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Bird's Nest Cave

Bird's Nest Cave

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

A long and narrow sandstone overhang, with a large total floor area easily accommodating 8 hikers.
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Bridge Cave

Bridge Cave

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Found on the north side of the valley near the start of Nhlangeni Pass.
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Category Caves
Bulwer Mountain Shelter #1

Bulwer Mountain Shelter #1

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Bulwer Mountain Shelter #2 is outside the Maloti-Drakensberg Park and is located in Bulwer. Interpretation by Celeste Rossouw: An eland is depicted here apparently ‘entering’ a curtain of natural mineral deposits on the parent rock. San rock paintings sometimes used natural features in this way with people and animals ...
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Bulwer Mountain Shelter #2

Bulwer Mountain Shelter #2

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Bulwer Mountain Shelter #2 is outside the Maloti-Drakensberg Park and is located in Bulwer. Interpretation by Celeste Rossouw: The paintings show an eland placed vertically on the rock wall. Several features emphasize the significance of the dying eland as a metaphor for the shaman who 'dies" when entering deep trance ...
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Bushman's Cave

Bushman's Cave

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

North-facing, providing views of Ngwangwe Peak and Walker's Peak.
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Bushman's Nek Hut

Bushman's Nek Hut

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

The hut accommodates up to 30 people and is situated just off the main route of the Giant's Cup Trail, slightly above the South African border post and overlooking the Bushman's River and views of the far southern drakensberg.Thaba Ngwangwe and Tomathu Peak can also be seen up on the escarpment on either side of Ngwang ...
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Bushmans Nek Nature Reserve

Bushmans Nek Nature Reserve

PO Box 378, , KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Situated in the Bushman's Nek Valley, wildlife commonly seen in the Bushman's Nek area is varied, and includes eland, reedbuck, grey rhebok, oribi and klipspringer, as well as dassie and porcupine. Jackal buzzard and black eagle may be seen soaring above the slopes. The streams are full of trout. Bushman's Nek also pr ...
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Category Bushmans Nek
Chameleon Cave

Chameleon Cave

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Chameleon Cave is near Venice cave. The overhang is high and not very deep making the cave very vulnerable to the wind and rain.
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Cobham Nature Reserve

Cobham Nature Reserve

PO Box 168, , KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Cobham is situated in the Southern Maloti-Drakensberg Park, South Africa’s first cultural and environmental World Heritage Site, and is approximately 150 km from Pietermaritzburg. The exceptional natural beauty of the Maloti-Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site is evident in its soaring basaltic buttresses, golden sand ...
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Category Cobham
Corncob Cave

Corncob Cave

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Corncob Cave (named so after corncobs were found at the cave) is near the top of Walkers Pass and almost level in height to Isicatula Peak.
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Curtain Cave

Curtain Cave

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

This cave has a large deep overhang and is 40m from Wave cave.
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Engagement Cave

Engagement Cave

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Enough space for 2 people, found 190m up the valley from Seeping Beauty Cave.
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Fun Cave

Fun Cave

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Only 20m from Verkyker cave Fun Cave has a narrow sloping overhang that is large enough to sleep 12.
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Garden Castle Nature Reserve

Garden Castle Nature Reserve

PO Box 378, , KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Garden Castle is situated in the southern most section of the Maloti-Drakensberg Park. The reserve is a total of 35 300 ha in extent and offers the visitor a variety of experiences. Garden Castle forms part of the Maloti-Drakensberg Park, South Africa’s first cultural and environmental World Heritage Site. The excepti ...
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Category Garden Castle
Gargoyle Cave

Gargoyle Cave

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Gargoyle cave (a large boulder) is about 700m in a westerly direction from Tarn Cave on roughly the same altitude.
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Glade Cave

Glade Cave

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Glade Cave is after Weavers Cave and offers plenty water from the Mzimkhulwana River nearby.
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Goats Cave

Goats Cave

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Goats cave is at the top of Lammergeier pass. The views from the cave are stunning. The cave overhang is low and as the name implies its often used as a shelter for Goats so be prepared to rather use a tent than sleep in the cave which can be very messy.
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Good Hope Shelter #1

Good Hope Shelter #1

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Good Hope Shelter #1 is in the Cobham area. Interpretation by Celeste Rossouw: Men on horses are depicted here. In the Southern Maloti-Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site, paintings are mainly narrative and can be explained with ease, while rock art in the Central and Northern Maloti-Drakensberg Park World Heritage S ...
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Good Hope Shelter #2

Good Hope Shelter #2

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Good Hope Shelter #2 is in the Cobham area. Interpretation by Celeste Rossouw: Men on horses are depicted here. In the Southern Maloti-Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site, paintings are mainly narrative and can be explained with ease, while rock art in the Central and Northern Maloti-Drakensberg Park World Heritage S ...
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Gorge Cave

Gorge Cave

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Gorge Cave is near specatcle cave, its very small.
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Gxalingenwa Cave

Gxalingenwa Cave

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

A stunning cave with magnificent views offering great protection even in the severest storms. Plenty water is available in the stream below and next to the cave in the summer months.
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Halfway/Slab Cave (Fisherman's Cave)

Halfway/Slab Cave (Fisherman's Cave)

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

A narrow cave on the path about half way towards Ngwangwane Pass (Bushman's Pass).
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Hlathimbe Cave (North)

Hlathimbe Cave (North)

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Hlathimbe Cave (North) is found at the top to Hlathimbe North Pass in the Lotheni area. The cave floor is level and provides good shelter from the elements.
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Category Caves
Hlathimbe Cave (South)

Hlathimbe Cave (South)

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Hlathimbe Cave (South) is found at the top to Hlathimbe South Pass in the Lotheni area.
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Category Caves
Ikanti #1

