Mbundini Pass

Rating:* * *    7/10Difficulty of the pass...

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edit: Trip report www.vertical-endeavour.com/forum/drakensberg-trips/55788-fangs-mbundini-loop-the-dragon%E2%80%99s-teeth.html

Full Pass Writeup
After ascending Icidi Pass the previous day and tenting near the top of Icidi pass, we traversed across the summit past the back of Stimela Ridge to the top of Mbundini Pass, our chosen pass to descend. All photos courtesy of Elinda.



As with several of the Mnweni area passes, you get a spectacular view of the Mnweni Needles from the pass, and near or at the top, beyond to the Cathedral Range.

We did the recommended route of the pass and followed the grass slopes down on the right (true right) side of the valley.



The photos above and below show the grass slopes near the top of Mbundini Pass, with the view down the pass.



A short way down the pass we had to cross a scree slope, which was steep and a bit unstable,



and we plotted our route lower down to avoid three more scree slopes to the right.



We frequently paused to admire the view, and select the route of the next section of the pass.



The gradient of the pass was steep, and a lot of the time we were also on a very steep sideslope.



A view back up Mbundini Pass from below the scree slopes.

On the way down we had to cross several steep sided side gullies.



Lower down the sideslope got steeper and remained very steep for a long way.





We could look down into the river valley below us, and the steep grassy slopes was definately preferable to the boulder strewn, bushy river bed with numerous waterfalls, vertical sections and narrow channels. Lower down the slope became quite bushy, although there was a slight path in this section. We also crossed a side stream in this bushy section, the only water source on the pass (unless of course you follow the river bed).



A view up Mbundini Pass showing the lower area of the bushy section.



After this we onto the ridge between the Mbundini and Fangs valleys, with a rough path and heaven for our sore feet, no side slope.



From this ridge there is a good view up Fangs and Mbundini Passes, Fangs on the left and Mbundini on the right.



From the top of Mbundini Pass we could make out the junction of the Mbundini River and Fangs Stream, and from quite high up we could see the waterfall where the routes join (or split if going up). The photo below of the view up Mbundini Pass is taken from near the waterfall.



After resting a while at the waterfall, we continued on the path downstream to overnight in Five Star Cave. It had become really humid with an approaching thunderstorm, and a dip in the Mbundini River near the cave was a welcome respite for everyone. That night we watched the storm from the sanctuary of the cave and were grateful to be in dry shelter from the heavy rain. The next morning we walked out through the wet grass to the road, and got a lift along the road back to the Mnweni Cultural Centre, concluding another epic Mnweni hike.

Thanks for the write up Tony! I would not say it is an 'easy' Pass, obviously easier than Ifidi or Icidi but right up there amongst the strenuous and 'slope sliding' category of Berg passes.......

Agreed Elinda! We did Mbundini over this Easter weekend and 3 of our group of 4 did Fangs last year and all agree that Mbundini is harder and requires more concentration. Also one that I would think twice about doing again while there are others out there waiting.
Geordie will provide our hike report shortly and we'll post a few pics.

intrepid wrote: ghaznavid has kindly offered to carry my pack up the pass when I do it again.

cool, lets go and do the pass next weekend...

Helping Hobbit with 3kg's of his weight this last weekend has reminded me of the difference made by even a small amount of extra weight. Alternatively I have become very slack on training this year

And for me Mbundini is easier than Fangs.

The experience one has of a pass can be very dependent on weather, load, time of start, time of year, company and many other issues. So I would be wary of claiming a definitive ranking from a single ascent or a single descent. I've been up and down Mbundini 3 times and have gotten to know its tricks. I like the pass. Fangs I have been up just once and had a hard time of it. That alone might explain my ranking.

The experience one has of a pass can be very dependent on weather, load, time of start, time of year, company and many other issues. So I would be wary of claiming a definitive ranking from a single ascent or a single descent.

I fully agree wth this statement. Fitness and group dynamics also play a big role. I have done Corner in snow and ice with a fit group and it was very enjoyable, Ships Prow with a friend on the verge of an emotional breakdown made the pass seem a lot worse and Fangs in perfect cool weather felt like the equivalent of a trip down Mashai pass.

ive done fangs,hard as hell but loved it,physically hardest pass ive done,ifidi just gnarly,esp when iced up.doin icidi next month,have yet to see any good comments on it