Injisuthi hikes - 2 days

Hope I'm not jacking the thread but we (2/3 of us) will be doing Injasuti to Cathedral Peak Hotel (including Bell Traverse) in October, going up Leslies as well. I will be using all GPS data available, as well as the official maps, and I have drawn a track on Basecamp as approx. route. We will be sleeping at the base of Leslies, then onto Didima Cave, then Rolands and then Easter Cave.

Any advice on any aspects would also be appreciated alot. Do we have to book any of these caves in advance ?

Interesting choice of Easter over Twins (before the Bell Traverse). Is that for peace and quiet?

It sounds like a longish day up Leslies Pass to Didima Cave. Didima to Rolands is a nice day although its always a toss up between heading down Yodler's or keeping to the escarpment initially for the views. October will be prety dry though so maybe Yodlers won't be worth the bother.

I'm not aware that any of those caves are bookable. Upper Injisuthi, Twins, Bell yes. But they aren't on the list.

Hi mnt,

Yes, I have seen talk of Twins being a spot for the smugglers etc., so I would like to be as stealthy/inconspicious as possible, due to the fact that we are only 2 or 3 going ...

Yip, looks like a 17km 2nd day for us, but that will be the longest leg of our plan. The rest of the days is approx. 12-14km.

If you say Yodlers/escarpment, is that Yodlers pass or what do you refer to ? Never been in this parts before.

Yodeler's Cascades is the inland route you would take from the Didima/Pampiring area to the Organ Pipes/Thuthumi area. It's a beautiful valley with high sides and many large pools and waterfalls. It descends into Lesotho from the Pampiring Ridge, runs parallel to the escarpment and spits you out in the large open valley coming from behind Windsor Castle. You can then follow this valley back to the escarpment edge and traverse around the front of Ndumeni Dome to get to Roland's Cave.

The escarpment route sticks closer to the edge via Ndedema Buttress and the top of Thlanyaku Pass.

And Easter Cave is an excellent alternative to Twins if you don't mind the 1-2km detour each way. The sunrise view over the Cathedral Range is a memorable one to wake up to!

SOOO glad we got sick and decided on a a chilled weekend at Swinburne's Rensberg Koppie would have been really miserable to be in a cave during the weather we had these last few days!

Hi All. I'm trying to get advice on what is required for a moderate hike to Marble baths cave. I assume the hike starts at the camp??
What would be required to be carried as provisions, insect repellents and protective gear. We would be staying at the cave to return next day. Any comprehensive advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Hi Deszn,
welcome to the forum.

I went up to Marble Baths cave last December with my 2 kids (aged 8 & 11). We came back by a different route 'over the top' passed Grindstone caves back to Inj camp. Outbound took 3.5 hrs, homebound slightly longer at 4.5 hrs.
Its very do-able. Simpler though to do out and back on the same route which follows the river most of the way on an excellent path.

We took pretty minimal gear: fleece, raincoat, sleeping bag, mat/thermarest, change of shirt and shorts, spare socks.
For food we cooked pasta on a small stove with one pot. We each had a spoon and a mug. We also took cup-a-soup, some biltong, some game and lots of tea (had four cups in grindstone cave on the way home...). we took cheese and biscuits for lunch and the kids had cereal for breakfast.

We took no insect repellents (we've never needed them in the berg). We took a few plasters and a handful of painkillers. All went well.

Hi,

Thank you so much. That is really helpful.

Regards

Hey Diverian, this post brought back some good memories of last year...we took our kids to Marble baths and back..girls aged 10 and 12...both coped very well.