Ndumeni Cave Lower
Location:
Cathedral Peak Wilderness Area, northern Drakensberg escarpment.
GPS Coordinates: WGS 84
S29 00.833 E29 11.284 at 3044 metres (Landlubbers)
Description:
Each cave can accommodate 4 people with a squeeze. A more comfortable arrangement is 3 per cave. The caves are about 25 metres apart.
Comfort: 3/5
The floor of the lower cave is the more level of the two and both have limited headroom. They are in shade most of the day and can be very cold in poor weather.
Water: 1/5
The nearest running water is about 1 km from the caves in summer, and even further in winter, behind the top of Organ Pipes Pass. It is not too strenuous a walk, but it could prove tricky in mist.
Pools: 0/5
There are no good pools within easy walking distance of the caves.
Shelter: 3/5
The caves provide adequate shelter in the dry season, but they are damp in summer and the lower cave will not afford much protection from driving rain or snow despite the stone wall. The back of the upper cave is formed by an unusually deep and very low crack which can accommodate two hikers in tandem, provided they do not suffer from claustrophobia. However, for a small group both caves are a good alternative to tenting at the top of Organ Pipes Pass, where there is a lot of smuggling activity.
Outlook: 3/5
The caves are situated behind the Organ Pipes in the dip between the top of Organ Pipes Pass and Thuthumi Pass. Although closed in by their surroundings, their location provides a unique and interesting outlook. A short walk will provide wider views over the edge of the escarpment.
Overall Rating: 10/25
History:
Unknown