There-and-back

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Check the tides at Mossel Bay (for the week ahead). Hike at about low tide.

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​Google Maps:

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​​Start/End    Wreck

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Cave Bay

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Maximum Altitude: 20m

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Total Distance: 5.8km

(Berg-en-Dal)

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Total Elevation-Gain: 259m

(Berg-en-Dal)

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Specific Gradient: -75deg

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Slope Length: 10m

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Qualitative Danger: 4.5/5

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We do it once a month at spring low-tide, wind and weather permitting, when we comfortably have about seven hours between high-tides. We usually don't take much longer than five hours, perhaps six, depending on the size of the group, and how much cave crawling they want to do.

 

We do not hike when the wind is forecast to be stronger than 30km/h. Hikers can be blown off balance, fall off the cliffs, and be injured. We might hike even when rain is forecast. An assessment is then made on the morning of the hike, perhaps even from the main beach, because often enough forecast rain does not occur. Rain does make conditions significantly more slippery on the rocks.

 

It's technical, though. It's not just a simple stroll along the beach. Scrambling over slippery rocks along ledges across high cliffs. Don't be surprised if you get dirty and wet. Wear comfortable, closed footwear with sticky grip on slippery rocks, and which may get wet. Wear old clothes that may be stained and torn.

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Sand is washed in to and out from certain sections of beach from time to time. The less sand, the more exposed the rocks, and the higher the water can reach inland, making for a slower hike. Hikes can differ significantly from one month to the next due to this sand movement.

 

This is probably one of the most adventurous hikes of which I know in the region that almost anyone can do in a morning. I have taken people of all ages on this hike, and the greatest majority of them enjoy it tremendously. Children love it. They're born to climb. Adults are the scaredy cats. Elderly people enjoy it too.

 

If you have a severe fear of heights, this hike is probably not for you. However, there is usually at least one person in the group who feels uncomfortable on the high places. Watch the videos. Decide for yourself.

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Do not disturb the bats in the Bat Cave. Do investigate the secret of the Secret Cave. It is an exciting and pleasant surprise. Watch the videos for details.

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2022jan02sun: I have just received feedback from a friend who spent friday night camping at the caves with some friends. When the group came back from a swim, they found a sandwich packet torn open, and some sandwiches missing. They took some pics, and sent it to a nature conservationist/guide friend of theirs, who confirmed it was probably baboons, judging by the long-fingered paw prints in the sand. However, they were puzzled as to why only one packet had been torn, and that not a greater mess had been made, as baboons usually do... Eventually the nature guy came back to them, and indicated that he had now also identified potential leopard spoor. ...which might explain why the baboons didn't stay long enough to make a bigger mess.

 

He speculates that the leopard might have moved into one of the caves, and advises that people not go there or move around by themselves or in small groups, and not go deep into the caves, and not corner the leopard, making it feel threatened. (So, the Secret Cave might now not be such a good idea anymore...) Also, do not fool around with baboons, and do not leave stuff lying around to attract the attention of the baboons. Have you seen their fangs? ...and can you do a one-arm pull-up onto a tree branch like they can?

 

If you can't figure out why you shouldn't corner a leopard or mess with a baboon, then, perhaps, you might want to go and try it, so that you can find out, and learn the lesson for yourself. If you do, thanks for removing yourself from the Human genome by means of leopard and/or baboon. The rest of the Human race salute you for your unselfish self-removal, thereby raising the average IQ on planet Earth. We hope that you enjoy your Darwin Award, which you can collect from the table at the door on your way out. KTxBye.

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Some further, good, historical background-information is available here.

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The first video is of poorer quality, having been one of my very first videos shot with an ASUS Fonepad 7 phablet.

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