Early days climbing at Windmill Hole, East London. Ian Hatton tope ropes Blixem 21 ~ 1997, photo thanks Derek Marshall.

Rock climbing in East London, photo thanks Derek Marshall.

Cliff jumping at Windmill Hole, & Wayne Bradly ~1987. Photo thanks Keith Marshall.

East London rock climbing, photo thanks Derek Marshall.

Steven Reed leading Not The Millennium Route ~ 2001, photo thanks Derek Marshall.

Derek Marshall about to bolt his first route, Blixem (21). 27 Nov 1999., photo thanks Derek Marshall collection.

The early 2000s PE crew, Howard, Lindin, .... ~ 2001, photo thanks Derek Marshall.

Derek Marshall deep water soloing at Windmill Hole, ~1987. Photo thanks Keith Marshall.

Garvin having a good hair day, photo thanks Derek Marshall.

Climber leading Not The Millennium Route ~ 2001, photo thanks Derek Marshall.

Derek Marshall & Barry Smith jumping at Windmill Hole ~1988, photo thanks Derek Marshall.

Derek Marshall jumping & Craig Teidt ready to jump, Windmill Hole ~1988, photo thanks Derek Marshall.

Craig Teidt rock jumping at Windmill Hole ~1988, photo thanks Derek Marshall.

Barry Smith rock jumping at Windmill Hole ~1988, photo thanks Derek Marshall.

East London South Africa rock climbing at Windmill Hole, photo thanks Derek Marshall.

Cliff jumping at Windmill Hole, & Wayne Bradly ~1987. Photo thanks Keith Marshall.

Wayne Bradley jumping from level 10 ~1988, photo thanks Derek Marshall.

Derek Marshall diving from level 2 at Windmill Hole ~1988, photo thanks Derek Marshall.

Allen Luck on a secret later days mission to Windmill Hole ~ 2020

Garvin on the classic Bliksem (22), this is EL first sport route ~ 2015. Photo thanks Dricus Bezuidenhout.

Derek Marshall cliff jumping at Windmill Hole, ~1987. Photo thanks Keith Marshall.

Rock jumping at Windmill Hole in East London, photo thanks Derek Marshall.

Garvin Jacobs bolting The Crossing Guard ~1999, photo thanks Derek Marshall.

Cliff jumping at Windmill Hole, Derek Marshall (L) & Wayne Bradly (R) ~1987. Photo thanks Keith Marshall.

Wayne Bradly at Windmill Hole, note the steel cable foefie slide line in those days, from the top of Blixem ~1987. Photo thanks Keith Marshall.

Picnicing at Windmill Hole, Joan Marshall, Marge Browne & Alison Marshall ~1987. Photo thanks Keith Marshall.

Jumping off rock at Windmill Hole, photo thanks Derek Marshall.

Cliff jumping at Windmill Hole, ~1987. Photo thanks Keith Marshall.

Swimming after climbing in East London, photo thanks Derek Marshall.

Windmill Hole | East London

Windmill Hole was the first rock climbing area in East London. Yes, this is rock climbing in East London, South Africa. About 600m or 10 minutes of flat walk-in. 14 bolted routes and 13 easy, but run-out trad routes. Flat base & close to East London.

Bliksem Buttress remains shaded in summer for the whole day. Millennium Wall gets morning shade in summer. Rock is smooth vertical mud/silt stone.

For decades Windmill Hole has been the hangout for rock jumpers & picnicers. The water below Millennium Wall is said to be 30m deep. The highest water jump is about 25m. In the early days before NSA was discovered & developed this was East London’s main crag. 

Access

Municipal land with no access restrictions.

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