Marble Baths after the floods: a changed Injisuthi landscape

Image above of Marble Baths before the 2026 floods.

Information updated 2 November 2026, based on a recent Mountain Backpackers Club report.

Marble Baths has long been a favourite stop for hikers exploring Injisuthi: smooth sandstone, clear pools and natural slides surrounded by mountain scenery. A recent update from MBC Mountain Backpackers Club reports that flooding earlier in 2026 has dramatically changed this much-loved place.

A changed river landscape

Drawing on a recent account from hikers who reached the area through the mountains, MBC describes a riverbed filled with boulders and flood debris. The familiar pools, smooth sandstone chutes and natural slides are reported to have largely disappeared.

The club also reports that the grassy Marble Baths campsite has been washed away, with riverbanks scoured out and sections of access paths destroyed. This means older photographs, route descriptions and GPS tracks should be read as records of earlier conditions, rather than confirmation of what hikers will find today.

The same update describes changes to the nearby eMmobaneni River below Heartbreak Hill, including newly exposed sandstone and pools. These observations do not establish a new swimming or camping destination, or an authorised alternative route into Injisuthi.

Injisuthi access and bridge damage

MBC’s update says Injisuthi access remains closed, subject to restrictions following bridge damage. Confirm the current position directly with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife before planning a visit.

For background, The Mercury reported on 26 February 2026 that the approach to the camp’s main bridge had washed away. Temporary work allowed essential staff access, but visitor access was not considered safe at that stage. That February report is historical context, not a reopening timetable.

Check before you go

Ask the reserve about the exact trip you intend to make:

• Are camp visits and vehicle access permitted for my intended dates?
• Is my planned trail accessible, including its river crossings and return route?
• Which permits and overnight or cave bookings are required?
• Have recent rain or repairs changed the advice since my last enquiry?

Do not use a closed bridge or attempt to cross floodwater. Recent, dated club reports can help explain conditions, but access and permit confirmation should come from the responsible reserve. The mountain approach described by visiting hikers should not be taken as permission to follow it.

Contact Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife or Central Reservations on 033 845 1000, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The official Injisuthi booking page provides accommodation information; a listing alone does not confirm that visitor access is open.

Read our Injisuthi Nature Reserve guide and Marble Baths hike account alongside the latest advice from the reserve.

Source: MBC Mountain Backpackers Club’s Facebook update headed “Marble Baths – A Sad Update from Injisuthi”. The linked club page can be checked for subsequent updates.