Walks in the Cape


when Adventure is a Lifestyle

 

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The Pipe track is one of the best-known hikes in Cape Town.You can admire the stunning view of the Twelve Apostles and of the Atlantic Coastline. It will take you about 1½ hours to get to the end of the pipe track and slightly less to get back.

You begin this trail at Kloof Nek, on the steps next to the fire hazard board.You follow the steps up where you will come into view of the beginning of the pipe track which crosses over a small  rivine. This first section is known as the Blockhouse Aqueduct, which is named after a long since demolished blockhouse and gun battery in 1781.
The second aqueduct is better known as the Granite Aqueduct. ten to fifteen minutes later you will find yourself below the Kloof Nek Water Treatment Plant, which was built in 1938 to treat the water from the Woodhead reservoir.
Beyond this point the pipe track moves down into Diep Sloot, giving you some climbing to do to get out on the other side. You will come across Brick-and-cement housing consisting of a valve. At "Air Valve 7", look up at the Cable Station on Table Mountain, which was rebuilt in 1997. The big gap on the right is the Blinkwater Rivine.
At "Air Valve 12" look above and see the deep cut to the right of the cable station. This is known as Fountain Rivine. Blinkwater Rivine can be classified as the halfway point of you trail. Beyond "Air Valve 17" look past the three pine trees ahead and pick out a straight scar going directly up the mountain. This scar leads to the outlet of the Apostles Tunnel.
A while further, you will eventually come across the bass of the Woody Rivine, a steep narrow route to the top. A further five minutes from here, will take you around the corner into Slangolie Rivine.
"Dangerous Ascent" signs should stop you from going any further than the riverbed.
The trip back is probably 20 minutes less then the way there!!


A steady climb up the Newlands Forest for less than an hour, mostly on gravel road, to the Contour Path. This walk is almost entirely in the shade.


You begin this walk on the M3 freeway (Union avenue) into Town, after the traffic lights, where it crosses Newlands Avenue and Rhodes Drive.
You walk along the concrete path parallel to the freeway, turn left into the forest just after some tall pines.This path will take you through a break in the fence about 5 minutes later. Once you are through the fence, ignore the paths going left and right and merely carry on in the direction you are going. You will come to an open clearing, where you must walk past some old ruins to a gravel road.Turn left up this road, when you come to the bend, ignore this bend and carry on on the concrete strip to the right. You will climb  steadily through a plantation of Pine Trees, where it will meet a stand of gum trees - it joins another road. turn left here and continue the upward climb on the road and ignore the shortcut to the Contour Path!!
Keep right at the next bend, when tempted to go down a a side road, ten minutes later you will see a sign that says "Contour Path". this is yet another short-cut, and if you wish to stay on the same road, you will end up at the same place anyway. once on the Contour Path, turn right. This is the walk at its best. It remains at a level for another hour, if you do not stop. Although you may want to rest at say Newlands Stream/Dark Gorge. Towards the end of the of the contour path on the slopes of Devils peak, you will have to climb a ladder over the fence or go through a turnstile - this is the boundary between Newlands Forest and Groote Schuur Estate
(including UCT). You walk will take about 20 minutes before you come to another ladder, marking the opposite boundary.Before the second stile, take a sharp turn to the right  and double back to take the path down to Rhodes Memorial. The Contour Path down will take 20-25 minutes.

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A well-marked forest trail which winds its way up the densely wooded slopes of the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden to the Contour Path, then go down again through more indigineous forest in which many of the trees are nameplated. Almost the entire walk is in the shade.

