Bird's Nest Cave
Location:
Vergelegen Wilderness Area, lower southern Drakensberg. The cave can be reached via a relatively easy walk from the Vergelegen office. It is useful as a base for a visit to the Sulphur Spring, or an overnight stop en route up Mkhomazi Pass to climb Thabana Ntlenyana, the highest point in southern Africa at 3 482 metres. This peak is located in Lesotho, but no passports are required to visit it unless you plan to pass through the Sani Pass border post. Mkhomazi Pass is very straightforward – you climb up onto the ridge opposite Bird’s Nest Cave and follow it all the way to the zig-zags just below the escarpment, then follow the path to the summit. The Evranda Rock Bridge is clearly visible northwards across the valley from the ridge.
GPS Coordinates: WGS84
S29 30.845 E29 22.194 at 1808 metres (Landlubbers)
Description:
Bird’s Nest Cave is a very long, very narrow sandstone overhang, with a total floor area easily capable of accommodating the maximum allowable 12 hikers, although this area is split up into several sections with quite some distance between them. The cave’s most welcome feature is the easy availability of water, and the pools in the river immediately below it.
Comfort: 3/5
The sleeping areas are comfortably level, but due to the shallow overhang it is wise to sleep parallel to the wall to avoid getting wet when it rains.
Water: 5/5
The Nhlangeni River flows over some bedrock a safe distance below the cave, providing a reliable water source all year round. A 5-metre scramble down the bank in front of the cave lands you on the bedrock.
Pools: 5/5
There is a large pool below the cave with good sloping bedrock on which to sunbathe. In summer the river may be flowing very fast through the pool, so take care not to get washed downstream!
Shelter: 3/5
The cave provides adequate shelter in most weather conditions, but expect to get wet in driving rain!
Outlook: 2/5
The cave overlooks the river onto the ridge beyond. While the river valley is interesting, there is very little to see of the escarpment from the cave.
Overall Rating: 18/25
History:
Bird’s Nest Cave derives its name from the bird’s nest that was located on a ledge at about head height at the far downstream end of the cave. The residents, a pair of red-wing starlings, used to guard their home with fervour and dive-bombed unwary hikers who ventured too close. The starlings and the nest are now gone.