Marble Baths Trail with a detour to Battle Cave - (Injisuthi - Drakensberg)

Important Information!!! Battle cave is securely fenced off with a locked gate. All previous gaps in the fence have been securely fixed. Entering the fenced off area illegally is a criminal offence. The rangers always find out when people do, so do not take the chance! If you wish to visit Battle Cave you will need to do so with a guide which can be arranged to through Umphafa Berg Tours on (+27 82 216 9974) Call or WhatsApp to view their catalogue or alternatively call the offices at Injisuthi to obtain information on how to arrange. Book well in advance to avoid disappointment and make proper arrangements beforehand because cell phone reception is difficult to obtain once you reach Injisuthi. After signing into the mountain register, paying the conservation fee (R90 at the time of writing), and self-issuing a permit, the trail departs from the offices and shop at Injisuthi and heads down the gravel road past the campsite until the bridge crosses the Little Tugela River (not to be confused with the Tugela river in Royal Natal NP). Shortly after the bridge there is an intersection which splits off on the right of the dirt road, hereafter the trail is single path walking track. Shortly after the split the trail ascends for a while and keeps to the left bank above the Little Tugela, starting the trail this way allows you to avoid crossing the Little Tugela which can be tricky when the water is high. The trail continues in the same fashion for a while with views of the escarpment appearing over boulders and mountain cabbage trees with forests below flanking the riverside. Eventually after covering considerable ground the trail descends and meets the little Tugela before eventually crossing it and keeping to the left or Southern bank of the Njesuthi river. After a short while the path splits up to the high overhanging cliff (Continuing straight would take one to lower Injisuthi Cave). After a few meters of uphill the boundary fence is reached, here your guide will unlock and guide you up to the overhang which houses over 1000 rock art paintings. The paintings are estimated to be around 3000 years old painted by Southern Africa’s first people, the San. Various scenes of Eland, Leopards, Rhinos and Therianthropes (part animal, part human) are present in addition to the infamous battle scene between two tribes which give the cave its name. Our guide explained many of the image’s spiritual meanings in great detail which makes the experience far more impactful than merely assuming that the paintings were just part of everyday San life like hunting and foraging. As our guide explained even the battle itself may not have actually taken place and can be viewed as a Shaman’s prophecy of a great conflict or a bad omen that was expected o take place. If one takes this view, considering that the San are now extinct in the Drakensberg as a result of conflict between European settlers and Bantu tribes it makes this interpretation of the prophecy all the more appealing. After Battle Cave the path heads back along the same route until it meets the confluence of the Little Tugela and the Marble Baths stream. Here the stream is crossed and the path continues on the left or Southern bank of the Marble Baths’ stream. After a while the path begins to ascend more steeply and heads up to the top of the foothill, this is the steepest and hardest climb on the trail which compared to most ascents is not difficult but after an already long day out and in heat can prove challenging. Once the top is reached the path levels and then descends gently all the way down to Marble baths which can be spotted from a considerable distance. At the baths the water is so clear that it reflects the blue of the sky as it passes over the white rocks. There are a couple of decent sized pools which one can swim or wade into. The view of the escarpment and its cliffs towering overhead above the blue waters make the relatively long walk to reach them well worthwhile. There seems to be a few areas near the baths where campers overnight, including the Marble baths caves but the trail is possible to complete as a day walk to and from Injisuthi Camp as we did. Heading back follows the same route for most of the way except for cutting down to the Little Tugela towards the end of the trail and crossing it. Here there is a wire for support in high water and if stone hopping to keep your feet dry is not an option it would be a good idea to remove the boots (we carried a small towel with us to dry the feet afterwards). After the river crossing the path continues through a forest section and then quickly meets the road back to the camp. At the end of this trail the recording takes one past or through the staff village (best to ask for permission before proceeding here) to a small rocky outcrop which is the only place in the whole Injisuthi valley where one can obtain cellphone reception. Its about one bar and data might not work but you could send an SMS or perhaps place a call to communicate with the outside world. In summary the trail is long and takes the majority of the day even when walking at pace and might prove challenging if you are not accustomed to walking more than 20km in a day. That being said it is not particularly difficult or technical and should only prove risky if weather conditions are extreme or the rivers are swollen from rain. The frequent stops like the cave and the baths add time but allow one to recover nicely. If you wish to do this trail in a more relaxing fashion, consider overnighting somewhere near Marble baths (make sure to arrange this and book beforehand) this will make the return trip to Injisuthi camp a relaxing 8 or so kilometers. Highly recommended guided trail, even if one isn’t able to arrange the hike to the baths and back will be rewarding on its own.