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Drakensberg Caves & Huts Database
18
RATING

Bird's Nest Cave

Location:

Vergelegen Wilderness Area

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 Thaba Nthlanyana, the highest point in southern Africa at 11 425 ft.  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.

Co-ordinates (WGS84 / dd mm.mmm):

S29 30.845 E29 22.194 at metres

Description:

Accommodation: 12

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.


Bird's Nest Cave derives its name from the bird's nest located on a ledge at about head height at the far end of the cave.  The present residents, a pair of red-wing starlings, guard their home with fervour and dive-bomb unwary hikers who may venture too close.



3
COMFORT

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.


5
WATER

The Nhlangeni River flows a safe distance below the cave.


5
POOLS

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 down the rapids!


3
SHELTER

The cave provides adequate shelter in most weather conditions, but expect to get wet in driving rain!


2
OUTLOOK

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.

Bookings:

+27 (033) 7020712

Contributors:


Last updated: 2009-08-18 12:46:42 | Report Listing Report Listing
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