Yo begin this walk at the far end of the main parking area of Kirstenbosch is a turnstile entrance where you will be required to pay to enter the gardens.
Go through the turnstiles and carry on straight through a covered alleyway between the bookshop and the information bureau. Go past the lecture hall on the right and walk down some steps. Folllow the sign pointing to Smut's Track at the end of the steps. After going over a wooden footbridge, turn right at the junction marked "Smuts Track" and "Yellowwood Trail". Go up the gravel track which takes you past an interesting Braille Trail. After a while the track will bend to the left. Just after the bend you have the choice of staying on the original trail, by remaining on the road or by taking a short cut up a newly cut path, marked " Skeleton's Gorge". The short cut is much more interesting and does rejoin the road further up.You will reach a T-Junction, turn right here and go up about 36 steep steps, before crossing over annother gravel road. Follow the Yellowwood Trail signpost and continue the upward climb for a further 10 minutes,before coming  to the contour path. Here you will notice a plaque marked, "Smuts Track". Now you right along the contour path follow the sign that says " Yellowwood Trail". A while later you will come to a stream which tumbles down Skeleton's Gorge and here is becomes the most spectacular Waterfall. After the waterfall, you will leave the contour path and go down some steps to the right (a signpost will guide you). These steps will bring you to the meeting of ways - meeting three gravel roads. Follow the sign up the road goinghalf left. A few minutes later you will emerge from the foresttobe confronted by the imposing face of Ferwood Buttress, literally towering above you.
A couple of minutes later, cross over a cobbled Window Stream. Follow the notice at the next crossroads down to the right, and a minute later leave the gravel road to go down some log steps.
When back on the gravel road again, trun right. The road crosses Window Stream once moreand from here you seem to have lost the Yellowwood Trail signs, so go left at the fork to come to a signpost saying "Stinkwood Trail" and "Garden". Follow the the signposts marked "Garden" and these will lead you straight back to your car.

This is a special experience:  a wilderness within a city.  For more than threee generations there have been stringent fire protection measures to keep the public out of this arboreal version of Jurassic Park.  Only since 1996 has it been possible.  There are a number of hikes.  The main circuit takes three hours along a gently sloping gravel ring road.

The starting point is at the Constantia Nek parking area on the Cape Town side and through the gate at the Hout bay end.
Entry is strictly by permit only, obtained by phoning (021) 790 1023.  A permit will only be granted if there are a group of twelve people (maximum) and the group is led by an Environmental Education Officer. 

The main circular route is along a gravel road which encircles the entire amphitheatre, crossing no fewer than seven ravines before reaching a high point and returning  to base.  In clockwise order these are the ravines:  Longkloof, Orangekloof, Black Slab Ravine, Intake Ravine, Frustration Gully, Frustration Gorge and finally, at the top, Disa Gorge.  If you have the time, do yourself and visit Hell's Gates.  It is one of the most beautiful waterfall ravines.


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The first part of the walk is up a rather steep ravine to reach the contour path above Chapman's Peak Drive.They strongly advise that you leave a car at each end of the walk to aviod the 3.1km walk back along Chapman's Peak Drive.

Park one car at the end of the walk, then begin by going in the second acr to the last picnis area, before reaching the top of Chapman's Peak. Log steps lead from the left-hand side of the picnic area, and a few minutes later, you will cross a stream.Go straight up the slope, then at the T-junction turn left. You will now be on a firebreak path, taking you straight up the right-hand side of the ravine. At the top of the ravine, a clear path branches off to the right, ignore it and continue until you come to a short wooden post and a meeting of four paths. You turn left here. Several minutes later, you will cross a small stream, after this Hout Bay comes into full view. The next suitable spot is Blackburn ravine, but that is much further on. Be careful not to take the wrong turn here, cross over the stream and take a immediate left down a steep path. You must follow the path down the right hadn side of the rivine and follow the water pipe. The path eventually becomes a gravel road, this part of the walk can be farely uncomfortable. You will come across a hairpin bend on the gravel road. Another ten minutes later will get you back to your waiting car!

A leisurely stroll through pine forest and fynbos which can be done at any time of the day or year, as it is mostly in the shade and on the level .  This is the first section of a contour path that continues all the way around the mountain to Kloof Nek.  Have a car waiting for you at Kirstenbosch.

