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Starting Point: Cecilia Forest car park where Hohenhort Drive meets Rhodes Drive
Ending Point: Cecilia Forest car park where Hohenhort Drive meets Rhodes Drive
Walk Duration: 1½ – 2 hours (Add on for stops)
Type of Terrain: Gravel/Dirt Road, Single Track
Difficulty: This is an relatively easy walk with mild uphill sections.
Weather Report:
Click here to plan your hiking day noting daily wind directions and temperatures. |
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| This, often unexplored mountain walk, will take you from Constantia Nek to Hout Bay. Along the way you will be treated to amazing views of the Hout Bay valley. The best views however, are saved for last. As you approach the end of the walk you come over a small rise to the best part of the walk, with magnificent panoramic views of Hout Bay. Take your camera for some memorable pictures. The walk itself is quite tiring, with a very steep beginning section. Once you have made your first climb up Vlakkenberg, you go down into the valley the climb again to reach the contour path on the Constantiaberg. This section of path can be quite overgrown so wear long pants if you are worried about scratching your legs along the way. Take plenty of refreshments as the walk is quite strenuous. This is a great hike, so enjoy! |
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Starting Point: Constantia Nek
Ending Point: Hout Bay Beach
Walk Duration: 3-4 hours (Add on for stops)
Type of Terrain: Rocky mountain path & single track which can be quite overgrown.
Difficulty: Steep, undulating terrain and the distance of this walk make it a fairly difficult hike which requires a certain degree of fitness.
Weather Report:
Click here to plan your hiking day noting daily wind directions and temperatures. |
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| Constantia Nek – Around the Dams |
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| Starting at Constantia Nek, your destination is to round the Woodhead and Hely Hutchinson Dams. Upon exiting the forest you will look up at the steepest section of your hike as it winds its way up the mountain. Near the top take a refreshing drink of water from the cool stream running underneath the small bridge. If the stream is not running there is a drinking fountain 15 minutes further. Be sure to look out for the Red Disas in season and on a clear day the scenic views are spectacular and great for photographs. When you reach the Woodhead and Hely Hutchinson Dams consider a picnic lunch or just relax and take in this peaceful, tranquil setting. These Dams were built over 100 years ago and there is a very interesting museum to visit on the far side of the Woodhead Dam. |
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Starting Point: Constantia Nek
Ending Point: Constantia Nek
Walk Duration: 3-4 hours (Add on for stops)
Type of Terrain: Gravel and cement road for the majority of the way. If you choose to take shortcuts you walk on single track and stairs for a part of the way.
Difficulty: This is an easy walk. The road is very steep as you approach the top of the climb but you will soon recover on the flatter mountain top.
Weather Report:
Click here to plan your hiking day noting daily wind directions and temperatures. |
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| Constantia Nek to Kirstenbosch Gardens |
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| Get a group of friends & family together and meet at the Kirstenbosch Gardens car park. Leave a car there and drive to Constantia Nek. Start with the plan of having brunch at Kirstenbosch after a fantastic mountain walk with great views. The walk has mild uphill sections but is mainly flat and downhill, making it not very strenuous. It’s just enough exercise to work up a healthy appetite. One of the best views on the walk is the aerial view of Kirstenbosch with the towering slopes of Table Mountain to the left. An alternative option to brunch at Kirstenbosch is to pack a picnic and take it with you on the hike. When you reach Kirstenbosch, explore the gardens and find a spot to relax and enjoy the meal you have brought with. A walk like this reminds you how special Cape Town truly is. |
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| Echo Valley – Silvermine to Boyes Drive |
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| The Echo Valley hike is a fantastic walk that will take you through undulating terrain in the Silvermine Nature Reserve. You will need to leave one car at the end point on Boyes Drive and then drive to the start at Silvermine. Once the lifts have been organized you can concentrate on the amazing views and the natural beauty of the fauna and flora along the walk. After climbing up and over the Ridge peak you will start to head down into Echo Valley. The walk will take you onto a wooden boardwalk which winds its way through the small forest. Exiting the forest you will begin to see views of False Bay and the quaint Kalk Bay harbour with its colourful fishing boats. The walks ends on Boyes Drive but a great way to end you hike is to visit the Kalk Bay Town below. |
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| Hout Bay Dunes to Sandy Bay |
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This is a wonderful walk that will treat you to amazing, panoramic views of Hout Bay and Sandy Bay, taking you from one scenic bay to another. The walk begins on a gradual uphill road which becomes quite steep near the top. The dunes will be on your left hand side as you climb out of Sandy Bay. They are great to walk on but we advise you to rather walk down them on your way back.