Ikanti #1

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Ikanti #1 is in the Cobham area. Interpretation by Celeste Rossouw: This panel is also called the “Marching Men” panel. The procession is made up of men only, carrying bows, arrows and quivers. Since they are migrating east, to the sea, this panel can be interpreted as seasonal migration of the Bushmen during winter t ...
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Ikanti #2

Ikanti #2

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Ikanti #2 is in the Cobham area. Interpretation by Celeste Rossouw: In this image two tall figures are painted above smaller humans. During trance or altered state of consciousness, shamans felt as if they are “growing taller”. This is the result of psycho-somatic hallucinations experienced during trance.  
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Ikanti #3

Ikanti #3

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Ikanti #3 is in the Cobham area. Interpretation by Celeste Rossouw: The painting shows a large herd of eland. The Bushmen mainly painted eland in large herds while rhebuck were painted as being part of smaller family groups. Symbolically, eland herds represent the aggregation phase of social life, when small Bushman b ...
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John's Cave

John's Cave

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

John's Cave is in the Garden Castle area below Little Bamboo Mountain. This caves name is given by Dave Sclanders in memory of John C. Durno (junior) who died in 1933 at 15 years of age.
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Kaula Cave

Kaula Cave

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Kaula Cave is in the Vergelegen area. The cave is large and the floor is relatively flat.
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Category Vergelegen
Lammergeier Cave

Lammergeier Cave

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Lammergeier Cave in Bushamns Nek is a stunning cave, it must be the longest cave in all the Drakensberg.  The cave is found on the Lammergeier Pass route. The cave could fit 50 people but 12 is the maximum allowed by Ezemvelo. A stream is below the cave all year and the sunrise in the mornings are a must to see. ...
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Lammergeier Cave Hike

Lammergeier Cave Hike

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

A strenuous 9.5km hike from Buskman's Nek Camp. A Map and knowledge of the area is necessary as no path exists in parts. The total elevation gain is 645 meters, no part of the hike is downhill. The cave could fit 50 people but 12 is the maximum allowed by Ezemvelo. A stream is below the cave all year and the sunrise i ...
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Langalibalele Cave

Langalibalele Cave

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Langalibalele Cave is in Garden Castle near the base of Langaibalele Peak. No camping is permitted due to the cave having Bushman Paintings. The exact location has not been shown.
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Lotheni Cave

Lotheni Cave

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Lotheni Cave sleeps 4 people and is found near the top between the Lotheni Gully and Lotheni South pass route.
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Category Lotheni
Lynx Cave

Lynx Cave

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Lynx cave is between Hlathimbe Pass and Mlahlangubo Pass about 70 meters below the top of the escarpment. The cave offers good shelter in bad weather, has a level floor but may be damp in summer.
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Category Lotheni
Mashai Shelter

Mashai Shelter

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Located in Garden Caslte as the top of Mashai Pass this small 2 man shelter may offer a little protection from the elements.
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McKenzie's Cave 1

McKenzie's Cave 1

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

A great scenic outlook of rock formations and grassy plains with almost unlimited views of the escarpment from north to south on a clear day.
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Category Caves
McKenzie's Cave 2

McKenzie's Cave 2

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

A narrow, shallow cave with not real outlook. Does offer for better shelter in bad weather than the main cave. 
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Mlahlangubo Cave

Mlahlangubo Cave

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Mlahlangubo Cave is in the Vergelegen area
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Mystery Shelter

Mystery Shelter

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Mystery shelter in in the Bushman's Nek area. Mystery Shelter is one of only three shelters known inside the Drakensberg that includes several layers of painting, the one executed over the other. This is called super-positioning. A study of super-positioning can be used to date Bushman images indirectly based on style ...
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Mzimkhulu Cave

Mzimkhulu Cave

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Mzimkhulu Cave is in the Garden Castle area on the route followed up Mzimkhulu Pass.
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Category Caves
Mzimude Caves

Mzimude Caves

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Mzimude caves is in the Garden Castle area. Their are 3 caves all in very close vicinity to eachother. The caves offer good shelter and have a level floor.
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Ngenwa Cave

Ngenwa Cave

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Ngenwa Cave is in the Cobham region on the Gxalingenwa River. The cave is passed while doing the Giants Cup trail on Day 1.
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Nhlangeni Cave

Nhlangeni Cave

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Nhlangeni Cave is below (about 350m) the top of Nhlangeni pass in the Vergelegen area. The cave can be wet in summer and offers accommodation for 4 people.
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Painter's Cave

Painter's Cave

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Painter's Cave is in the Bushman's Nek area. Interpretation by Celeste Rossouw: In the contact period and especially after the arrival of the Europeans, Bushman groups changed from being hunter-gatherers to being raiders and traders for the sake of their survival. Bushman raiders kept the horses for themselves as hors ...
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Category Caves
Pholela Cave

Pholela Cave

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Pholela Cave is in the Cobham region near the Pholele river. It's a large cave with a relatively level floor and good shelter in bad weather. Spectacle and Gorge cave are nearby and worth visiting.
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Pholela Hut

Pholela Hut

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

This old building was a farmhouse before the property was taken over by the state and put under the control of the old Department of Forestry, who then turned it into the first overnight hut on the Giant's Cup Trail. It has now been equipped with gas geysers, but the old wood stove can still be seen in the kitchen. The ...
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Pholela Shelter

Pholela Shelter

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Pholela Shelter is in the Cobham area. Interpretation by Celeste Rossouw: Paintings of the eland do not only reflect that this animal was hunted by the Bushmen, but also its spiritual significance: Bushmen believed that where the eland is, there they would experience divine protection.  
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Pillar Cave

Pillar Cave

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Pillar Cave is in the Garden Castle area.
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