Injasuti is another beautiful and picturesque area in the Drakensberg and was once a farm called ‘Solitude’. It was renamed by KZN Parks Board when they took it over in 1980 and means ‘well fed dog’. There are numerous beautiful valleys to explore and it is also the start to a number of rugged passes to the escarpment.
This weekend the plan was to visit Wonder Valley cave which involves a climb up Van Heyningans Pass to the top of the little Berg and is about 8kms from the camp site. The road to Injasuti has not improved since my last visit and is an adventure in itself! You definitely need a vehicle with good clearance and I am amazed at smaller sedans that somehow still manage to arrive in one piece. There were 14 of us on this hike and it was good to meet new faces and say hello to old friends. I was happy to see the Plane trees around the chalets in their full Autumnal glory but saddened to hear that it was just a matter of time before these beautiful old trees would be taken down. Part of the ongoing Parks Board drive to exterminate ‘aliens’ when in truth these are not invasive and the authorities time and effort would be better spent on getting rid of the massive Black Wattle infestations in other areas. My personal opinion of course but I know there are many others that feel the same way.
It was a glorious day and in fact unseasonably warm for this time of the year. The bridge across the river had been swept away by the heavy rains a couple of months ago but we were able to cross across a bridge of rocks that had been placed there by Parks Board. I am not so sure this will be feasible come the next rainy season and wondering whether there are plans to replace the bridge.
Our climb up Van Heyningens Pass in the cool shade of the forest was steep but mercifully fairly short and we stopped for a lunch break at the top, taking in the views around us. From here it was another few kilometres to the cave and we enjoyed the sweeping views of the escarpment on the way. We all managed to find a spot to lay out our mattresses and unpacked, and then it was a steep and slippery walk down to the waterfall and pool at the bottom of the valley. A definite attraction at Wonder Valley. Some braved the icy waters amongst a great deal of shouting and a scream or two…………braver souls than I! After collecting water and negotiating the steep climb back, it was time for a hot drink and snack. This cave is north facing so is very warm but the minute the sun dipped below the horizon those warm layers were out in minutes! We had a wonderful view of the new crescent moon and stars and it wasn’t long before all were tucked up and asleep.
We got up at a leisurely pace the following morning and made our way back down the pass . The mountains were crystal clear and it was another beautiful warm day to enjoy. A brisk pace was set and I am always amazed that the old adage of turning a horses nose for home seems to apply equally to hikers! After showering at the campsite we met later at the Blueberry Café near Nottingham Road for lunch. A lovely ending to a most enjoyable weekend.
