Location:
Cobham Wilderness Area, lower southern Drakensberg. This cave is situated on the Giant’s Cup Trail above Ngenwa Pool. The trail passes right through the cave, which offers a good lunch spot for hikers doing the section between Sani Pass and the Pholela Hut. This also means that should you choose to stay over in the cave, you should not expect much privacy during high season.
GPS Coordinates: WGS 84
Unknown
Description:
The cave is carved out of white sandstone and can accommodate 12 people, even providing convenient ledges for food and other camp items. There are several small yellow-wood trees in front of the cave, and the hillside behind it is a blaze of orange-red watsonias in early summer, punctuated by numerous tree ferns.
Comfort: 4/5
The sleeping areas are relatively level, although the sandstone is quite gritty.
Water: 3/5
In summer a small stream drops over the front of the cave into a pool which provides a convenient source of water. In winter this dries up and the nearest water-source is the Ngenwa River, which is reached via a steep path below the cave.
Pools: 4/5
Ngenwa Pool is a huge pool on the Ngenwa River below the cave. The Giant’s Cup Trail crosses the river via a wooden walkway just above the pool. There are several ledges to spread out on, and except at midday you should be able to find some shade to provide some respite from the summer sun.
Shelter: 5/5
The cave is recessed behind a slight rise, and the yellow-wood trees and rocks in front of it help to provide excellent shelter from both wind and rain.
Outlook: 3/5
The cave is quite closed in, but once outside there are some interesting views of the valley below, especially in early summer when the whole area is ablaze with watsonias.
Overall Rating: 19/25
History:
The cave is named after the Ngenwa River that flows below it.