Berg Alert 2021

This is the place for all updates, incidents and observations relating to security issues in the Drakensberg in 2021.

The kind of thing which should be reported here:
* new incidents of theft, mugging or any kind of verbal or physical intimidation (whether it is experienced first-hand, seen in the media, or heard through the grape vine).
* new observations of the activities of shepherds, smugglers and other parties, especially as it concerns the safety of visitors to the Berg.
* any other snippet of information or comment about the current state of affairs relating to security.

The purpose of this thread is to maintain a true picture of what is happening in the Berg, to keep a concerned Berg community informed, and to create a healthy awareness of security issues which will help others avoid problems. It is not the intention to create a media hype or undue negative publicity for the Berg, nor to harm tourism the area, and definitely not to create prejudice against the Basotho and other locals living in the area. The traits that lead to crime and other security- related incidents in the Berg are traits that are common to human nature in general and are not tied to a specific culture or nation.

We advise visitors to the Berg to take the security issues seriously - but rather than being alarmed and avoiding going there, we want people to be informed on what the issues are exactly and how they occur - and to make decisions accordingly. We want people to keep hiking in the Berg.

We also encourage people to appreciate the cultures of the local people that can be encountered in the Berg and even to learn some local words and phrases. Wherever possible let your encounters with the locals be friendly and interactive. Many encounters can be very rewarding. If you do find yourself in a tense situation, do your utmost to maintain respect and stay calm. Some helpful notes on Basotho culture have been written for hikers and travellers .

Historical threads:
* Berg Alert 2008
* Berg Alert 2010
* Berg Alert 2011
* Berg Alert 2012
* Berg Alert 2013
* Berg Alert 2014
* Berg Alert 2015
* Berg Alert 2016
* Berg Alert 2017
* Berg Alert 2018
* Berg Alert 2019
* Berg Alert 2020

The known issues during the last 5 years are as follows:
Amphitheatre and Khubedu Valley: Raiding of tents at the Tugela Falls and surrounds in an old issue which is ongoing. Intimidation for handouts also occurs in the area, including the Chain Ladders, which has been known to result in stone-throwing. There was a nasty incident in the Khubedu Valley in 2016 which received a lot of publicity - the details of this incident can be read on this thread his thread . There have been reports of hikers encountering individuals from the Lesotho Defence Force in the area, who sometimes ask to see passports, and there have also been cases where the hikers were harassed by them. Hikers venturing onto the escarpment should carry their passports on them.

Mbundini area: tented camps have been attacked and raided at night, particularly at the unmarked pass overlooking Madonna And Her Worshippers, near Rat Hole Cave.

Ntonjelana Pass: during the December 2018-January 2019 period two different hiking groups encountered a group of 3 armed individuals claiming to be from the Lesotho Defence Force in the general escarpment area near the top of Ntonjelana Pass.

Rhino Peak / Mashai Pass: There have been a few reports of intimidation and rock throwing by shepherds. These happen periodically over the years. The most recent were reported in 2020.

Hodgesons / Masubasuba Pass / Sani: There was a mugging in 2015 on the pass, and apparently various cases of tourists being pressured for handouts around the top of Sani Pass.

For more information read through General Security Precautions , and also read this post  on the security issues around the Amphitheatre as well as the Mbundini area - included is a map indicating where the problems are occurring.

Can we please get confirmation of exact details of this incident. It could be connected to a general trend we have seen for Mashai Pass/Rhino.

intrepid wrote: Can we please get confirmation of exact details of this incident. It could be connected to a general trend we have seen for Mashai Pass/Rhino.

There is not much more to it.
They got right near the top of Bollard pass, Basothos started shouting and whistling, and then threw some rocks.
So they headed back down. It was 2 women

wrote:

Good day, im planning on doing an overnight camp at the tugela falls? What is the status of safety and is the cars safe in the car park? Any advice would be appriciated. We are only 2 doing the hike. 
 

No recent updates have reached this forum other than what has been summarised on the first post of this thread. Cars seem to be fine at the car park. You can ask the guards at the car park if they know if any recent issues. Have a look at this article for general safety tips on the area.

wrote:

The incident happened on Saturday 27th Feb 2021. Here is the account of it:
"Glad to be alive. Literally.
Up Bollard for supposedly a loop but just as we were about to reach the escarpment Basotho shepherds started throwing rocks to us, shouting and whistling. It was extremely dangerous and scary- the worst encounter so far I have had.
We obviously had to turn around and go down ASAP. We did explore some amazing side gullies after."

Same incident as mentioned above shortly after it occurred

Wow Richard - some pretty sweeping generalisations there.. That's kind of like warning everyone about Nottingham Road farmers because one happened to give you grief in the pub.