Start the hike at Constancy Nek.  A narrow tar road leaves the Wynberg side of the picnic area and travels up for about 200m before coming to a closed gate, with pedestrian access at the side.
Pass through the gate and walk along the gravel road for about four minutes, until you come to a fork.  Take the left fork up.  After the first eight minutes or so, the road doubles back on itself opposite a steel road barrier - don't double back.   Carry on along the straight and you will soon come out into the open which offers splendid views.  At this point the road does a sharp 90-degree left turn, and about ten minutes later you will come to a fork.  Take the more obvious fork and you will soon come to a major intersection.  At this intersection three roads and a set of log steps will all come together.  The way to go is the road going 90 degrees to the right.  Soon the road narrows to a path and shortly after it does a little U-bend around a small ravine, then climbing nine log steps.  Some fifteen paces on, turn sharp left up some more steep log steps.  Do not continue on the level.  At the top of the steps you will come to a notice at a fork in the path.  To continue along the Contour Path you need to keep to the left, but beware:  having taken the left fork up, it almost immediately doubles back on itself.  Do not double back, but carry on along the less obvious straight path.  Now you are out of the forest and into the fynbos.  After a few minutes you will come to a path, ignore it and continue a few more metres to the bottom of Nursery Ravine (there is a sign set in the rocks).   Keep going along the Contour Path for 10 minutes until you reach the point where the Contour Path crosses Skeleton Gorge and a plaque which displays "Smuts Track".  At this point turn down the well-marked path which will lead you to the Kirstenbosch Restaurant some 15 minutes later.

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A delightful walk through the lush green forest in the heart of Constantia which is    ideal as a light stroll in the spring or summer. 

This walk starts at Bus Stop 6929, some 750m down from Constantia Nek on the road to Constantia and Tokai.
Once through the gate at the start, turn right and follow the track downhill, running parallel to the main road.  After a couple of minutes it swings sharply to the left and takes you down into the lush verdant valley.  Near the bottom it narrows to a footpath.  Shortly after leveling out, keep a sharp eye open for a narrow cutting on the left where the path crosses the little stream.  Remember this point and continue along the level, past an open grassy area on the right.  About a 100 m further on the path leads into a poplar forest which eventually peters out.  Retrace your steps from this forest to the cutting crossing the stream.  Cross over and begin a gentle climb up the left-hand side of a Rivine along a well-defined path through fairly dense forest.   Suddenly you are on a jeep track.  Turn right and follow it.  Some 10 - 15 minutes after reaching the jeep track you will reach Southern Cross Drive and the signboard announcing the beginning / end of the trail, depending on which side you started from.  At this point, turn around and retrace your steps as far as where you joined the jeep track.  By continuing on it you will return to the start.

This walk is almost entirely along gravel roads, which makes it easy going.  The view from Noordhoek Peak is absolutely stunning and must rank as one of the most beautiful photogenic vistas in the country.

This walk starts at the top of Ou Kaapse Weg and from the direction of Cape Town, turn right into the north-western section of the Silvermine Nature Reserve.   You will be required to pay a modest fee at the gate, immediately beyond which you have a choice of taking a left turn or continuing straight ahead.  Follow the tarred road straight ahead for 2,4 km until you reach a parking area just to the right of the Silvermine Reservoir wall.
From the parking area take the gravel track which cuts across the valley below the reservoir wall.  Once you have reached the end of the wall, bear left, following the gravel road on its gentle ascent.  Keep to the main road and ignore the side roads.   The road sweeps around a right-hand curve and the Noordhoek lookout hut comes into view.  There will appear to be a fork, from here the road climbs steadily for some way before passing a dam on the right and then  goes into three sharp bends.   Soon after the third bend you will reach another fork, there is a sandy track to the left and a gravel road to the right, keep right.  Approximately 6 to 8 minutes further on you will come to a stone pillar built to the left of the road.  At this point leave the road and follow the footpath leading from this stone pillar.  The pyramid marks the Noordhoek Peak, it has probably taken about an hour for you to reach this point.  When leaving this peak, do not retrace your steps - follow the fork to the left which will lead you back to the gravel road further down.  The road now descends gently for about half an hour before sweeping to the right, into the home stretch.   At this point another road joins in from the left and behind, coming from the top of Blackburn Ravine above Hout Bay.  Keep heading Back towards the reservoir and soon you will come to a T-junction.  Continue straight ahead where the road dips downhill and is reinforces with a double concrete strip.  Soon it zigzags its way down the slope to the level of the reservoir, don't cut corners and add to the erosion problem.   Take the darker of the two parallel roads (the one nearer to the dam).  It will lead you straight back to your car.

