The Mt Aux Sources - Amphitheatre - Tugela thread

Thanx

Smurfatefrog
The articles you refered me to seems to be a while back. Any new threads on the go?

My hike writeup from the Easter weekend:

www.vertical-endeavour.com/forum/drakensberg-trips/55256-as-the-crow-flies.html#56432

I have been up in that area on and off for 15 years and have not had any incidents but have heard reports of theft and even dangerous conflict on occasion.

Basically I don't think it's a predictable situation as there don't seem to be Parks Board patrols any more and I would say you should always travel in a group and keep your eyes open. I carry a small hand size pepper spray as backup whenever I hike there.

I went up to Crows Nest cave (which is brilliant accommodation/ shelter)in heavy snow last August and only saw a few groups of hikers and day hikers. The year before a friend and I camped by ourselves in the next valley over from the Tugela at an excellent sheltered camp site in fine weather and saw absolutely no one. Watch out for marauding crows! They stole a chocolate from me while we were off taking pics.

A good habit is to sleep with your kit inside your tent if you can. I keep my boots in a plastic packet near my head. Travel safe!

Thanx for all the advice. I found some valueble info here.

Hi guys!

I did the day chain ladder trail this weekend, but I would love to camp on the mountain next time.
Could someone please advise as to how far the Tugela falls hut and the Ifidi cave is from the chain ladder?
I've read about security risks concerning the Tugela falls camping spot, so would rather camp in a cave?
But where and how far is it?? Thank you in advance!

The area at the top of the chain ladders and Amphitheatre is definitely a place to be very wary of potential crime. It is my belief that most, if not all of the perpetrators are actually our own countrymen, SeSotho speakers from the Phuthaditjhaba area, a place where they can find a quick and easy market for stolen goods. The chain ladders make for easy access / escape and of course they know the other local passes anyway.

My advice is to camp as far away from that area as possible, further along the top of the Amphitheatre, where there are excellent camping areas, for example into the Kubedu valley. Avoid long weekends when there is more incentive for criminals to look for easy pickings.

lerookie wrote: I've read about security risks concerning the Tugela falls camping spot, so would rather camp in a cave?

Have you considered Crow's Nest Cave? I haven't checked the cave out myself (despite having been within 100m of it in good weather early in the morning), but I have bee told its a great cave. Its probably 1km from the top of the chain ladders.

Its relatively easy to find in clear weather, you just walk over the Tugela basin, up the slope on the other side, follow the nose of the ridge on the south side of the Tugela moving away from the escarpment edge. There is a massive peak in front of you. You will see a clear stone wall on the left about halfway up the left of the ridge. That is where you will find the cave