The Last Crag of the Century
9 routes
in Cliff
- Avg. Height: 33m
- Style: Sport,Trad
- Ascents: 6
- Aka: Last Crag of the Century
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KML- Description:
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Routes here are up to 35 metres long and the quality of the climbing is clearly imported from another solar system, several 5-star routes including arguably the best 19, best 22, 23 and 26 at Boven!. Long routes will sometimes have chains halfway up so that you can lower off twice to get down. There is plenty of potential for new lines at the right end of the crag, just be sure it‟s not one of the existing trad climbs.
- Access Issues: inherited from Waterval Boven
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Best is by car but see bus info below. There is actually no need at all to venture into Johannesburg itself (not that it‟s such a bad place, some people love it!). From Johannesburg airport (O R Tambo International) take the R21 south for a few kilometers then the N12 east towards Witbank, which becomes the N4. These are excellent highways and within two hours (several kilometers after the second toll gate) the turn-off to Waterval Boven is reached on the right. Note: the highway splits into two
1.5 kilometres after the second toll gate. Both are still signed N4 Nelspruit, but only one of them passes Boven! Keep straight, don‟t take the left fork, many first time visitors make the mistake of going left which leads in completely the wrong direction!
The expensive toll gate just before Boven can be fairly easily avoided by turning off (right) at Machadodorp, approximately 15 kilometres before Boven. Drive into Machadodorp then take the tar road towards Badplaas (signed) for approx 13 kms, then turn left towards „Nkmomati Mine‟. After 3.2 kms turn left onto a gravel road signed Waterval Boven. Keep on this, keeping left at the fork at 6.5 kms, the road leads past the Tranquilitas Adventure farm and the Wonderland crags and after another 8 kilometres or so into Boven town, about 10-15 minutes later than if you had gone through the toll. If it‟s been raining very heavily this road can be unpassable in a normal car, however it dries very quickly (within a few hours).
Once in Boven, Roc „n Rope Adventures is easily found, on the opposite corner is the Shamrock Arms pub. Stop in and say “howzit” and get directions, either to the Climbers‟ Lodge or to Tranquilitas. While in town pick up some beer and some cheap (but excellent) steak and boerewors from the butcher (Slaghuis), be sure to ask for the climbers‟ discount.
There are a couple of shuttle-bus services that leave/return to Joburg once a day. At the time of writing „Jereh‟ will drop you off at roc and rope. Contact them on 082 378 3614; they will soon have a website. The other service is the Lowveld Link
8
(www.lowveldlink.com) but they only drop at the Boven turn off from the N4 but its only 1-2 kms from there to Roc and Rope. Expect to pay between R 300 and 400 return.
- Approach:
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The best is to park as for ACRA then access as for the WB wall, then abseil (or scramble) down the WB gulley. At the base of the gulley, walk along the path along the base of the cliffs until you see the climbs. To exit, either scramble back up the gulley, or 101 walk approx 200 metres along the base of the crag until you reach the railway and you will arrive at the top of the WB gully. Walk back through tunnel, if a train comes, press yourself to one side (apparently safe but absolutely terrifying).
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