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This one requires a little more effort, but as half the walk is along gravel road, most of the upward climb is fairly gradual.  The last 25 m before reaching the cave requires a little bit of rock scrambling, but it is no more difficult than climbing a short ladder.   The view from inside the large cave is a picture, framed by the entrance.

This walk starts at the top of Ou Kaapse Weg and from the direction of Cape Town, turn right into the north-western section of the Silvermine Nature Reserve.   You will be required to pay a modest fee at the gate, immediately beyond which you have a choice of taking a left turn or continuing straight ahead.  Follow the tarred road straight ahead for 2,4 km until you reach a parking area just to the right of the Silvermine Reservoir wall.
From the far end of the parking lot there are three routes:  two gravel roads and a path between them.  Take the right-hand gravel road in the direction of the Constantiaberg mast.  Three minutes later you should pass a stone building (public toilets) on your left.  Another 6 minutes on will bring you to crossroads.  A sandy track goes off to the left and a road covered in short grass to the right.   Take the grassy route to join up with the gravel road parallel to the first one.   On reaching the T-junction where the grassy road meets the new gravel road, turn left.  This road will wind its way up the hill ahead for 10-15 minutes.  At a point near the top you will come to a place where the road surface is reinforced with a double concrete strip.  Leave the road here, along a path leading off to the right.   This will take you to the edge of the pine forest, which it skirts it its far end, crossing over the headwaters of the Prinskasteel River.  Once over the stream, you will immediately see the Tokai Forest fire hut directly ahead, this is your next objective and will take about 10 minutes to reach.  From the lookout hut, retrace your way down the log steps for 25 m , then turn right and follow the elephant signs to the cave.   If you would like to avoid scrambling your way back down, you can avoid this by skirting around to the right and finding the path which leads down the road without going back to the lookout hut.  Get down to the stream and skirt the pine forest again, retracing your steps back to the car.  Whilst skirting the forest, if you are tempted to pop down and see the Prinskasteel Waterfall, you will need to allow a further 15 minutes down and 20-25 minutes back up again.

 

Mostly along gravel road to a most picturesque waterfall (especially in winter) set in an Afro-montane forest.  It is a microcosm of South African indigenous trees - just a stone throw away from alien pine forest.

The start to this walk is to drive to the top of Ou Kaapse Weg from the direction of Cape Town.  On reaching the highest point (marked by a road sign saying "Cape Point via Kommetjie 56 km"), travel a further 500 m before turning left into the south-eastern section of the Silvermine Nature Reserve.  Take the gravel road to the left of the stone hut.  Follow the signs to the parking area at the far edge of the pine forest, where there is a chain across the road.
Step over the chain and ignore the gravel road coming in from the left.  Keep to the track going half right.  After 12 to 15 minutes, look out for a short stone pillar on the left with evidence of a sign which has been ripped off.  It used to say "Waterfall" and it is pointed to a broad sandy path descending to the right.   Take this path down with its steps made of logs and recycled plastic bars, but only as far as the long rock slab forming the top of the cliff.  Rather turn down, just before the rock slab.  This will take you down steeply, with the help of a short ladder, to the bottom of the waterfall and into a magic groove of indigenous forest.
Return by the same route.

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A short walk mostly on the level except for a short section of rock scrambling.  Allow about half an hour each way and 20 minutes in the cave.  The cave is roghly 25 m wide at the mouth and 12 m deep.  The ceiling averages 6 or 7 m  above the uneven sandy floor.

