Location:
Monk’s Cowl / Mdedelelo Wilderness Area, lower northern Drakensberg. The cave can be reached via Jacob’s Ladder, the Mhlwazini River and Hospitalspruit, or the Valley of Pools.
GPS Coordinates: WGS84
S28 59.646 E29 20.777 at 1831 metres (Landlubbers)
Description:
Vaalribbokkop Cave is a very long overhang with two main sleeping areas, one near the access path and the other about half-way along the cave under some yellowwood trees. The first sleeping area has some Bushman paintings low down on the rock face behind it, but these have deteriorated so badly that conservation officials allow hikers to overnight here. There are a few other paintings higher up the wall further along the cave, one of which looks for all the world like a boomerang! There is a third small sleeping area at the very far end, past a small waterfall at the head of the small gorge which encloses this end of the cave.
Comfort: 4/5
The cave is comfortable, although the second sleeping area under the trees is very sandy. In driving rain this area may also get a little wet.
Water: 5/5
In summer the waterfall near the far end of the cave provides drinking water and shower facilities, but in the shallow valley about 150 metres below the cave, three streams meet to make up the main part of Hospitalspruit. In winter, when the waterfall at the cave dries up, there is always water to be found at this confluence, and some of the pools are deep enough for a good wallow. The abundance of water makes Vaalribbokkop Cave a far better alternative than Stable Cave in winter, except for the much less spectacular outlook.
Pools: 3/5
There are some nice shallow pools in the valley below the cave, an easy 150 metres away. Unfortunately, the valley is often ravaged by flash floods and some of the pools are greatly affected by this.
Shelter: 4/5
The cave provides very adequate shelter except in driving rain, when the area under the yellowwood trees may get wet.
Outlook: 3/5
Although nowhere nearly as spectacular as the views from Stable Cave, Vaalribbokkop Cave still offers an interesting outlook, especially if you step a little way out of the cave. Nestled in a shallow valley as it is, it has a homely feel without being too closed in. There are many proteas in the area, and some interesting narrow valleys beckon the explorer.
Overall Rating: 19/25
History:
The cave is named after Vaalribbokkop (which translates to Grey Rhebuck Mountain), a very prominent, 30 metre-high dome on the hill behind the cave, whose slopes are covered in protea trees. This dome lies almost on a line drawn from Stable Cave to Vaalribbokkop Cave, and forms a useful landmark because it can be seen from many vantage points around the Mdedelelo Wilderness Area – even from the escarpment. Vaalribbokkop is easily climbable from the midlands side. Grey rhebuck are endemic to the Natal Drakensberg and are its most frequently encountered antelope, who give away their presence with a bark-like warning.