This cache has been placed at the Engagement Cave, to entice hikers to spend an extra hour in the mountains for this worthwhile point of interest. Engagement cave is a large boulder that has in eons past broken off the main escarpment and having fallen come to rest upon another large rock to form a natural cave that can sleep four hikers.
Cave from fork in trail
Entrance to Engagement Cave
Although the cave itself is not as impressive as Sleeping Beauty Cave, it certainly has an interesting history, especially in how it came to be named. Very few people know the background to the naming of the cave. .
It is a story of courage, determination, romance, true grit, and commitment.
A young outdoors fellow met up with a beautiful young girl who also enjoyed hiking and nature. Initially from friendship formed around common interests the relationship progressed and grew, and the young man decided that this was the person he would like to have as his life partner. In theme with the lifestyle that they both enjoyed, he decided on a week-end hike in the mountains and in the tranquility and magnificence of the Drakensberg he would select the right time to propose to her.
They hiked up to Sleeping Beauty cave, but as grandiose as it is, they felt "lost" in its vastness and so pushed on a couple hundred meters further up the mountain to this cave. Intimate and cosy, it was the ideal place to propose. After setting up their camp for the night and as the light was fading, tragedy struck - as the young lady bent over a small gas canister attempting to light it that they might prepare a meal, it exploded in her face. Her partner was horrified and dumbstruck as he sized up the situation. Her attractive charming face and neck was badly burnt and bleeding. As he tried to stop the bleeding with the basic first aid kit they had on the hike, what was left of her hair was frizzled and broke off around her face in hard burnt chunks. He realised that help was needed - and urgently! He was not prepared to try and treat her with the very basics that they had, making her as comfortable as possible and wait out for the light of the morning. Neither was he prepared to leave her on the mountain whilst he went for aid. So with tears streaming down his face he picked her up, and in the dark carried her all the way down the mountain to the Game Ranger's house at the start of the hiking trail. A number of urgent phone calls were made, and she was transported in a car to Underberg where she was treated by a local doctor. When the ambulance arrived, the doctor, together with her exhausted partner accompanied her in the trip to hospital where both were admitted for treatment.
Although she was permanently badly disfigured, he still proposed to her. They married locally, and this small cave was named after this incident. True love prevails!
When you attempt this cache remember this event
and you will realise the enormity of carrying an individual down the mountain -
and in the dark!
The interior of the cave
For the hike, as in all mountain type hiking situations, please ensure you carry a warm jacket and sufficient water, although the river will provide for your thirst. Remember to sign in at the Reserve office before attempting this hike. It is a total of about 10kms to the cave and back from the parking area. It can be done in 4 hours but a more leisurely pace is recommended, especially if you do the caches along the way - allow for 6 hours in total.
Looking out from the cave towards the "Ridges and Valleys".
Route from Sleeping Beauty Cave
The trail from Sleeping Beauty Cave is not too distinct as there are many "rabbit" trails to the river. We would suggest that prospective geocachers take the trail past Sleeping beauty Cave and keep on the trail that "hugs" the cliff opposite the cave. Ignore the trails down to the river. Keep on close to the cliff until you reach a very small thin waterfall. Follow the natural watercourse made by this water (even if there is nothing flowing you will pick it up easily) down to the river. Cross the river at this point and up on the opposite bank you will see the trail quite clearly going up the side of the mountain. This trail will take to Walker's Pass, and on route the "Ridges and Valleys" cache. As the trail levels off and you pass a huge rock on your left you will see Engagement Cave up on the hill on your right. Continue on the trail for a short while and you will pick up a track up to the Cave,
Actual cache placement
The cache co-ordinates are for the front of the cave. (could not obtain an accurate reading for the actual cache placing). Altitude at the cache site is 2,270m . Walk through the cave from the front with the stone wall, out the back, and turn left up the incline between two large rocks. The cache container is under a rock where the mini ravine narrows. Three or four horizontal rocks lie before you. Cache is under the second rock.
ENJOY
WELL DONE TO THE FOLLOWING THREE TEAMS ON THE FTF
Team Bateleur - indlovu Scouts - Jnr. Bateleur