Drive down from the top of Ou Kaapse Weg in a southerly direction.  After a little over 4 km the first turn-off to the right is Silvermine Road leading to Noordhoek.  From this point, continue down Ou Kaapse Weg for a further 0,5 km.  This will bring you to the crest of the hill, where the road bends to the right.  On this bend there is a small parking area for about ten cars. Park here.
To the left of the parking area there is a sandy road leading off behind a metal boom. Follow this track and you will see the white trig beacon on top of Skilderskop directly ahead, telling you the position of Peers Cave below it.  After ten minutes of walking along the sandy jeep track it comes to an abrupt end.  But some 20 m before the end a sandy path goes off to the left.  Two or threee minutes later at the face of the rocks forming the koppie, ignore a faint path to the right and scramble up between and over rocks, to take you to the right-hand side of the peak and below it.   The secret here is to keep close to the rock face at all times.  A deep cleft in the rocks at one pint might appear to be a dead end, but turn right and go down 10 m at this point, before swinging left again and continuing to follow the rock face.   Follow the most worn route over rocks and between trees, always staying on the Fish Hoek side and within a few metres on the rock face.  You will come upon the cave suddenly when you are level with a point about 200 m beyond the beginning of the sand in the valley below.  Retrace your steps to the car.

An easy climb to a mountain top overlooking Fish Hoek and Glencairn, with a panoramic view over the whole of False Bay.  During August, September and October you will possibly even see whales breaching, also the fynbos is quite special here.

To start this hike you must leave the Glencairn Main Road at the turn-off to Kommetjie (M6).  After 200 m  turn right into Birkenhead.  Proceed up the hill and left into Clan Stewart Street.  After some 800 m along Clan Stewart, turn right into Golconda and continue past side streets to the very top.  At the highest point of Golconda a small tarred track with a chain across it starts off up the mountain.
The tarred track soon cuts back on itself and becomes gravel.  At the corner you will notice some steps, which are on your return route.  Walk along the gravel road for about 5 minutes.  At a point about 150 m before a concrete reservoir there are some log steps going up to the right.  Take them to the nek above.  Just after reaching the top of the hill, the path forks to the right.  Go right, and a few minutes later you will come to a T-junction on the floor of the valley.  Turn right again and you will soon arrive at the back of the quarry with lots of loose scree, before the path swings to the right again.  Soon after another fork presents itself.   Once again take the right option.  The path begins to climb and near the top of the rise it deviates from what used to be the badly eroded path.  The old path is filled with branches and the new one is clearly marked out as it crisscrosses over the old.  Eventually it swings over from the Glencairn side to the Fish Hoek side and joins another path coming up from the old quarry.  Turn right and soon you will see the Elsies Peak trig beacon and a 35 m  high communications tower.  Just before the mast, a side path goes off to the right (your return route) and 5 metres further on, another to the left, this is the viewsite over Fish Hoek.  The highest point and trig beacon is a few metres beyond the mast, where you can enjoy the view all the way from False Bay to Hangklip.  To return, retrace your steps from the beacon for about 100 m , then take the side path to the left.  It soon begins descending the mountain in the direction of Glencairn, and within 20 minutes or so you will return to your car.


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A walk through the Fynbos with a gentle climb at the end to the highest point in the area, with a panoramic view over the whole of the southern peninsula and False Bay.  You will need permits from the Simon's Town Municipality, which you can arrange by phoning (021) 786 1551, and the Red Hill Landowners Conservation Group on (021) 786 1620.

To get to the starting point of this hike get onto the main road between Glencairn and Simon's Town.  700 m   before reaching Simon's Town railway station, turn right where the sign indicates the road (M66) to Scarborough via Red Hill.  From this point measure 3,5 km to reach a large parking area on the left of Red Hill Road.  This is a lookout spot, well worth a stop to enjoy the spectacular view of Simon's Town and the naval dockyard.   From the lookout spot, continue a further 1,3 km until you come to a sign on the left indicating the grave of Just Nuisance.  Turn left here over a cattle-grid and immediately left again, to park your car in the shade of the trees.  walk back to the road that you have just turned off, and continue walking a further 100 m up the road until you come to a sign post indicating the start of the walk.  Two large boulders are placed at the beginning.              
3 or 4 minutes after starting past the two boulders, you will get to a fork in the jeep track.  Take the clearer and more obvious one to the right.  About ten minutes later you will see your destination creep into view:  Grootkop, capped by a trig beacon.  A couple of minutes later, look out for another fork.  This time take the less obvious one to the left.  Within a short while the sandy jeep track degenerates into a single path.  After 10 minutes along this path, all the time heading in the general direction of Grootkop, you will hit another jeep track, leave it again by taking a path off to the left towards Grootkop.Now begins a gentle climb for about half an hour to reach the peak, along a path which winds in and out between rocks and crevices slightly to the left of a direct line.  It is important to constantly keep an eye out for cairns, which show you the convoluted way up.  After taking in the view with tea, retrace your steps back to your car.

