Organ Pipes Pass - Camel Route

Ok, so the plan is:

Day 1: From hotel, up Camel to top of Organ Pipes.

Day 2: Top of Organ Pipes to Rolands Cave. Essentially a day for photography and dangling feet over the edge of spectacular views...

Day 3: Back down Camel to hotel.

I know we are biting off a big day 1, but should be able to handle it with a pre-dawn start.

Water situation approaching Camel? And on top? I don't thing there is any on the Camel itself...
Co-ords for a good campsite on top?

Many thanks

Your day 1 is big, but is certainly quite doable, especially with an early start and the right mindset.

Just above Ribbon Falls Cave will be your last (sure) water going up the Camel. The river as you head towards Lesotho from the top of Organ Pipes Pass will have plenty water, but don't count on any in between, although you may be lucky at one of the upper gully crossings as you approach Windy Gap.

Avoid camping too close to the trail going into Lesotho. There are several possible spots towards Castle Buttress and Cleft Peak, and even down towards the main river.

I'd also strongly recommend summiting Cleft Peak on day 2, while you are up there. Besides the achievement, you get an awesome view over Column and Pyramid, and back along the northern 'berg escarpment from Tseketseke to Elephant that you don't get anywhere else.

Thanks Tony.

That is why I don't want to get to Rolands on day 1, so I can get some epic dawn shots from Cleft Peak. I couldn't possibly get up there for the first time and give that khulu a miss...

As always, thanks for the input

Hi we did the reverse route last weekend and I think ur day one might be a really big day if the kids aren't fit.

Thanks

Great to be on this site. What a cool idea.
Have not been there for years - can someone tell me how to book Roland's cave.

Also - I presume Organ Pipes Pass is in a fair condition.
The route via the Camel? I know there were always one or two tricky bits there.

Any tips will be great.

thanks

Joe

Hi Joe, welcome to the forum.
Roland's Cave unfortunately can't be booked and works on a first come, first served basis.
Organ Pipes via Thuthumi Ridge is pretty straight forward, nothing too tricky there. There are one or two tricky bits if you intend going via the Camel instead, I think they've been pretty well documented in these two threads:

www.vertical-endeavour.com/forum/11-drakensberg-passes/55774-organ-pipes-pass-camel-route.html?limitstart=0

www.vertical-endeavour.com/forum/8-drakensberg-hiking/55685-cathedral-peak-to-top-of-windy-gap.html?start=10#62252

Shout if you need any more advice/tips.

Some threads on VE indicates that Camel has become dangerous? I haven't been for 20 years, back then there were some rocky parts but nothing to hectic.. .. planning a trip - do you perhaps know ?



Mod note: Moved to relevant thread