Location:
Bushman’s Nek Wilderness Area, lower southern Drakensberg. Gargoyle Cave is about 500 metres from Tarn Cave, and lies in the same band of sandstone in which the latter is found. It is best approached from above, since there are no paths up from the valley below. There is a very easy gully which leads right to the cave, but finding this particular gully could be a challenge!
GPS Coordinates: WGS 84
S29 51.391 E29 07.834 at 2414 metres (Landlubbers)
Description:
Gargoyle Cave is a small overhang with a floor area capable of accommodating about 4 hikers. Although Tarn Cave is a better choice because of its size and the availability of water, Gargoyle Cave offers an interesting alternative to a small group, especially if Tarn Cave has been booked by another party.
Comfort: 4/5
The sleeping area is relatively level and smooth with plenty of headroom.
Water: 1/5
In mid-winter there is no running water in the vicinity of the cave, but in summer a small stream trickles down the gully to the side of the cave. There are also some very small tarns above the cave in the direction of Tarn Cave, but if you are really desperate, you could slip into Lesotho to fetch water from one of the huge tarns near the old Sehlabathebe Lodge.
Pools: 2/5
The nearest pools are the tarns on the plateau above Tarn Cave, although there are several smaller ones nearer the cave in summer.
Shelter: 3/5
This is a dry, relatively sheltered cave in winter, but it may become damp is summer. It is certainly more sheltered from the wind than Tarn Cave.
Outlook: 5/5
The cave is north-facing and provides a spectacular view of the Devil’s Knuckles and the escarpment towards Tomathu Peak.
Overall Rating: 15/25
History:
The cave was discovered and named in September 2005 by a group of Mountain Backpackers Club members who had spent the previous night in Tarn Cave. The group entered the cave from above, and it was only while descending into the valley below that an appropriate name for the overhang became obvious. A gargoyle is defined as “an ornament consisting of a grotesquely carved figure of a person or animal”, and in horror movies these are the statues that usually come to life with red eyes!