Drakensberg Passes | Cockade Pass

Pass name: Cockade Pass
Region: Cathedral Peak, Northern Drakensberg
Distance: Approximately 30 km / 3 days
Difficulty: Difficult
Scenery: 4/5
Route type: Technical wilderness hike – part walking trail, part scrambling

Introduction

Cockade Pass is a Drakensberg pass (i.e. an access route to the Drakensberg escarpment) in the Cathedral Peak area. It lies approximately between Cleft Peak and Cathedral Peak.

Relative to the major passes in the Cathedral Peak area, such as Mlambonja Pass to the north and Organ Pipes Pass to the south, Cockade Pass is little known and challenging. It shares an entrance with Xeni Pass, splitting to the south from the Xeni River about 1.5 km upstream.

I would recommend it only for people with some Drakensberg experience, who enjoy a good scramble and a bit of bush bashing and self-navigation.

Our campsite at the bottom of the pass on day 1.

Cathedral Peak Area

Cathedral Peak is located in the northern Drakensberg, with central Drakensberg access points and peaks like Injisuthi and Monks Cowl to the south, and the Royal Natal National Park to the north.

The Cathedral Peak valley is conservation land administered by KZN Wildlife. It forms part of the larger uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park.

Cathedral Peak itself does not form part of the main escarpment — it forms a “finger” that protrudes some 5 km to the east.

Access to the Cathedral Peak area is typically from the KZN Wildlife office at Didima near Cathedral Peak Hotel, where hikers can leave their vehicles. The campsite at Didima is derelict and cannot be used as of March 2018.

Hike Structure

We approached Cockade Pass as a three-day circular hike. Our intention was to hike from Didima to the bottom of Cockade Pass, where the contour path crosses the Xeni River, on the first day, a distance of 9.5 km.

On the second day we had hoped to climb Cockade Pass, a 1,000-metre ascent over a 2.5 km distance, and then to proceed north along the escarpment to the top of Mlambonja Pass, a further 5 km to the north.

On the third day we would have hiked back to Didima via the Bell Traverse, a well-known path on the northern slopes of Cathedral Peak, which would have been a distance of 16 km. Unfortunately, we were forced to camp on the escarpment near the top of Cockade Pass on the second night, and to return to Didima on the third day via a hike along the escarpment (5 km) and a descent of Mlambonja Pass (13 km). This shorter alternative to the Bell Traverse became necessary due to slow progress, an injury, and wet weather.

In hindsight, I am glad that we were able to use what was effectively an escape route.

Mlambonja Pass.

Camping Spots

There is a campsite near the bottom of Cockade Pass, approximately 200 metres up into the Xeni River kloof, with limited camping space.

Once you reach the top of Cockade Pass, you can camp anywhere on the escarpment. However, the area at the top of Cockade Pass does not have water, and one would have to hike to either the Maroleng Stream (1 km to the southwest in an open valley) or to the Kwakwatsi Stream immediately north of Xeni Pass (2–3 km to the north) for a reliable water supply.

Alternatively, spend the second night in Twins Cave, near the top of Mlambonja Pass, which offers a wonderful view of the main Drakensberg escarpment to the north.

Our campsite on the escarpment.

What You Will See

At lower altitudes (below 2000 m ASL), you’ll walk in the Little Berg, with eroded sandstone cliffs, rolling grassland, indigenous forests and clear mountain streams. You will either see or hear baboons, and you may also see buck species like duiker, oribi, grey rhebok, and eland. Raptors are not uncommon — you may well spot Jackal Buzzards, Black Eagles, Cape Vultures, and Bearded Vultures.

Lower Berg on day 3.

On the escarpment (around 3000 m ASL), you’ll find a desolate, open landscape with large valleys and undulating hills. Plant life is limited to hardy grasses and shrubs, and apart from baboons and raptors, you’re unlikely to see much wildlife. Views of the Lesotho plateau, the sheer cliff faces of the Drakensberg, and the valleys below are beautifully dramatic.

Hiking Challenges

Cockade Pass is a difficult hike, particularly in wet, misty conditions. It is steep and fairly technical in places, often requiring scrambling on steep rock and narrow ledges. You’ll use both your arms and legs.

Stream crossings are also common. We could not find a clear path for most of the pass, although some claim that such a path exists. Bush bashing was therefore the order of the day. Near its base, Cockade Pass has thick vegetation, making progress slow.

River crossings on day 1.

Navigation in the pass is not always straightforward. Initially one follows the Xeni River, and the turnoff into Cockade Pass proper is fairly evident. Thereafter, there are several steep dead-end gullies that are not easily avoided without a GPS.

Little Berg hiking is equivalent to standard hiking in South Africa, though routes are not clearly marked. The escarpment section was short (about 5 km) and easy, with cairns marking the way. Mlambonja Pass, although steep, has a clear path and requires no scrambling — it’s the easiest route to the escarpment for those unfamiliar with the Cathedral Peak area.

Hiking along the escarpment.

At the bottom of Mlambonja Pass, vegetation is dense, and we lost the path, resorting to bush bashing. The top of Mlambonja Pass is marked by a large cairn. Finding the top of Cockade Pass, had one completed the circular route in reverse, might have been difficult — several similar gaps in the escarpment can be misleading.

Conclusion

Cockade is a tough pass. I would recommend it only for hikers who know the Cathedral Peak area, suffer from curiosity, and seek a challenge. It’s advisable to be fit, strong, and experienced with Drakensberg navigation. There are more comfortable alternatives in the area offering similar scenery.

Bookings and Permits

A permit fee of R70 per person, per night, is payable to hike in the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg and can be obtained at the KZN Wildlife Office at Didima (the start of the hike).

No bookings are required unless you wish to sleep in a cave, which can be booked free of charge.

A detailed 1:50 000 topographical map of the Cathedral Peak area (Map No. 2) is essential and can be purchased at Didima.