Organ Pipes Pass

Jono26 wrote:

Can anyone advise on the current state of the route via Organ Pipes Pass in terms of:
- Safety: there was mention a while back of a treacherous, exposed slab of rock that is difficult to cross without a rope.  I don't recall this from previous experience.
- Security: have there been any recent attacks or other issues with Basotho smugglers or travelers, especially while overnighting at Windy Gap, given that Camel is such a popular route for locals?
- Water: is there any water available between Old Fire Lookout and the top of the pass at Windy Gap?
Any info would be appreciated, thanks!  In March I'm bringing a group of 60+'s with fair to middling experience and fitness levels.

You seem to be mixing up Camel and Organ Pipes / Thuthumi ridge.
The rock slab in on Camel and its the same as normal, I crossed it a couple weeks ago in the wet without any issues.
I did see lots of locals and evidence of use on both Camel and Organ Pipes (litter, condoms etc...) seemed to be Basothos heading from Christmas in Lesotho going back to work in SA.
No actual security issues that I'm aware of though
Fire Lookout is on Organ Pipes and Windy Gap is on Camel, but there is a lot of water in the berg at the moment. The spring above the fire lookout has water as usual and so does the Ndumeni river just below the Windy Gap, and the stream you cross higher up below the Organ Pipes themselves