Monk's Cowl hikes - 2 days

A nice option which includes a loop (ie not reversing entirely along the same trail) but doesn't require complex transport arrangements between different nature reserves is any variation of a customised loop at Giant's Castle or Injisuthi, eg Giant's Hut via 2 Dassies Stream, sleep at Giant's Hut, use the contour path to get to the base of Langalibalele Pass and return to the carpark via that route. If you have a look at the Giant's Castle/Injisuthi map you will see there are numerous such loops that you can do at either Giant's or Injisuthi. Another good one that comes to mind is Bannerman Hut, you start at the Giant's car park, hike to the hut where you overnight, then in the morning you return via the contour path, but continue past your turnoff and upon reaching the base of Langalibalele Pass you return to the car park via that route.

The other place with lots of good hikes like this would be Cathedral Peak, eg going up Tarn Hill past the Mushroom, if it is in usable order, sleep in Tseketseke Hut and return via one of the other ridges.

If you do have transport between reserves sorted, you can always consider the Giant's Cup Trail which can be done between 2 and 5 days (its 72km in total), but you can also do a shortened variation of it (eg Bushman's Nek Hut to Swiman Hut), not to mention the fact that it has huts along it making accommodation easy. 2 of the huts have running water and electricity, so they don't have a very "wild" feel, but a warm shower and soft-ish bed on a hike is always welcome...

Hi powerz, welcome to VE.

All these hikes are great.

If you're set on Monks Cowl area, are a fit group testing your fitness and don't have transport issues, you can consider the Mhlwazini Valley route, which would start from EKZNW Monks Cowl and end at eMhlwazini Store, Cathedral Peak/Didima area, being a stiffish 2 day hike. You could overnight at Zulu Cave, and rejoin the Mhlwazini route quite easily.

The wording you use in your post gives me the impression you're using one of David Bristow's books, which will give you very good basic information and directions. If you follows Bristow's Mhlwazini Valley hike, which ends at Lower Didima Gorge campsite, remember it's another 7 km from here to eMhlwazini Store.

Hi Tony, thanks for your help.

Any other 2-day hikes in the berg you would recommend? I've done the Tugela gorge day hike and sentinel car park to mount aux sources via chain ladders and really enjoyed both of these and found the hikes to be very rewarding. Is the Mhlwazini valley route just as beautiful? Would the Monks Cowl to Injisuthi hike be a tougher and more rewarding hike? This will be my first overnight hike and really looking forward to it. Seeing that I'm organizing it, wanna try and find the most suitable trail in terms of scenery, test of fitness and overnight accommodation (preferably a cave).

Thanks
Nadeem

Hey Powerz

Note the warnings about transport arrangements between 2 reserves. It can be a schlep. I recommend a circular route within 1 reserve.
Injisuthi : Day1 hike to Grindstone cave via Cataract Valley, if there early walk up onto the lower Berg with path between the 2 caves for magnificent views.
Day2 return via Marble Baths. Late sleepers or those with aches & pains can return via the day route (2 or 3km).

For some fun a hike to Marble Baths annex cave enjoying the slides is a must. Other options is Wonder Valley cave and back. Stunning views to Injisuthi Range and then Cathkin Range.
Navigation is pretty easy at Injisuthi.

Monks Cowl: a longer hike is to Zulu cave. On Day2 climb out to the right of the cave and join the contour path, and climb Intunja if feeling good, for great views.

Thing is use the books as descriptions, but plan your routes using a map and imagination. Its more fun that way.

If you are keen for the Monks Cowl area, Zulu cave is a nice place to sleep (just remember to book as it can get quite busy). From there an alternative is to head out over the back ridge and climb Gatberg/Intunja before heading back to Monks Cowl. This gives a lovely view of the backside of Champagne Castle / Vultures Retreat.

Starting and ending in the same place also allows you not to have to worry about getting vehicles moved to pick you up.

If you do go with Monk's Cowl, a nice variation is to hike up past the Sphinx and back down Keartlands Pass, it adds some variety to the route. If you want something more challenging you can go up Keartlands Pass and return via the Sphinx. Keartlands Pass has nice alternative views of the area and is very manageable, I took my mother up to Blind Mans Corner via the Sphinx and back via Keartlands Pass, so its not a very strenuous route, but if you add distance to it (and maybe climb Intunja or one of the other high small berg peaks in the area) and try to reach some distant cave, you will have a pretty challenging hike.

