We are often asked about what a cave is like to overnight in, and whether water is easily available. As a result, we have introduced a rating system which includes some comments that will allow hike leaders to make informed decisions about overnight stops. The suitability of caves may vary depending on the season, so even though  leaders may have visited them once before, they might not necessarily know what they are going to be like at a different time of the year.

Our ratings are fairly subjective and can be greatly affected by the vagaries of the weather, but they are intended to answer some of the most commonly asked questions.

Comfort/5:

Comfort is primarily concerned with how level the sleeping area/s are, and how much space is available for this purpose. If you cannot sleep in a cave then there is no point in trying to overnight in it. You also don’t want to have to put your groundsheet down on very wet mud, or have dust blow over you on a windy night. Another factor is the presence of animal droppings. Like us, animals prefer to shelter from the worst weather and will also make use of cave overhangs for this purpose. Small herds of eland and vaalribbok have a preference for certain caves, especially those no often frequented by hikers. Their droppings dry up quickly though, so the less squeamish hikers in your group can easily remove them.

Water/5:

The availability of good, clean, running water for drinking and cooking is of the utmost importance, otherwise you will need to carry all your water needs from the last water source you pass en route to the cave. We are so dependent on water and the lack of it really drives this home. Even the best cave can be utterly miserable if you arrive there to find no water anywhere nearby. You can end up spending hours searching for it and carrying it back to the cave.

Pools/5:

Backpacking is a strenuous activity that generates a lot of sweat, even in winter. Unless you hike in longs, your legs are also likely to become quite dirty. Most overnight hikers prefer to make at least an attempt to clean up before slipping into expensive warm gear, especially sleeping bags. The availability of a pool nearby is a nice bonus because it provides a decent amount of water to wash off the sweat and dirt. Please – no soap, not even the biodegradable type! Remember to collect drinking water upstream from the pool, or to collect it first before anyone washes off in it. There are alternatives to a quick dip: the “billy bath” and the “flannel bath”, but neither is as fulfilling (or daring) as a proper dip in a cold mountain stream or pool.

Shelter/5:

Having a roof over your head is one thing, but if the weather turns foul and you become exposed to the elements, a nice cave can suddenly become not so nice.

Outlook/5:

Once all the necessities listed above have been met, we can pay some attention to the aesthetics. Other than summitting a peak or a pass, there are few things more satisfying to a backpacker than to chill out at the end of a hard day in a comfortable, sheltered cave and be able to gaze out towards a spectacular mountain vista. Usually, though, such vistas come with a compromise in terms of shelter and/or having running water nearby.

Overall Rating/25:

Do not attach too much importance to the overall rating. The five categories that contribute to it often conflict, so you need to decide which of these you are happiest to compromise on.