Penn Bay Toad Haul Cave

Region: Penn Bay

Penn Bay Crack 3 (Toad Haul) –30m long, 52m deep

Most of the coastal caves in the Tsitsikama National Park that we have
explored to date have either been active sea caves, or sea caves just
above the current sea level. While trying to get access to one of the
less public parts of the coast, we happened to walk along the tops of
the coastal cliffs, and ended up bundu-bashing through some very tall,
dense fynbos. While fighting our way back to the road, I noticed a dark
patch just to my left. This turned out to be the entrance to Toad haul.
(Also referred to as April Fool in a previous report) With the aid of a
towing strap, Stephan Moser was able to explore the first pitch, but did
not have enough equipment to descend the second pitch.

The cliffs along this part of the coast are about 160m high, are
probably the top of one of the many geological folds in the park. This
means that top of the cliff is being stretched, and the tension is being
released by cracks forming in the top layer of rock.

We have not yet been able to explore the eastern most pit, but during
April 2001, Stephan Moser and I explored and surveyed Toad Haul. The top
part of the cave is shallow sloping pit, about 2m wide, that terminates
in a steep drop. We rigged two 7m ladders to a tree in the pit, and
descended as far as the ladders would allow. In order to continue the
descent, we had to attach the rope to the bottom of the ladder, and
abseil down the next pitch. The walls of the cave are loose and flaky,
and floor is covered in rubble and debris.

The final part of the cave is a very narrow, jagged drop, which ends in
small chamber. The floor of the chamber is filled with fine, soft loamy
slit. This part of the cave appears to be split into two passages, one
above the other, but these are really different parts of the same crack,
that has not yet widened in the middle.

This cave is extremely dangerous as the entrance is a deep pit, hidden
in thick vegetation. The walls of the cave are very unstable, and the
floor is covered with fallen debris.

From the fallen pine trees in the area surrounding the entrance, it
appears that a team has attempted to clear the alien vegetation from the
Fynbos. As new pine trees are springing up, teams sent into the area
should be warned of the presence of the cave, and the danger of falling
into the entrance pit.

⮤ Back to Tsitsikamma

Survey

Survey

⮤ Back to Tsitsikamma