Mutanda

Michael Laumanns - 28/11/2015

The cave has two vertical entrances in 5 m distance from each other. The N pit has a depth of 6 m and is climbable. At the bottom of the pit, where loose blocks are lying, one reaches a long chamber measuring 20 x 7 m. The ground declines to its centre noticeably and is completely covered by bat guano. At the ceiling a 0.4 m deep roof channel winds to the NE side of the chamber. In the deepest part of the chamber a low passage of approximately 30 cm height, which is heavily frequented by bats of the species Hipposideros c. caffer (SUNDEVALL 1846) splits off to the SW. The loose guano facilitates to proceed. The slightly meandering passage continues horizontally. A thick guano layer forms the ground. After 25 m the passage lowers to 0.3 m. Theoretically, a progress would be possible with some digging of the loose guano, but the bat colony and many insects are unpleasant. Beside the bats; amblypygi, beetles, cave-crickets and insects were observed. No conglomerate fillings, no calcite formations. An air temperature of 22,84°C was measured.