Mnweni Pools Trip Report

Elaine, Roger, Karl and myself spent time photographing all 3 of the major Mnweni Pools. We normally hike past these pools on a different path while accessing the other higher areas of Mnweni. Also we wanted to clear the confusion as to the correct names of all the 3 major pools.
I found a post by Chris Sommers on VE as to the location and correct names of these pools. This is the location map he put on VE.
 https://www.vertical-endeavour.com/forum/14-drakensberg-general/55702-pools-along-the-mnweni-valley.html

We took a local taxi from the Mnweni Cultural Centre to the second bridge past the Mnweni bridge.

This a new bridge and was built last year giving vehicles more access into the Drakensberg Mountains. From this bridge we walked on the true left of the Mnweni River towards the Icidi Valley where the correct Mnweni Pools were situated.

While walking we came across some locals with inspaned oxen and a sledge which they were loading with Protea Trees. These trees, much to out disgust were being cut down and used for fire wood. We noticed large areas where Protea Trees had been removed.

 The men were friendly and told us the names of all eight oxen. We joked with them about their 8X2 and they said they would swop us for a real 4x4. These oxen are worth R96000.00. We renamed the dark ox to Black Label as we could not pronounce its name.

After a few kms we arrived at the Icidi Valley and looked for the Mnweni Pools which are situated 500 mts from the junction of the Mnweni River. The Mnweni Pools are on the Icidi River and not Mnweni River. We found a lovely place to tent right alongside the Mnweni pools.

These pools are really nice and well worth visiting We spend time here photographing the pools from every angle. Conditions were not good for photography but we tried our best to make do with the available light. Here is Karl doing a balancing act on rocks to get the shot!

Below are some photos of Mnweni Pools, some call them Mnweni Baths.

The next morning before we headed for Mlambus's Pools we walked into the Icidi Valley to have a look.

We then walked down the Mnweni River and walked down stream on the true right hand side as the true left had some mean drop offs. We crossed the Mnweni River just above Mlambu's Pools and found a nice tent site, although in the shade and cold.

Here are two sun rise shots I took at the junction of Icidi and Mnweni Rivers.

These are shots of Mlambu's Pools.

The next morning I took these two sunrise shots on a ridge above Mlambu's Pools looking down the Mnweni River.

On our last day we walked further down stream to the Embezeni Pools which were the most spectacular of all three pools. They are a short distance from the main path and well worth visiting.

After we had seen these pools we walked up to the main Mnweni Highway Path and down to the bridge to wait for our taxi transport back to the Mnweni Cultural Centre.

This is the Mnweni Cultural Centre where hikers can stay overnight in the huts. Anyone who has not hiked in the Mnweni area has missed out on one of the best spots in the Drakensberg.

Thanks Elaine, Roger & Karl for a great hike :)