Cobham to Mzimkulwana Hut and Lakes Cave

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Route: Cobham to Mzimkulwana Hut and Lakes Cave
Distance: 30 km (circular route)
Duration: 14 hours (three days)
Day 1: From Cobham (North is Ndlovini Peak and to the right is Grandma Peak then Emerald Dome)
Cobham Parking Lot –> Tortoise Rocks (2.8km – 225m up) -> Bathplug Cave (4km) -> Mzimkhulwana Hut (8.64km)
From Hut
- South is Bamboo Mountain (4km)
- West is Little Bamboo Mountain (4.5km)
- River below hut is Mzimkhulwana River
- River above hut is Siphongweni River
- North / North South is eSiphongweni Peak which has Mpongweni Shelters and Siphongweni Cave (2.6km)
- North / North West The Pimple Mountain (1.3km)
- Behind The Pimple is Amakehla Pass (11km)
Day 2
Mzimkhulwana Hut -> Hike till level with The Pimple, then cross river up hill to Siphongweni Cave (3.5km – 350m up) -> Whale Back (5.4km) -> Titty (6.6km) -> The Policeman (7.6km) -> Lakes Cave (9.3km)
From Cave
- East is Camel Rock (850m)
- North West is Amakehla Pass (3.5 km) / Left is Minaret Pass (North view)
- Peaks North (NNE) is Hodgsons Peak South and North
- 3rd peak to the right is Sani Peak
- Left of Minaret Pass is The Block, Sandleni Pinnacle, No Mans Peak, Verkyker Buttress and Peak and Rhino Peak
- SW below is Weavers Cave (1.89km)
Day 3
Lakes Cave -> Nutcracker Cave (2.3km) -> C53 Shelter (4.8km) -> Monster Rocks (6.1km) -> Boundary Rock (7.7km) -> Cobham (12km)
⚠️ Mountain Safety Notice
Weather conditions in the Drakensberg escarpment can change within minutes. Always register your group in the official Ezemvelo Mountain Rescue Register before starting any overnight trail, carry gear for extreme cold/rain, and ensure you have verified offline GPS tracks.
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