Cathedral Peak hikes - 4 days or longer

Is this safe to do after the resent rains?
Is this the best way or rather up with Mlambonja Pass?
Maybe another route in the Cathedral area for four to five day hike?

Kind regards
Deon

Thank you.Have gone up and down Organ pipes a few times as well as Mlombonja . I have never gone up or down Tseketseke Pass and want to have a new walk in and scenery. Three inexperienced hikers of the eight.

Good morning

A group of five hikers, myself included, went down Tseketseke Pass yesterday morning. Our decent started at 7h30 and we only reached the Tseketseke Hut at about 13h30.

We had to make use of rope while decending in the river and the path is not clearly marked at various sections.

I would advise that you set aside sufficient time especially if you have inexperienced hikers in your group.

HikeParsons: Ihave had a similar experience descending Tseketseke Pass, also with a group of mostly inexperienced hikers; as with a lot of things, it seems that if you know where to go it is relatively straight-forward, but if you stick to the obvious (valley bottom) it's a tricky descent.

Deon1: if you have a GPS I suggest you get a track of the route recommended by Smurfatefrog.

Andrew

Our group did not consist of very experienced hikers and we followed the path down but lost it. I read prior to hiking that one should stay in the in the river and do rock hopping, which we did after finding what seems to be the marked path in the river.

I noticed that a couple of hundred metres before the Tsekstseke Hut that there was a across with some engravings on it. Any idea why it was placed there?

I am planning a hike with a group of six mates in early May. I’ve done the Camel’s pass up to Roland’s Cave before. On this occasion because of time constraints I’m considering doinig it slightly differently.

Suggested Route: Day 1- Didima to Fire look Out, Day 2 - Fire look out to Roland’s Cave,via Organs Pipe Pass & Windy Gap, Day 3 - Roland’s Cave down to the top of Ribbon falls via the Camel’s pass, lastly Day 4 - Top of Ribbon Falls to Cathedral Peak Hotel.
Advice please:
• Up the Camel’s Back was hectic, is down a good idea?The problem is the last day we need to back at the vehicles by latest 15H00 in order to motor home Sunday night.
• Mikes pass, who and how do we get transport from Didima to the gate at the end of Mikes Pass, either on day one or the last day? Is there someone we can pay/hire to pick up or drop off? We can slog it from Didima to Fire lookout but it’s also a travel day so we can only hit the trail by 12H00?
• If I do the route the other way round (I prefer) the last day will be 9km from Fire lookout to Didima, once at Didima our vehicles will still be at the Cathedral Peak Hotel?

Any advice or solutions will be much appreciated,
Kind Regards,

I may be wrong, but I believe Mike's Pass is closed to vehicles indefinitely (see here ). I can't help you with The Camel; I myself am planning on going down for the first time over Easter. My impression is that it is exposed but not dangerous in good weather. As for the last day of the suggested route (coming down The Camel), I've seen a group come down The Camel and walk out by 11am, and I don't think they started super early, so I can't imagine that getting back to CPH/Didima from Ribbon Falls should take you more than two hours, or three at the very most. If you go the other way, you will probably be able to get a lift to CPH on the road below Didima. I've got lifts to CPH from the Hiker's Parking and back a couple of times, and people seem happy to oblige, though in the off season it can sometimes just be dead.