Organ Pipes Pass

When you get to the top of the pass turn right (Away from rolands cave, Northish) and go around Castle buttress and camp next to the escarpment and the base of cleft peak. One of my favourite areas to see the sunrise over the clouds... There is a stream.
Castle buttress is the little bump between organ pipes and cleft peak. Dont walk round cleft peak
Also don't pitch your tent on the attractive looking flat pebbly areas, they turn into dams when it rains, something I will not do again.

I think basotho's are much less of an issue than the other things the berg can throw at you

Thanks for the great information Guardian, it is highly appreciated!!!

Will definitely look for that exact spot, we were obscured in mist when we descended Organs the last time around so couldn't get a proper "layout of the land". Will explore a bit on Google Earth.

Hahaha, thanks for the heads-up on the flat areas, wouldn't want to fall into that trap

I do agree with you about the Basotho's, have not experienced any issues with them in the past but do always try and set up camp away from busy paths. Those footsteps always scare the cr#p out of me when they pass at night

Hi guys

Just an update to say that our hike turned out perfectly and that Roland's Cave was absolutely fantastic!!!! Navigating that ledge was one of the most exciting things I've ever done

The Organ Pipes - Camel loop is a definite must do

I am planning a hike to Roland's cave in December. I would like to go up Mike's pass and Organ Pipes pass since I have previously done the Camel pass route. We are planning to hike from Didima up Mike's pass in the afternoon and continue up Organ Pipes the next morning. I would please like to know the distances from Didima to the old staff accommodation on top of Mike's pass and then the distance from there to the top of Windy Gap. I would like to see how much time we would need on the afternoon.
From some of the posts that I have found about this route I get the impression that we will have to carry enough water on the afternoon to last us until some time the next morning. Or is there any water on top of Mike's pass?

If i recall correctly Its about 7 km from Didima Office to old staff accommodation, more-or-less (depending if you use the shortcuts or not). & about the same again to the top of Organ Pipes.

That time of year there will be water in the stream below the old buildings. Also, you will be able to find water on the pass itself, checkout this thread:

www.vertical-endeavour.com/forum/11-drakensberg-passes/55360-organ-pipes-pass.html?start=40#61293

Thank you for the information and link. This helps a lot to plan when we have to be at Didima to start the first part of the hike. It will also be much easier to get up there without having to carry extra water.

Hello everybody!
Does anyone know if there is water in the stream just above Old Fire Lookout? Or should we haul all our water from the last spot on the contour path coming from Ribbon Falls? I plan a scenic approach to OFL incorperating a pat of the contour path that I haven't done yet

Can confirm that the Berg is really very wet at the moment, there is literally water everywhere, little streams even coming down the paths on Organ Pipes pass and the Camel. I wouldn't load up below the Camel, but to be safe just take a small amount if you are unsure of water availability higher up. Also, temperatures are low resulting in less water loss through sweat etc. so you should be able to get further with less water