Berg Alert 2016

Thank you for that exact location. It is, in fact, quite a bit inland and not near the escarpment.

Thanks Smurf, good to finally know where this happened. How on earth did Fangs Pass ever become involved as a location for this incident?

tonymarshall wrote: How on earth did Fangs Pass ever become involved in as a location for this incident?

I was wondering the same thing!

On night 1 of my GT last December, we considered camping just upstream from there, but thought better of it. Instead we went 1km up the river towards Icidi Pass and found a nice concealed spot.

Hi Ranger

Please let us know how we can assist in the process. I am plannin a traverse for th 27th of August till the 10th of September, so any advice on how I can help to help keep the trail open would be great.

Thanks

I found a very interesting Blog today and spent some time going through it....... written by Willem Pelser. I wonder who on VE knows him or of him. His love of the Drakensberg is extremely evident and the articles reveal his in-depth experience of the mountains. This article/Blog (The Unacceptable Factor) highlights yet again the need to be alert!! hikingthedrakensberg.blogspot.co.za/2016/05/drakensberg-wilderness-unacceptable.html

Hi
What are the current arrangements if a group of people would like to hike there for the day?
Thanks
Frik

Hi Frik

At this stage status quo remains ie: the area is open for overnighting as well as day visits. We do however advise the use of a guide for day hikes and do not encourage overnighting in the area. Those wishing to overnight can do so but are strongly advised to take a guide and security with them, set up watch systems etc at night, and go with a minimum group size of six people. The area has been quiet crime wise for a few months since the SANDF began their patrols there, but at this stage they are not overnighting there which means that we do not advise overnighting there.

I thought i would post this link on the topic as it might have some relevance in the macro environment of safety and security in Lesotho. It would appear that the security apparatus has a lot to worry about at the moment. Whether this has an influence on the general lawless in some parts of the Berg is debatable, however one cant afford to forget about the macro dynamics of an area and how these play out.

While we cant influence what goes on in the country, what it means is that vigilance and practical sense might still be the only way we as hikers can protect ourselves. The fact that most interactions, read the recent one that Ghaz posted, are pleasant is in our favour. We need to try and keep it that way.

www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-10-06-amabhungane-lesothos-litany-of-unsolved-political-murders/#.V_mE-jJh2O9

@ Serious tribe: Interesting article Karl and yes I reckon in some way these political murders and other underhand activities in the hierarchy of the government can influence the mindset of the general public, exactly like what is happening in SA. We do live in a fairly lawless country and at the end of the day we as hikers have to protect ourselves especially in the isolated parts of the Maloti/Drakensberg. This is quoted from the email that Charl Brummer sent you.... "Please enjoy the Mountains and go into them, enjoy them, but at the same time be aware that there are security issues just like most places in South Africa so take precautions when going out into the wilderness areas"