Barites Mine and Waterfalls near Ngwenya

To be led by Yael Uzan-Tidhar

horlebein@icloud.com

This is new NHSe hike in a scenic valley along a beautiful, peaceful river with a waterfall at each end.

We will park at the lower end of the river by a waterfall on a tributary, and walk along and through the river to reach the second waterfall and an old, abandoned barites mine dug into the mountainside.

Barite occurs in the Onverwacht Group just to the west of Ngwenya in the Londozi Valley. It was discovered in 1937 and mining continued from 1945 to 1976 from small underground workings and shallow quarries.

We should be able explore the mine and leave through the other side.  However, if you do not want to go into the mine, no problem, and there is a rough path back to the road.  We will walk down the dirt road, back to the cars.

This is a short walk with plenty of ti