A walk in Mnweni

(in the Natal Drakensberg, South Africa)
Easter 2002

Day 1

Leaving the cars saftely at the police station, the drivers came by taxi to join us at the roadhead. We set off at 3, only 9 hours from Jo'burg...

Cosmos in bloom (and not at the roadside!)

And then it got dark. We passed the marble baths just as the last light was going, had a swim, and went on by torchlight.

Day 2

A leisurely start and a good lunch, then up the Mnweni pass, to arrive just before dark.

Days 3 & 4

We had a look at Ledger's cave, perched at the top of the escarpment, then walked along the edge of the plateau to descend Rockeries pass.

Concluding that Scaley's cave doesn't seem to exist, after several hours' search, we gave up and camped the night on the first good flat spot below it.

Then back into the huts, onto the road, and a taxi back to the police station.

Afterwards...

Oh yes... I got sick on day 3, with what I later found out was pneumonia. Delightful.

Some chocolate that also came off second best.