Ifidi Pass

Hi Smurfatefrog,

Thanks for the image. I think we are referring to different sections on the pass.
Correct me if I'm wrong but you are referring to the section with the green arrow.We also did this, it's sort of the natural route to take.
This "new" path is further on and definitely much higher up. We did the red arrow section.

Sorry for the confusion over where the path you refer to is Riaan, but in your original post you clearly refer to the path as being just after the 'vernouing' (gorge) just upstream of Cycad Cave, so I picked up on that in my reply.

It is clear in your gps screenshot, which intriguingly contains my 2021 magenta track and blue flag waypoints, I saved the beginning and end of the trail I used, and also some areas where the ground is flat enough for tenting near Cycad Cave. You refer to the red arrow section of path, which I don't know about, and the green arrow section which we all know about, although if the blue gps track is your track, you didn't use the green arrow section of trail. Thanks for pointing this out, the faint trail at the red arrow section. My 2021 gps track is also the route shown on the new Slingsby map.


When you have a chance to do your write up, I'm keen to read about the rearranged boulders in the pass, and your experience of the iced section and these boulders.

Hi @Riaang, we went up Ifidi the other day (6-8 Aug '23). It was a typical last minute leave Jhb early for MCC, up Ifidi to Ifidi cave. Next day across to Mont Aux Sources and over to Mponjwane Cave for the night, down Rockeries and back to Jhb. So possibly not doing as much research as I would usually do, but I did plot my routes and I was mostly looking at variations on top. I have never done Ifidi, so was super keen for it. We loved the pass, and as sticking in the river bed was a bit arduous we also exited via a clear path (the path you mentioned I am almost 100% certain), climbed vertically up and out then broke to the right. We veered on and off what was a bit of a path until we eventually merged back into the river bed just before the fork in the pass.Happy to chat about it more, I know I don't really comment on VE too much, but I do move up in the Berg quite a bit and should probably share more. That path and other possibilities have just been stuck in my thoughts for a while now and thought it appropriate to share. 

Hi @PJordaan,

Jip, sounds like the path we used based on your description. I guess if more people use it, it will become more well-defined in time. Finding it on a descent of the pass will be quite interesting

Yeah not sure it will be very straight forward from a descending point of view. 

A week or so before we went, two of my friends also did Ifidi, and seeing a Basotho head up to the left along a path they decided to follow him. They lost sight of him and eventually they couldn't find a the path anymore so they retraced their steps back to the river and headed up via the riverbed. 

This was one of the main reasons I wanted to try this route out, as it must lead somewhere and I have had some success through following some of the Basotho paths. Not sure how much more efficient this route was, but it was cool.

I checked on my Ifidi tracks and found one that I did most recently, in 2019 that looks similar to the track in question. I cannot remember why we took the route to the left before heading into the gully, but there must have been a path already.

Sabine,

When you get off that first grassy bank after Cycad cave, just as you are about to get back into the riverbed, this "new" path kind of appears right before you. We weren't looking for it, but simply stumbled accross it.

It's less than a month before we head out to ascend Ifidi pass. Quite excited, as I have not done what must be one of my favourite passes, in many many years.

Has anyone done it recently in the last 2 months or so? Is Cycad Cave area still the best place to camp, or are there any campsites further along (thinking 3-4 tents)?