Cat Cave

Location:

Monk's Cowl / Mdedelelo Wilderness Area, Northern Drakensberg.  The cave can be reached from several directions, although the most popular route is via Hlatikulu Nek from the Parks Authority camp at Monk's Cowl.  Since this cave is not marked on any maps, it can quite easily be mistaken for Zulu Cave by novice hikers.  To discourage its use - even accidental - as an overnight camping spot, the Parks Authority has littered its potential sleeping areas with many large rocks.  Zulu Cave is only about 400 metres further up the valley, although this does involve a fairly stiff climb as well.  It is possible to continue on to Zulu Cave directly from Cat Cave by climbing the small ledge at the neck of the glade where a small waterfall enters it, but special care should be taken in the wet.  The alternative is to backtrack down the valley and then go around up the spur to Zulu Cave.

Warning:

It is a serious offence to stay overnight in this cave because of its numerous Bushman paintings.  This is generally the case for any cave containing large numbers of Bushman paintings.

GPS Coordinates:

Unknown

History:

The cave takes its name from the many paintings of cats, mainly leopards and lions, which adorn it walls.

Last modified on 2006/04/19