Mnweni hikes - 4 days or longer

Hi plouw,

Pleasure, just hope the cattle and donkeys keep away till then. Please let us know if it's still clean.

If your friend is prepared for what to expect, and fit enough, it should be ok.

It would also depend largely on your assessment of the novice as an individual, and for him/her it will be a baptism of fire into the 'Berg irrespective, so to be an enjoyable experience hiking fitness is essential. A head for heights and steady nerves will also assist in getting over the wet, steep, slippery and high obstructions near the top of Ifidi Pass, especially if there are only two of you. (except if your friend is an experienced climber.)

I understand your overnight route plan (probably no tents), but don't need to remind you that you have a very easy third day (assuming you find Fangs Cave easily), and a looong fourth day.

Thanks for the comments, i am a bit worried with that steep section at the top of Ifidi. especially the fact that we are only 2 people.
What about day one: bottom of Fangs, day two: ascend Fangs, day three: walk to head of Ntonyelana pass, day four: walking down Ntonyelana and out?
I've done both Mnweni and Rockeries and want to attempt two others in the area. Saw the write up and photos of Manxome pass...

I think as long as you've been to the Mnweni area before and you know where to find all the major trails you should be Ok coming down Fangs and then hiking out to the MCC in one day. There is a good path in the Mbundini valley all the way from the waterfall at the bottom of Fangs pass to the main Mnweni river valley and then from there all the way back to the road.

Your plan B route also sounds very doable, however the walk south along the escarpment to Ntonjelane pass is fairly long...especially as you have to round the Mnweni cutback...we took 7 hours from Fangs cave to the top of Mnweni pass in good weather (no mist or wind) and we were moving at a pace I consider to be fairly fast. However with this route if you find you're not making good time for whatever reason you could always descend via Mnweni or Rockeries.

@plouw,

I agree with mykitchen's response.

You are clearly up for a challenge, and Ntonjelane is quite an easy pass (although a challenging walk from Fangs).

If you're having second thoughts about Ifidi, would you consider a circuit of up Fangs and down Mbundini or Rwanqa or (it shouldn't be too bad down) Manxome?

Thanks guys. There seems to be too many options in the Mnweni. Think i have worked something out. Going up Fangs and on our third day ascend down Manxome pass to that little overhang to spend the night there (or tenting on the viewpoint if weather permits) and walk out from there the last day.

@tonymarshall: your photos really 'sold' that pass to me.

Now that sounds like a really cool (and doable) route!! Enjoy! Just make sure you have the right pass when descending (a GPS would help) the area of the escarpment around the pinnacles just before the cutback has tons of gulleys and other passes which could be mistaken for Manxome!

I was also considering of camping in Manxome Pass sometime. I think that the views would be spectacular.

Wow, these two passes are spectacular! I don't think I would like to descend Ifidi though. Would be very tough on the knees! The up was quite fun, and not too difficult. The scrambles were not difficult at all, and a rope to haul up packs is not a necessity. We reached the top of the pass at last light only, and desperately searched for one of the many Ifidi caves and overhangs. We did see verandah cave but it didn’t seem like a good shelter in the wind. Eventually found a little overhang in the rock bands with a few rocks to semi-block the wind. Finding Fangs cave the next day was easy, thanks to the descriptions provided here on the site.
The walk out from Fangs cave to visitor centre in one day was a tall order, and we caught a lift for the last 4km of gravel road.
Quite an epic trip. The Mnweni valley is really special place. I sincerely hope the new road and bridge won’t spoil the friendly, simple, rural culture of the area.

Will post some photos soon.

Hey Plouw
Did you get my message under your wiper blade.. I take it that the EC car was yours.
We followed you up Ifidi a day later, then down Icidi, up Fangs
and down Ntonjelana, so we took a little longer than you did.
Great weather, good company and seven days in total.
Funny that nobody mentioned the great camp site just below Cycad cave ( 12m according to old blikkies, the GPS).
More on the trip later.
G