I have to say that the route up the Sphinx is actually one of the easiest routes to the small berg escarpment, you only gain 500m vertically and it is over 5 or 6km, so its pretty gradual. If you want something very challenging by contrast, use Didima nature reserve and go up to the Mushroom for a start (and head up the ridge to the top of Tarn Hill and subsequently the contour path). Of all the day hikes I have ever done in the Berg, none have ever matched the Mushroom for either unexpected difficulty or beauty (not to mention the lack of water). In 3km you gain 700m vertically (if my memory of the map serves me correctly), its very challenging, but the view from the nose of the ridge above the mushroom is incredible, for about 300 degrees around you there is a 700m drop off, and you can see everything from Cathedral Peak to Cathkin Peak.

Hi John, thanks for your advice.

I got the descriptions of the trails off the net and pasted here to give a fair description of the hikes. I have checked online for other routes from Injisuthi to Monks Cowl but didn't find any. The route you took sounds great. Do you think it's better to do it from Injisuthi to Monks Cowl or vice versa? Did you leave a vehicle at monks cowl when you did it? How is the hike in terms of scenery and a test of fitness?

Hey powerz,

Good info x3

I read into your post that you are keen on the Monk's Cowl area, not repeating a route and overnighting in a cave, hence continued with your original Mhlwazini Valley route. I agree with Magan that transport arrangements are problematic between areas, and aren't sure of your party's fitness for a long 2 day hike?

Maybe go with the Zulu Cave overnight - climb Gatberg/iNtunja thing and use the Keartland's Pass and Sphinx variations.

If some of your group are struggling after the first day they can skip the climb and return up the valley to wait for the climbers, getting a good view of procedings and mulling over how to improve their fitness for the Otter Trail. It's quite a pull up the grass ridge from Zulu Cave to iNtunja, but an easy scramble to the top with magic views from Sterkhorn to the Cathedral Range.

Keartland's Pass has a lot of wood pole erosion barriers which form big steps, so a word of caution. Going down Keartland's is fine after an easy day hike but can be hellish on the knees after a longish hike with sore legs and packs. Maybe go up with Keartland's and return with the Sphinx route to take account of this.

If you require more info or assistance etc, please ask.

Some good suggestions here.
The Keartland's Pass, Zulu Cave, Gatberg, Sphinx option is a good workout, specifically the mentioned "wood pole big steps", as you will encounter the same sort of steps (though bigger) on the Otter Trail. They haven't learnt what contouring is down there, so you tackle the hills up steep paths with large steps.
The other mentioned suggestion is the Grindstone, Marble Baths option, a really rewarding walk, both for a workout and excellent scenery. You could add a few variations to this route by taking a detour after Marble Baths to overnight in Lower Injisuthi Cave and return to camp the next day. The return could follow an alternate route above the cave to the contour path and round to Centanary Hut and then down the ridge to the camp. The section above the cave towards Centenary hut is a little indistinct, but possible with a map. I will be in this area in a month's time, so may be able to check the path above the cave.

"Do you think it's better to do it from Injisuthi to Monks Cowl or vice versa? Did you leave a vehicle at monks cowl when you did it? How is the hike in terms of scenery and a test of fitness?"



I personally much prefer doing it from Injisuthi to Monks Cowl for two reasons. 1) I think the views of the berg are better when walking to Monks Cowl, otherwise on the second half of the hike you will have to keep turning around to see the peaks if you hike to Injisuthi (that make sense?). 2) If going Monks Cowl to Injisuthi, then after Van Heinings pass, one automatically thinks that you are almost finished when in actual fact you still have a fair loop to do because of the way the path lies. Both ways it is still a great hike.

Yes, our group was big enough so that we had gone to the drakensberg in two cars. If you only have one car, this is quite a problem. Not sure what to do about it though.

Fitness wise, from the top of Van Heinings to The Vlei and even a bit beyond, it is mostly flat and therefore easy walking.When I did it, there was an active family in the party who all managed fine. Its difficult to say, but let me put it this way: If you start early, one can comfortably do it as a day hike.

In terms of scenery, between The Vlei and Blind Man's corner, you walk right below the magnificent peaks that rise up from the path. Towards the Injisuthi side, one gets very good views into the Injisuthi valley.

As just about everybody has pointed out, there are plenty of great day, 2-day and 3-day hikes in the area. I personally think the hikes in the Injisuthi area are some of the best in the berg.

Whatever you choose to do, I'm sure you will come back longing for another opportunity to revisit the berg.

Wow, this is really a long post.