Another leisurely and interesting walk in the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, this one climbs gently through verdant fynbos to a hilltop on which a canon is perched.  The canon will be reached in about 40 minutes.  The route down is much steeper and more interesting, it will also take about 40 minutes with a further 15 minutes along the tarred road back to the car.

At the start you need to pay your entrance fee at the gate of the Good Hope Nature Reserve.  6,5 km along  the main road, after leaving the entrance gate behind you, you will come to a sign pointing to the left indicating a turn-off to Bordjiesrif.  Take this road for a further 1,2 km before coming to another sign to the left, this time indicating Black Rocks.  Proceed up this road for 200 m to the top of the rise where you will find a small parking place on the right and the start of the trail clearly marked on the left.
Climb the log steps at the start and gently rise with the path.  After half an hour the path reaches a rocky ridge and swings around to the right.  Soon the canon will come into view, rest here for a while.  When leaving Kanonkop for the descent, remember the canon points the way.  Don't be tempted to take the more obvious path in the opposite direction, this will lead you to the main gate with Paulsberg towering above you.  Five minutes later after leaving the top there is a slight diversion from the main path to a splendid viewpoint.  The route then winds its way down the road which it joins at the site of an old limekiln.  Follow this road in a southerly direction for 15 minutes whilst passing limestone cliffs, towering above some dense and healthy-looking milkwood trees.  Your car is at the top of this rise.


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The walk from Newlands Forest to Rhodes Memorial is a steady climb up these slopes for less than an hour, mostly on gravel road, to the Contour Path.  Then an easy stroll along the level through dense and mostly indigenous forest, before descending to Rhodes Memorial where you can have tea.  You will need a second car at the end.  The walk is entirely in the shade.

To get to the start of the hike go alongside the M3 freeway (Union Avenue) into town, immediately after the traffic lights, where it crosses Newlands Avenue and Rhodes Drive.
Walk along the concrete path parallel to the freeway and about 150 m  from the traffic lights, turn left into the forest, just after some tall pines.  This path will take you through a break in the fence about four minutes later.  Once inside the fence, ignore paths going to the left and right, carry on in the same direction.   Another four minutes will bring you to a large clear opening.  Walk past some old ruins to a gravel road at the far side of the clearing.  Turn left up this road and after about a 100 m  it doubles back on itself at a concrete strip to the right.   Ignore the road and carry straight on the bend.  The road climbs steadily on its way up through a pine plantation where it meets a stand of gum trees and joins up to another road.  Turn left here and continue the upward climb on the road, ignore a sign inviting you to leave the road on a short cut to the Contour Path.  Keep right at the next bend, ten minutes later follow a sign indicating "Contour Path".   This is another short-cut path, but if you were to stay on this road you would finish at the same place anyway.  When the road eventually runs out you will be confronted by some steep log steps, but the Contour Path, and the end of your upward climb, is only a couple of minutes away.  Once on the Contour Path, turn right.   It remains on the level for another hour if you don't stop.  Towards the end of the Contour Path, on the slopes of Devil's Peak, you will have to climb a ladder over a fence or go through a turnstile.  This marks the boundary between Newlands Forest and Groot Schuur Estate.  Your walk through the estate will take about another 20 minutes before you come to another turnstile and ladder, marking the opposite boundary.  Just before the second stile, take a sharp right turn and double back to take the path down to Rhodes Memorial.. Avoid the first couple of short cuts and take the third turn-off to the left, along this descending path.  The descent from the Contour Path to Rhodes Memorial will take 20-25 minutes.

 

Article written by Kirsty Glover

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