Who we are
The Mountain Club of South Africa (MCSA) was founded in 1891 in Cape Town, and is member of the world mountaineering body, the UIAA. The MCSA offers mountaineering which includes climbing of all types and hiking opportunities to its members and is involved in mountain search and rescue, training, conservation of mountain areas and procurement of access for mountaineering.
Join a Section
The Club consists of 15 Sections, geographically distributed. Contact the section nearest to you to join in activities, or for buying permits for different hiking venues, where permits have to be obtained. Membership in the MCSA also happens on Section level, so if you want to become a member please find the section nearest to you. If there is none, maybe consider starting one?
Emergencies
If in trouble in the mountains contact the nearest emergency number as listed here:
MCSA News
Newsletter May 2026
Download: MCSA May 2026 Newsletter (pdf, 28.3 Mb)
National Meet 2026 – Eastern Province Section, Bucklands Farm
Reporting back on a large and quite complex event like the Bucklands National Camp is difficult because there is so much to report on and inevitably something notable will be left out. One can [...]
Newsletter February 2026
Download: MCSA February 2026 Newsletter (pdf, 11 Mb)
News items of national interest should be sent to news@mcsa.org.za.
UIAA News
International mountaineering news fresh from the UIAA website.
- UIAA and Altezza Travel extend partnership
- Latest legal case: Youth training camp in French Alps
- Recall of Simond Alpinism & Vertika quickdraws
- Position open: Chair, World Ice Climbing Board
- Give Back to Climbing – UIAA General Assembly initiative
- The UIAA joins Sports for Nature Framework
- Tribute to the victims of Broad Peak avalanche
- Participate in the future of Fixed Equipment on British Crags Conference
- Planning an Alpine Summer: Huts, routes and booking support
- UIAA Annual Report 2025 now available