Last year we did an exploratory hike up the valley behind Pillar Cave in the Garden Castle area. We discovered a few caves, one which was gigantic and aptly named ‘Gargantuan Cave’ and then another cave situated further on. Gargantuan Cave was very impressive but not suitable for sleeping in . However the second cave had the most beautiful view of the escarpment and Rhino Peak and could sleep quite a few. After some discussion, it was decided to name the cave ‘Bates Cave’ in honour of Lawrence Bates, the founder of Mountain Backpackers Club. Lawrence has a wealth of knowledge in the Drakensberg and has been instrumental in fostering a love of the mountains in many hikers – least of all me. He encouraged me all the way when I was a novice hiker – and that was some 22 years ago.
And so Dave, Sidney and I met at Garden Castle before making our way up to Pillar Cave – I had quite forgotten how sustained the climb is from the camp site! After taking a break and chatting to some day hikers, we continued and climbed the saddle that takes one into the next valley. From the ridge we could spot Butterfly Cave ( so named after a visit 10 years ago when the place was alive with clouds of little white butterflies) and also Bates Cave further down. On our way down into the valley we found another overhang that was very similar to Wave Cave. The name is still to be decided but Crocodile or Alligator would be fitting due to the rock formation above the overhang. We had lunch at Butterfly Cave and I was enchanted to find one lone butterfly flitting about – although it was not white, I felt it was entirely apt! Sidney and I explored a little and found a massive rock wall hidden in a corner with a trickle of water running down its length. I can only imagine what a sight this must be in Summer.
After stopping to collect water, we slogged up the steep hill to Bates Cave. We were thankful to sit and rest a while before commencing our ‘housework’. I am pretty sure that we were the first to be sleeping in the cave and this meant clearing a suitable sleeping platform. After an hour or two of moving boulders, scraping dirt and scree and collecting fill to level things out, I can say I have a healthy respect for those that have been the first to do the same in all the other caves I have slept in! We were all pretty dirty and tired but none of us felt the need to make the trek down to the river and back again to have a wash. A wipe down would just have to do!
It was a pretty mild night for May and we enjoyed watching the sky darken over the Rhino. I for one slept well after my endeavours although we had a strong wind coming off the escarpment all night.
We packed up at our leisure and after leaving our packs in the cave, made our way up the gully to the plateau above the cave. We had seen a rock arch on our last visit and were keen to explore this more closely. We were not disappointed – the arch was impressive and perhaps Bates Arch would be a nice added touch. We collected our packs and made our way down towards the river, bypassing Gargantuan Cave en route. It started drizzling a little on the way back to the office, but this did not dampen our spirits this hike was short and sweet, but it felt good to have put Bates cave on the map!
Pillar Cave
Butterfly Cave
Crocodile/Alligator Cave
Butterfly Cave
Bates Cave
Bates Cave
Bates Arch
Gargantuan Cave
