Mnweni Pass - Rockeries Pass Loop

thanks intrepid

Are there any good campsites at the base of Rockeries? Some friends of mine would like to do this route over 4 days, and would like to camp at the base of Rockeries.

The usual campsite is next to the path just after the Nguza Stream crossing when walking in to Rockeries. I can't recall any flat areas closer to the pass. There are also Scaly and Sunshine Caves about 1.5 km back along the path; we stayed in Sunshine Cave last weekend and I will post some info on these soon.

Hello

A group of four of us are wanting do to a hike from MCC to 5 Star Cave, Mweni Pass to Mponwane Cave and then back to MCC via Rockeries this Sunday.

This is quite a late post, wish I had found this forum long ago. I have a few questions. If anyone has some advise on these questions it would be much appreciated.

What's the dirt road like to MCC? Will a VW Passat survive it?
Is this area safe to hike not being in a park?
5 Star Cave and Mponjwane Cave - Are these caves sheltered from rain?
Are the pathways fairly clear?

Any input would be much appreciated

We did this hike (more-or-less) last weekend:

What's the dirt road like to MCC? Will a VW Passat survive it?

Yes, will be fine

Is this area safe to hike not being in a park?

Yes, i would say so. I have never had any issues. If you encounter locals just be polite & friendly and carry on your way. We hiked in a group of three, but to err on the side of caution i would advise hiking in larger groups if possible.

5 Star Cave and Mponjwane Cave - Are these caves sheltered from rain?

5 star cave is quite shallow, in a sever storm you might get a bit wet. Mponjwane Cave is fine. If given the choice in this area i would always choose ledgers cave though

Are the pathways fairly clear?

Path up the Mnweni valley is fairly clear, you may loose it while bolder hopping in the river at times, but just carry on up the main valley. Once you get to the pass itself it is very clear. And from the top of Rockeries to the MCC is very clear, just follow the highway.

Firephish has already answered all your questions, but just for a second opinion:

Si-guy wrote: Hello

Welcome to the site

Remember forum etiquette - we all look forward to reading your writeup and seeing your photos from the trip

Si-guy wrote: What's the dirt road like to MCC? Will a VW Passat survive it?
Is this area safe to hike not being in a park?

My Corolla handles it just fine, no issue with the roads. I use the directions from the MCC website to get there, my GPS generally gives me a funny route to get there.

As for safety, I have never heard of anyone having any problems with security at Mnweni. The community there is really great. Just be friendly, prepare to wave and smile a lot, say hi to everyone - and worst case scenario you will end up having a long conversation with someone who is trying to convince you to move in and join the community

I did this loop as a 2 day hike a few years back, my writeup with photos is at www.vertical-endeavour.com/forum/drakensberg-trips/55480-mnweni-the-tale-of-two-hikes.html - it may be of some use to you.

Tony Marshall posted great writeups with photos on the passes at:
www.vertical-endeavour.com/forum/11-drakensberg-passes/55775-mnweni-pass.html
www.vertical-endeavour.com/forum/11-drakensberg-passes/55770-rockeries-pass.html

You will be very safe, I have hike here a number of times in a group of 2 only and never felt safer - remember that ontop of the escarpment you still have to be take care and keep all gear together as you might find a herd boy ontop, but usually we have had no problems.

I fully agree. In Feb a friend of mine and I were setting up camp on the way out of Mnweni pass when a donkeytrain passed us. One of the smugglers actually ran back to warn us that we were setting up camp in a floodplain and showed us a safer spot to pitch our tent. Everybody we met on the walkout was very friendly and inquisitive. Wonderful people and place...

Hi ghaznavid,

I can't seem to get onto the MCC website to find the directions.
The directions Google gives me are to Bergville then a left onto a tar road that takes me over Woodstock dam, just on the other side of the dam it's a left onto a dirt road then at the T junction right on a dirt road to MCC.

Does that sound correct to you?

It's a better dirt road if you take the left before the bridge over Woodstock Dam, rather than after.