Location:
Cathedral Peak Wilderness Area, lower northern Drakensberg. Leopard Cave, Poachers Cave, Gravel Cave and Skoongesiggrot (Schoongezicht Cave) lie on a major dagga smuggling route which originates on the escarpment above the Tlanyaku and Organ Pipes passes and follows the Ndedema valley to the rural settlement below. Both Gravel Cave and Skoongesiggrot are used by the smugglers so you are advised for your own safety not to use these caves. The smugglers show no consideration for the environment, making fires, leaving litter along their entire route and taking short cuts which have produced many new major paths which will be the ruin of the gorge. Please do not make use of their paths – stick to the original, carefully contoured paths no matter how tempting it is to take their shortcuts!
GPS Coordinates: WGS 84
S28 59.999 E29 16.928 (Google Earth)
Description:
Gravel Cave is quite a deep overhang, but its floor slopes upwards to the rear and there is only a small area suitable for accommodating about 6 hikers.
Comfort: 3/5
The floor is very dusty and ash from the smugglers’ fires adds to the problem.
Water: 3/5
A small stream runs over the front of the cave, falling into a rocky area from where it is possible to collect water, but only with difficulty. The stream may dry up completely in winter.
Pools: 0/5
There are no pools in the vicinity of the cave.
Shelter: 1/5
Gravel Cave provides excellent protection from the weather, but its proximity to the smugglers’ route means that it is potentially dangerous. The smugglers are not averse to using convenient caves – even when occupied by hikers – to shelter from the rain themselves.
Outlook: 3/5
Gravel Cave overlooks the Ndedema Gorge, but it is set too far back in a tiny valley to offer any views of the escarpment.
Overall Rating: 10/25
History:
Unknown