Hydrax Caverns Cave

Hydrax Caverns is not a Meyer cave, but was discovered by members of SASA. The discoverers named the cave after the Dassies (Hyrax) which frequent this part of the mountain, and which use parts of the cave as a toilet. In October 1995, the Colophons rediscovered the cave, and opened the passage to the main chamber.

Description

Hydrax Caverns is on the western slopes of Kleintuin Kop, at the base of a low cliff. The slope below the cave is covered with debris which has fallen from the cliff, and from further up the slope.

The cave consists of three major sections, the open, southern section, the middle low section, and the main chamber. The southern section is a small, low chamber, which was formed by solution. The blocks which form the western wall of the chamber have been shifted by the cliff recession, and now form two entrances. A narrow passage leads to the middle section of the cave.

Between and above the southern chamber and the main chamber, is a recess in the cliff. This recess is probably the remnant of a chamber, and provides access to all section of the cave. Below this recess is a low chamber, with a sandy floor.

Below and to the north of the middle section is a chamber measuring 3m by 6m. If the cliff further, this chamber will form another recess, similar to one above the middle section of the cave. This northern chamber has a white sandy floor, which is 3m below the middle section of the cave.

by STUART MAC PHERSON, The Bulletin. Vol. 4. No. 3. _Page 57.

Whilst making a lower-than-usuval traverse from "Drops-for-drought to "Ystervarkgrot", above Kalk Bay, I was tempted to maintain the contour along which I was travelling. The rest of the party had long since disappeared from view and I was enjoying a little solitude. On rounding a knoll I found myself in a thicket of scrub averaging 10 ft. in height. Arum lilies and other bulbous plants were much in evidence, untouched by marauding baboons.

I continued my traverse below the 15-foot rock face and my eye was caught by a square recess, about 5 feet above my line of progress. I clambered up and found two cave entrances. On the right of the platform on which I was standing, a tunnel with narrowing walls disappeared underneath the platform. It would be possible to force an exit 20 feet lower down the hillside. On the left a large hole gave entrance to a chamber, off which a small passage ran in an Easterly direction, I continued on my way and later returned with a small party. Whilst they were busy crawling around in the dassie guano, I went off in an Easterly direction along the rock-wall, and about 40 feet away spied a black hole. On entering this I found myself in a low chamber, with a tunnel leading in an Easterly direction, and evidently joining up with the previous one, but excavation in the crumbling sandstone will be necessary to make a connection. Although not very large, these holes are comparable to other named caves in the area, and, in view of their inhabitants, I propose they be named "Hydrax Caverns",