (although we should be able to manage Amakehla). Recommendations for things to see/do greatly appreciated as this is my first visit to the area.
Cheers
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22 Jan 2012 03:13 #52941
by Serious tribe
Replied by Serious tribe on topic Garden Castle hikes - 3 days
Hi Clark
Welcome to the forum.
Likely you will be carrying a tent. I would try Lakes Cave and sleep at the top of Lakes Cave near the tarns that are there, this is an amazing area. The tarns should have a good supply of water in them, just don't do any soap bathing and washing of kitchen gear in them. The former would be best done in the river below lakes cave, and the latter can be done, if camping near the tarns, with water from the tarns at the top but washed away in the grass area some where away from the tarns.
It might sound like it is less of a schlep to stay at the cave, but if it is photographs you want, then i would stay near the tarns.
Once you have climbed Amakehla Pass, there is is Hodgson's Peaks about 1.5km to the north that you can climb, one or both if you have the time and energy. Also about 500m south of the top of the pass, you can look down Minaret Pass, which is quite amazing as well.
Also it would be great to write up a small report with some images of the trip for the rest of the forum to enjoy. It also adds to the wealth of info on the site.
Enjoy planning, always an exciting part of any trip.
Welcome to the forum.
Likely you will be carrying a tent. I would try Lakes Cave and sleep at the top of Lakes Cave near the tarns that are there, this is an amazing area. The tarns should have a good supply of water in them, just don't do any soap bathing and washing of kitchen gear in them. The former would be best done in the river below lakes cave, and the latter can be done, if camping near the tarns, with water from the tarns at the top but washed away in the grass area some where away from the tarns.
It might sound like it is less of a schlep to stay at the cave, but if it is photographs you want, then i would stay near the tarns.
Once you have climbed Amakehla Pass, there is is Hodgson's Peaks about 1.5km to the north that you can climb, one or both if you have the time and energy. Also about 500m south of the top of the pass, you can look down Minaret Pass, which is quite amazing as well.
Also it would be great to write up a small report with some images of the trip for the rest of the forum to enjoy. It also adds to the wealth of info on the site.
Enjoy planning, always an exciting part of any trip.
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24 Jan 2012 07:05 #52957
by intrepid
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
Replied by intrepid on topic Garden Castle hikes - 3 days
Welcome Clark.
Just to clarify, are you doing a day trip up and down Amakehla Pass on the second day, or are you planning on sleeping on the escarpment?
Accessing Amakehla Pass from Pholela Cave will involve navigating without a trail at some point, either by heading upriver and then up to the ridge to join the trail, or by hiking along the connecting trail to Lakes Cave and then along the ridge until you hit the trail. From Lakes Cave you can follow a trail all the way, thanks to the smugglers. At Pholela Cave the sleeping areas are segmented and terraced, so you cannot easily sleep 3 people all in one spot, its more broken up. But you will have more privacy should the smugglers be around.
If sleeping on the escarpment on the second night then which pass are you descending? If Amakehla again, then camp nearby (bearing in mind that the smugglers are around, so camp away from the path). Hide your stuff well (or take it along) and climb Hodgesons South. Else camp near the summits of Minaret Pass or Masubasuba Pass if using those, since you will have a walk-out ahead of you the next day.
Just to clarify, are you doing a day trip up and down Amakehla Pass on the second day, or are you planning on sleeping on the escarpment?
Accessing Amakehla Pass from Pholela Cave will involve navigating without a trail at some point, either by heading upriver and then up to the ridge to join the trail, or by hiking along the connecting trail to Lakes Cave and then along the ridge until you hit the trail. From Lakes Cave you can follow a trail all the way, thanks to the smugglers. At Pholela Cave the sleeping areas are segmented and terraced, so you cannot easily sleep 3 people all in one spot, its more broken up. But you will have more privacy should the smugglers be around.
If sleeping on the escarpment on the second night then which pass are you descending? If Amakehla again, then camp nearby (bearing in mind that the smugglers are around, so camp away from the path). Hide your stuff well (or take it along) and climb Hodgesons South. Else camp near the summits of Minaret Pass or Masubasuba Pass if using those, since you will have a walk-out ahead of you the next day.
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
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24 Jan 2012 10:55 #52960
by Clark
Replied by Clark on topic Garden Castle hikes - 3 days
Hi Guys
Thanks for the input. Initial plans are to overnight at Pholela and go straight up the river to Amakehla. Having not been there I dont know if and up and down is possible in one day? Thoughts were to do this and spend the second night above Lakes Cave as suggested by ST. If we are unable to do up and down in one day, we would camp on the escarpment and take the route via Lakes on the way out on day 3. Thoughts?
Thanks for the input. Initial plans are to overnight at Pholela and go straight up the river to Amakehla. Having not been there I dont know if and up and down is possible in one day? Thoughts were to do this and spend the second night above Lakes Cave as suggested by ST. If we are unable to do up and down in one day, we would camp on the escarpment and take the route via Lakes on the way out on day 3. Thoughts?
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24 Jan 2012 11:20 - 24 Jan 2012 11:42 #52961
by Serious tribe
Replied by Serious tribe on topic Garden Castle hikes - 3 days
From Lakes or Pholela up Amakehla and down with a pack would be an ask. Also, would not see any reason to carry your pack up and down the same pass just for a day trip.
What you could do is sleep at Pholela then follow the path up the river (X1 on the map) and stash your packs on the Pholela River valley side just below the pass in an area with enough rock and vegetation to hide your gear from unwelcome eyes (X2). Take day packs and go up (X3) and across to Hodgson's and then down Amakehla pass, pick up your gear and then drop over into the iNhlabeni River valley (flows past Lakes Cave)and then onwards to the cave.
It all depends on how much cover there is to stash your packs, if that is what you want to do. As you can see from the image, on the Pholela side of the catchment there is not a huge number of places to hide gear, however X2 might be an area worth looking at. The hikers are on the watershed between the iNhlabeni River valley on the lhs and the Pholela on the rhs.
What you could do is sleep at Pholela then follow the path up the river (X1 on the map) and stash your packs on the Pholela River valley side just below the pass in an area with enough rock and vegetation to hide your gear from unwelcome eyes (X2). Take day packs and go up (X3) and across to Hodgson's and then down Amakehla pass, pick up your gear and then drop over into the iNhlabeni River valley (flows past Lakes Cave)and then onwards to the cave.
It all depends on how much cover there is to stash your packs, if that is what you want to do. As you can see from the image, on the Pholela side of the catchment there is not a huge number of places to hide gear, however X2 might be an area worth looking at. The hikers are on the watershed between the iNhlabeni River valley on the lhs and the Pholela on the rhs.
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Last edit: 24 Jan 2012 11:42 by Serious tribe.
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24 Jan 2012 12:14 #52962
by Clark
Replied by Clark on topic Garden Castle hikes - 3 days
That sounds like a plan! Will chat to the others and make a final decision.
Once back, I will be sure to load some images and a report of the trip.
Cheers for now.
Once back, I will be sure to load some images and a report of the trip.
Cheers for now.
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06 Feb 2012 06:48 - 06 Feb 2012 07:29 #53010
by JustinBaker
Replied by JustinBaker on topic Garden Castle hikes - 3 days
Hey Guys.
Some pics of the route Clark and I took up Amakehla pass this weekend.
The lines across the route indicate what I think qualifies as exposure.
Some pics of the route Clark and I took up Amakehla pass this weekend.
The lines across the route indicate what I think qualifies as exposure.
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Last edit: 06 Feb 2012 07:29 by JustinBaker. Reason: amend text
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