ChiChi Bush Camp

Hi, does anyone know the camp site marked on the map of the Mnweni area just below the Mnweni pass at S 28.88930° E 28.99596°. On previous hikes of this area I've always stayed in caves further down the valley. This seems like a great idea to get started up the pass first thing, I just don't know if that area offers flat ground to camp on. Has anyone camped there before? Appreciate your feedback thanks.

Ok wonderful, thank you. I will look

It's not really a camp site, just some level areas of gravel inbetween the rocks of the riverbed, where you can put up about four tents quite close to each other, as shown in the photo Smurf posted above. In the 1980's I used the original campsite which was on flat grass on the riverbank, but it has been washed away.

My coordinates of ChiChi Bush camp are S 28 53.352 E 28 59.761 at 2176 m.

If it will help I can look for some photos I have of tents at the gravel camp site.

On the gravel! And it's level? If it's not too much trouble if you do have those images, it would help me tremendously to decide on where to sleep over. We were planning on taking it very easy over the first two days hiking in and spending some time in those great pools, but if it's no longer in use as an over night spot maybe we do the pass on day two rather. thank you for the response

Yes, on gravel, quite level and comfortable. It was quite a while since I was there, and I can't remember how easy or difficult it was to put tent pegs in the gravel. From the rocks around the bottom of the tents at the peg locations, I would guess all the pegs were loose.

Ok, well as long as it was comfortable. Thank you for the info. I'll post some picks of the site once we're done

Can anyone recommend a reasonably secluded camp spot in the Mnweni valley between the Mnweni-Mbundini junction and the start of Mnweni Pass please?

I have heard of a camp spot at the Rwanqa junction but I don’t know where it is. Likewise Chichi bush camp. But what is it like in 2025? Perhaps there are other places too?

Thanks!

Tiska,

When I was there last year there were a number of open sandy spots in the riverbed quite high up towards said junction. Can't tell you exactly where unfortunately, but I noticed a bunch of spots that can work if you have a freestanding tent, or get creative with rocks to anchor ropes for trekking pole type tents. Chichi bushcamp itself is not there anymore after the floods, unfortunately. You can also camp on the side banks a bit lower towards Shephards cave area, I've tented there before but that is obviously a bit further from Mneweni pass itself. Unless you want to go up via Ledges pass, as the cave is basically immediately opposit the bottom of Ledges pass on the western side of the river, and slightly down river/lower. Quite a nice pass as it is basically a ridgeline walk with a game trail right on top of the ridge, untill you turn left up into the gully section closer towards the top. Nice pass but note that there is no water here, and once you top out you would then have to walk inland to the start of the Senque or one of the pools in the immediate vacinity.

Thank you Riaang - stalwart of VE contributions!

It is useful to know that Chichi camp is still a gonner. It was in a very useful location.

The big, sandy river places that I have noticed on prior trips are a km or so downstream from the Shepherd's/5*/dagga planters etc set of caves. But maybe there are also places further upstream, closer to the escarpment than the Ranqwa-Mnweni junction.  Incidentally, two out of the three caves in that area were permanently inhabited when I was last there - namely 5* (the one closest to the river at the Mnweni-Mbundini junction) and Shepherd's (on the terrace of the Mnweni river just upstream in the main valley of 5*). The cave I have called 5* here had a large, sturdy, canvas dome tent in it in April 2025. The guys living in Shepherds and 5* said they were in the process of building a permanent hut at the junction of the Mbundini and Mnweni Pass - see photos below. There was a pile of ash blocks ready for the build but no progress on the hut itself. We met them early in the morning when they were going off hunting for the day with three dogs. 

 


 



I'm keen to have a crack at the much admired Ledger's Pass - but not this time as some novices will be with us. Thanks for mentioning it though.