Location:
Cobham Wilderness Area, lower southern Drakensberg. Outlook Cave is a tall, narrow opening (basically a crack) in the cliff face above the opposite end of the plateau that stretches out towards the escarpment from below the Siphongweni Rock National Monument. It lies in the same rock band from which The Policeman protrudes and which marks the lower end of the ridge that extends back towards Lakes Cave and the tarns above it.
GPS Coordinates: WGS 84
TBA (Landlubbers)
Description:
There is a level terrace outside the entrance to the cave which provides a nice spot to take in the views across Cobham towards Underberg. This terrace undulates past both sides of the cave, providing a route between the ridge above the cave down to the plateau above Siphongweni Valley. The cave is sometimes used by Basotho smugglers making their way from Amakehla Pass towards the Mzimkhulwana Hut on the Giant’s Cup Trail. Looking towards the Siphongweni Rock National Monument from the cave entrance, one can see the Titty to the left and The Pimple, Bamboo Mountains and Garden Castle off in the distance to the right. Herds of eland often graze on the plateau beyond the steep hillside below the cave, and jackals patrol the open grassland at night. The terrace is home to some interesting plant life, and the hillside is covered in orange watsonias.
Comfort: 3/5
The cave floor is dusty and strewn with small gravel stones, but the small sleeping area is mostly level and can be made even more so with some effort.
Water: 2/5
In summer, water can be collected from the two large tarns or the little stream on the ridge above the cave. The stream tumbles over a low section of the rock band and continues down the hillside to the plateau below, where it joins several other streams that eventually form the Siphongweni River. The distance between the cave and tarns is about 250 metres and is easily doable in both directions along a well-worn path. However, the tarns and stream dry up completely in winter, so this is really a summer-only cave.
Pools: 2/5
Besides the two large tarns above the cave, there is a multitude of smaller tarns in the same general area, any one of which could provide a nice spot to wash away the day’s sweat. There are no strong-flowing streams within easy reach of the cave though.
Shelter: 5/5
The sleeping area is set well back from the narrow entrance, and the boulders adjacent to this provide even more shelter from the wind. This cave is guaranteed to keep you dry as a bone.
Outlook: 5/5
From the sleeping area, one’s view out of the cave is constrained by the direction of the crack, but the views from the terrace across the plateau towards the Siphongweni Rock National Monument, and across Cobham, are splendid. However, by far and away the best views are to be enjoyed from the main tarns above the cave, where the whole of the Drakensberg escarpment from the Giant’s Cup southwards can be seen from a spectacular vantage point, set amongst bedrock, low scrub, protea bushes, and a fairyland of smaller tarns and potholes.
Overall Rating: 17/25
History:
The cave is named after the magnificent outlook to be enjoyed from the ridge above it, and the views to be had from the terrace at its entrance.