Sentinel Car Park to Cathedral Peak - Northern Berg Escarpment Traverse

Check out this recent thread for mini-traverse transport options and suggestions re:3-day hikes

Our group has decided to hike the mini traverse from Sentinel car park up chain ladders and come down at Cathedral. Is it possible to start from Mahai campand walk to Sentinel? Will 4 nights on top of the escarpment (1st night near Tugela falls) be long enough to get to Cathedral? Our planned start date is the 12 June-good or bad? Thanks for any comments/feedback.

@Longwalker, if your original hike spec still holds true then it eliminates Cockade Pass as a route down at the end of your mini-traverse, as there is significant bush-whacking on the walk out as documented recently by tonymarshall here and as experienced ourselves here .

Hi all.

I’m planning a Northern traverse from Sentinal car park to Cathedral Peak hotel, starting my hike on Monday morning 25 April (weather permitted). I downloaded Mike Atkinsin’s GPS track off the forum downloads page, and will be following his route all the way, even using the same camping spots.

I see their fourth/last night they spent in Twins cave, just before heading down Mlambonja pass. I would just like to know if it’s still safe to make use of this cave, or is there a safer location to camp somewhere close to the top of Mlambonja pass (I was advised to avoid making use of the caves)?

Thank you in advance for your advice!

Welcome to VE, Quentin

Quentin wrote: I was advised to avoid making use of the caves

That may be the worst advice I have ever heard. Actually, probably not - I was once told to take my splash cover off my pack to save weight on a GT - but it is up there with that.

Personally I have slept in the following caves so far this year:
1) Sandleni Cave
2) Mzimude Cave
3) Birds Eye Cave
4) Little unsheltered bivy on Sehonghong
5) Hawk Eye Cave
6) Lotheni Cave
7) Lamb Skull Cave
8) Mponjwane Cave
9) Waterfall Cave

Wow - I think I have already broken my record for most caves in a year

Caves like Ifidi Cave, Rat Hole Cave, Mponjwane/Ledgers Cave and Twins Cave should be great for your trip.

Twins Cave should be fine, I spent a night there two weekends ago, and although there were some shepherds in the vicinity during the afternoon, and they knew I was there as they could see me and I could see them, they didn't hassle me at all and disappeared at 'hometime', and fortunately didn't return during the night, not that I had expected them to. There have not recently been any incidents in that area.

Twins Annex Cave is often a preferred option, in some respects it is better than the main Twins Cave. It is about 200 m north west of Twins Cave, and is easily found by following the obvious, almost level, trail from Twins Cave below the rock band to the north west.

There are also the two Belleview Caves near the top of Mlambonja Pass, but they are quite hard to find if you don't know where to look, or don't have gps to assist you.

Agree with tony, twins is a solid cave. I did the traverse in december and its really worth the effort.
Good luck and have fun

Okay, well that's decided then... Twins cave it is.

Thanks for all the helpful advice!