Gray's Pass ^Popular

29°04'17.9"S 29°19'23.1"E

-29.071650, 29.323083

The trail starts at Monks Cowl main camp and follows the standard route up to the Sphinx and then on to breakfast stream, from here the path is an easy walk to blindman’s corner.

At the junction you want to turn right and for the next few kms you will be following the contour path all the way past Hlathikulu Neck, this section is the same route on the Zulu Cave hike. Follow the path down, but not all the way down to the river, there is a path that will lead off to your left-hand side and will take you up into the Mhlatswini Valley.

In front of you, you will see Gatberg (Intunja / eye of the needle) and the Dragons Back. The path will follow the side of the valley before dropping down into the river and you will follow the path crossing the river a few times before reaching Keith Bush Camp.

The campsite is located on the right-hand side of the river as you look up the valley and is suitable for tents.

One day two follow the path that leads up the spur to Gray’s Pass. The climb is steep and the going will be slow, remember to fill all you water bottles as there is no water on the pass until you reach the top of the pass. There are quite a few paths made by smugglers, find the path that’s in the best condition and follow it. At a rock band the path disappears, and it looks like it carries on into the valley, but it actually swings back and up the rock band. Take care here as a few people have gotten lost here.

The path climbs up until you are in the shadow of the basalt cliffs and then contours around to the last little crux and then you enter the last rock scramble to the top. The scree is loose, ensure that you are spaced out so that loose rocks will not hit the person behind you.

Once on top you follow the path to the stream

This track starts from Keith Bush Camp