Mnweni Cultural Center to Fangs Cave in one day - Rwanqa Pass or Fangs Pass?

04 Feb 2025 13:57 #79468 by jamesvg15
Thank you so much for the information, this pass has been a dream for a while.

Will look for a nice GPX track to use as guidance. But what I gather from all this is to stay in the river valley as much as possible. Some rain is expected this weekend so will definitely be in for a few surprises.

Thanks again.

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04 Feb 2025 13:59 - 04 Feb 2025 14:01 #79469 by Riaang
If yu are looking for a much more challenging route, you can do the cutback section. Start at MCC and hike all the way up Ifidi pass. There is usually water in the Ifidi river before the start of the pass, and at the top, just to your right as you to out. Then sleep over at Ifidi cave. Be warned - this is a long and tough day out, especially in the heat. At least you will be doing the pass itself in the shade. Day 2 then around the cutback and sleep over at Ledges or Mponjwane cave. Agan, a rather long day out, with a surprising amount of vertical gain to be had. Day 3 you can then descend via Mnweni or Rockeries pass.

Alternatively, staying with the adventerious theme, you can also go up via Pins pass. Day 1 to the Chichi bushcamp area, day 2 up Pins pass (no path at all, anywhere, and properly steep in sections). You top out on the escarpment but there is no water here, but it's not too far to Rockries where there is usually water to be found.

Whichever options you guys go for, enjoy the Berg!!!
Last edit: 04 Feb 2025 14:01 by Riaang.

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04 Feb 2025 14:18 - 04 Feb 2025 14:19 #79470 by Smurfatefrog

Thank you so much for the information, this pass has been a dream for a while.

Will look for a nice GPX track to use as guidance. But what I gather from all this is to stay in the river valley as much as possible. Some rain is expected this weekend so will definitely be in for a few surprises.

Thanks again.
Enjoy! and yeah as Vivo says; at the waterfall you cross to the right (north) of the river and have a good path for 1km and then end up in the riverbed. Just boulder hop all the way until the boulders turn into grass slopes.
Make sure you don't miss the gully where Fangs cave.
Once on the escarpment you should find a strong path, following this south for about 300m will get you to a stream that is hopefully flowing, it not then follow it down until it is

If yu are looking for a much more challenging route, you can do the cutback section. Start at MCC and hike all the way up Ifidi pass. There is usually water in the Ifidi river before the start of the pass, and at the top, just to your right as you to out. Then sleep over at Ifidi cave. Be warned - this is a long and tough day out, especially in the heat. At least you will be doing the pass itself in the shade. Day 2 then around the cutback and sleep over at Ledges or Mponjwane cave. Agan, a rather long day out, with a surprising amount of vertical gain to be had. Day 3 you can then descend via Mnweni or Rockeries pass.

Alternatively, staying with the adventerious theme, you can also go up via Pins pass. Day 1 to the Chichi bushcamp area, day 2 up Pins pass (no path at all, anywhere, and properly steep in sections). You top out on the escarpment but there is no water here, but it's not too far to Rockries where there is usually water to be found.

Whichever options you guys go for, enjoy the Berg!!!
James is literally doing his first pass without a path and worried about getting up in a day, and you're recommending Ifidi & Pins?
Last edit: 04 Feb 2025 14:19 by Smurfatefrog.
The following user(s) said Thank You: tonymarshall, supertramp, andrehayward

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04 Feb 2025 19:34 - 04 Feb 2025 21:37 #79472 by supertramp
My honest opinion - I've done Fangs Pass quite a few times before and my consistent tongue-in-cheek takeaway is 'No Thangs Pass' 

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That boulder hopping, especially during high water levels and late summer overgrowth is quite taxing, no matter what your Berg experience.
Doable in a VERY long day, yes, but much more enjoyable when doing over 2 days.  
Last edit: 04 Feb 2025 21:37 by supertramp.

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05 Feb 2025 11:12 #79473 by Riaang
Smufatefrog,

Why not? If he and his group is fit and strong, it's doable. I did mention it would be a tough stretch. I've taken people up this exact route on their second Berg hike and they survived :-) Also, my suggestion of going up Pins does include a stopover at Chichi bushcamp.

James, you could also sleep over at Cycad cave if you wanted to go up Ifidi pass. Day 1 from MCC to Cycad cave, then day 2 Up to Ifidi cave or carry on to Fangs cave. Day 3 then back down to MCC.

You can do many loops in the Mnweni area. Most of the northern ones don't have great paths (if any), but routefinding is generally easy as you just follow the riverbed up to the escarpment. Fangs is no exception to this, once you leave the lower levels you pretty much boulder hop in the riverbed or try and walk on the side slopes. I tend to alternate between the two. Eventually I get tired of rock hopping, or water levels forces me onto the side banks, and when the bushwacking becomes too much I end up going back to the riverbed. This repeats constantly

@Supertramp
I agree with you on Fangs, it's very scenic but man, the upper section typically gives me a hammering. I actually enjoyed Ifidi more as it at least has some crambling sections towards the top.

