GUNUNG · Afrika Selatan

Cathkin Peak

Mdedelelo (Zulu)

Information

Elevation: 3.149 m
Country: Afrika Selatan (ZA)
Location / Range: Drakensberg (uKhahlamba) — Drakensberg Tengah, kawasan Monks Cowl / Champagne Castle, KwaZulu-Natal
Mountain type: Puncak basal berpuncak datar di escarpment Drakensberg (non-vulkanik/erosional)
Volcanic?: No (non-volcanic)
Coordinates: -29.0767, 29.3531
Difficulty: Sangat berat — pendakian teknis (panjat tebing bertali + rappel), bukan trek biasa
Best Season: Utamakan periode cuaca stabil dengan batuan kering; es dan kondisi basah memperberat pendakian teknis / Prefer stable weather and dry rock; ice and wet conditions worsen technical hazards
Permits & Rules: Untuk jalur wisata Monks Cowl, urus akses di pintu masuk Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife dan tanyakan kondisi kepada ranger; konfirmasikan akses pendakian teknis sesuai titik awal / Arrange Monks Cowl trail access at the Ezemvelo entrance and check conditions with rangers; confirm technical-climb access for the chosen trailhead
Hazards: Tebing dan rerumputan terekspos, batu lepas, es, serta kesulitan turun bertali; keterlambatan dapat memaksa perjalanan malam / Exposed cliffs and grass, loose rock, ice and complex abseils; delays can force a descent in darkness

Description

Cathkin Peak, also called Mdedelelo, is a flat-topped basalt summit in the central Drakensberg of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It projects in front of the escarpment and dominates views from the Monks Cowl area. Its English name refers to Cathkin Braes in Scotland. This profile uses the 3,149 m elevation given by Drakensberg Hikes and English Wikipedia; German Wikipedia lists 3,181 m, while Wikidata currently has no elevation claim. Reaching the summit requires technical climbing. Foothill trails offer views of Cathkin without reaching its summit. A 1912 Alpine Journal notice documents a southern-gully ascent in snow and ice; its historical naming and elevation estimates are not used to define this modern profile. A Heartlands Pass photo account illustrates an approach to Cathkin’s base that ends at a turnaround below the summit. A July 1927 attempt stopped short of the summit because of time and icy terrain. Blindman’s Corner offers camping below Cathkin, rather than a walking route to its summit.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

South Gully / Standard Route — Injisuthi via Shada Ridge

Teknis berat / Serious technical climb

The 2019 party approached South Gully via Shada Ridge, South East Ridge and Cowl Fork, then descended South East Ridge. The route includes roped climbing, exposed grass and abseils; the party finished after dark. Gray’s Pass is not the summit route in this account.

Route Segments

1

Injisuthi → Shada Ridge → Contour Path

Pendekatan sebelum fajar dalam catatan 2019 / Pre-dawn approach in the 2019 account
2

Cowl Fork → South Gully → summit

Lintasan terekspos dan panjat bertali; bukan jalur jalan kaki / Exposed traverses and roped climbing; not a walking trail
3

Summit → South East Ridge → Injisuthi

Turun bertali dan kembali setelah gelap menurut pengalaman tim / Abseils and an after-dark return in the party’s account

Source

Sphinx Trail — Monks Cowl foothill walk

Jalan kaki mudah–sedang; bukan puncak Cathkin / Easy–moderate walk; not Cathkin summit

5.00 km Sekitar 2,5 jam pada perjalanan sumber / About 2.5 hours on the reported outing

Walk from Monks Cowl past Crystal Falls to the Sphinx formation and return. This is a foothill outing; the 2026 account records clouds obscuring Cathkin and the party turning back as time and weather limited further exploration.

Source

Stable Cave–Hlatikulu Neck–Blindman’s Corner — foothill circuit

Trek bermalam di kaki gunung / Overnight foothill trek

3 hari pada catatan Mei 2015 / 3 days in the May 2015 account

Circuit from Monks Cowl via Jacob’s Ladder to Stable Cave, then through Hlatikulu Neck to Blindman’s Corner and back to Monks Cowl. The source reports scarce water near the cave. This is a scenic trek below Cathkin; the account’s optional Sterkhorn excursion is outside this route.

Source

Climbing Experiences

Technical summit climbs, a historical turnaround and walks below Cathkin are distinguished here. The 1927 account illustrates ice and dwindling daylight; an operator description and family memory add context for Blindman’s Corner. Historical sources do not establish current conditions or access.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.