James, I wasn't aware that you've only done hiking on paths, so herewith a couple of quick pointers as to what to expect if you venture off the beaten track:
1.) You will work harder than on a path
2.) It is much slower than hiking on a path
3.) Often routefinding is harder as you have no guidance on where to go
4.) It is potentially more dangerous as the terrain could be loose and slippery beneath your feet, big rocks can move and pose a danger etc.
5.) You may battle to find water. Paths typically stay near or lead to water sources, so plan accordingly
6.) There is a reason why no paths exist in certain areas
7.) Your gear might take a beating from bushes, rocks etc. that you will bump or slide into.

If you take the above into consideration, off-path hiking can be very enjoyable. However, make sure you are fit and strong enough, know where to find water and have a plan B if, for whatever reason, you find that you can't complete the original route you planned. I would also strongly recommend you read the trip reports myself and others have posted here on VE about these passes, as it will give you a better idea of what to expect when you do them.

Whichever route you decide on, do your planning and preparation and then go and have an awesome hike.

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10 Feb 2025 13:31 - 10 Feb 2025 13:44 #79480 by alloutallister
Hi Everyone. James’ brother and first time poster here. 

@bribri, apologies for hijacking your thread.

Thanks so very much for all the pointers and suggestions you guys gave us. It made our trek a lot easier, knowing where to go and what to look out for. Our trip ended up going as follows :    

Day 1
MCC to Fangs Pass base
17.8 km 



We got off the bakkie at MCC bridge in the rain and made our way up the Valley. It rained for an hour or two. Lots of water, mud and wet feet. The theme of our weekend. We kept low around and up the valley, almost hugging the river all the way up. It meant more walking as it we didn’t cut the corner when you turn left up at the river fork. But it sure was amazing having so much water around. We hooked a right into Fangs Valley making our way up to the waterfall. We ended up camping just past the waterfall on the flattest spot we could find close by.  

Day 2
Fangs Pass base up and over to Mnweni Pass Escarpment. 
20.0 km



We packed up left the waterfall area at around 7am. Going up Fangs pass was the coolest experience I’ve ever had in the berg. There was a lot of water running down the Fangs river. It really was an experience of a lifetime. Even though we were grinding our way up the boulders, soaked, we had such a great time in this section. The boulders kept getting bigger and bigger with water becoming less and less the higher we went. We got out of the boulders and started trading boulders for grass. We pushed up to the Escarpment at around 5pm.Judging by the estimated times of others going up Fangs, I’m guessing it took us that long just due to the amount of water flowing, and us trying to safely go over, around and between all the loose and slippery boulders. Well that and the fact that there is no path. 

I think that would have been a great day 2. But due to us always turning 4 day hikes into 3 dayers because of work and accomodating 5 guys, we had to get going with the second part of our day. On the Escarpment we turned left and started walking. Headlamps on, into the night. Nothing crazy on the escarpment, just traversing as fast as we could. We knew that we were more or less at Mnweni Pass when we stopped and pitched our tents around 10:30pm. No one had it in them to go looking for Ledges Cave. Food. Sleep.  

Day 3
Mnweni Pass down to MCC
19.4 km



Opened my tent to find Mnweni pass right infront of us. Packed up camp and got going at 6:30am. Cruised  down the pass in the shade, it took us around 2 hours to get down to the river. Bushwacked for a bit through the tallest grass I’ve ever seen in my life trying to find paths that we recall were there. Everything was very overgrown. Luckily we had been there before, so we knew in which direction to aim our noses. We zigged and zagged over and down the river and aimed for the corner where we knew we had to get up, for the shortest way around and back to the MCC bridge to find our saviour with his Hilux waiting for us. Even though we were an hour late. Everyone made it back safe and exhausted. 

What a perfect outcome. Quick shower at the MCC. The weather was actually perfect for the whole weekend, until we drove home, in non stop rain. Got home around 11:15pm after dropping 2 others in the group off on my way. So it seems we might not be the strongest, fastest hikers. But we always have good attitudes when it gets rough, look out for one another and respect the berg. 

Lastly, thank you once again to all you guys for your great responses to our questions.  

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Last edit: 10 Feb 2025 13:44 by alloutallister.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Serious tribe, elinda, Stijn, JonWells, jamcligeo, hikingviking

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10 Feb 2025 15:55 #79481 by tiska

Going up Fangs pass was the coolest experience I’ve ever had in the berg. 

Brilliant to read this!

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10 Feb 2025 17:01 #79482 by Riaang
Alloutallister,

Sounds like you guys had an awesome adventure!!! Glad to hear you guys enjoyed it.
Lots of water and tall grass is quite typical of Mnweni this time of year. Those tall grasses can hide an army easily! I recall a trip there a few years ago where I couldn't even see the guys 2m in front of me, and I'n 2m tall in my hiking boots. All the foortpaths had turned into rivers, I eventually gave up trying to keep my feet dry.

Lots of water in the riverbeds adds hours to your trip, but at least it's not an issue finding water.

Looking forward to reading about your next hike in the Berg.

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10 Feb 2025 21:21 #79484 by Smurfatefrog
Awesome Allister, thanks for the feedback!
Glad you all toughed it out and no doubt will be back for more soon!
Feel free to share some pics too

Good thing you stuck with Fangs and didn't try Ifidi pass
Ntonjelana & Rockeries is maybe a plan for your next one

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11 Feb 2025 16:59 #79489 by Sabine
Camping just above the waterfall at the bottom of Fangs, How much space is there? How many tents did you put up?

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