At the top of the saddle you will look down on the secluded Sandy Bay; known for being Cape Town’s nudist beach. The sandy path traverses down towards the white sandy beach. Be sure to take a costume and towel on a hot day as you will be very tempted to swim in the cool ocean, which will leave you refreshed and ready to walk back up over into Hout Bay. |
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Starting Point: Hout Bay Dunes (From Constantia Nek follow the Main road into Hout Bay until the 1st circle. Turn right into Victoria Rd, go straight through the traffic lights, up Edgar Road into Eustegia Rd, all the way up to the top)
Ending Point: Hout Bay Dunes
Walk Duration: 1 – 1½ hours walking (Add on for stops)
Type of Terrain: The Hout Bay side starts on brick road, then turns to gravel at the top. The Sandy Bay side is mostly sand.
Difficulty: This is an easy walk, the path gets quite steep but the walk doesn’t cover a great distance.
Weather Report:
Click here to plan your hiking day noting daily wind directions and temperatures |
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| Alongside Table Mountain is the distinctive shaped mountain slope, Lions Head. This proud lion overlooks the city and Table Bay on one side, and the scenic Atlantic Ocean coastline on the other. On a clear day the views are spectacular and great for taking photographs, particularly of Robben Island. Catch your breath along the steep path while admiring the great views which will inspire you to carry on further. You will wind your way around the lions head until you reach the chains taking you to the very top. The chains are there to assist you as you scramble up a section of rocky faces. They add an element of adventure, but be cautious and take it slowly. Not suitable for young children and the elderly. There is an alternate route to miss the chains but the path is still quite steep. |
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Starting Point: Signal Hill Road, at the Base of the forestry rd.
Ending Point: As for starting point.
Walk Duration: 2 ½ – 3 hours (Add on for stops)
Type of Terrain: Gravel road, Rocky single track, Steep section with chains to pull yourself up, ladders.
Difficulty: The majority of the walk is steep but easy going. The last section is very steep and you need to use chains to climb up a section of boulders, which increases the difficulty of this walk.
Click here to plan your hiking day noting daily wind directions and temperatures. |
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| Starting at Newlands Forest Station you walk towards the mountain and take the path to the right where the road forks. The walk is in the shade most of the time due to the large growth of pine trees. This is great when the weather is hot on a typical Cape Town Summer’s day. During the walk there are some great views overlooking Newlands and later some of Bishops Court. You should cross two streams during this walk which are ideal places for a refreshment break or even a picnic. With the mountain as a backdrop and the scenic views all around, there are some great opportunities for photographs. There are many interlinking paths and if you ever did wonder off track then walk, keeping the mountain behind you, and you should reach a path back to the main road. |
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| Newlands Forest to Kirstenbosch |
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Starting at Corner of Union Avenue and Rhodes Avenue (on the mountain side of Union Avenue – about 40m from the traffic lights), your destination is Kirstenbosch Gardens and back again. On a clear day the scenic views over False Bay and the Cape Flats are spectacular and great for photographs. The walk through Newlands Forest is under the trees and you are in the shade most of the time.
When you reach Kirstenbosch Gardens consider a picnic lunch or visit the Tea House for refreshments. Summer and Spring are full of life and this hold true for the Botanical gardens. From December to March, musical sunset concerts are held on the lawns. Craft markets are also held at the Stone Cottages on the last Sunday of every month (except June, July & August). |
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Starting Point: Corner of Union Avenue and Rhodes Avenue
Ending Point: Corner of Union Avenue and Rhodes Avenue
Walk Duration: 4 hours (Add on for stops)
Type of Terrain: Dust road for the majority of the way if you stick to the path.
Difficulty: This is an intermediate walk. The trail is steep at certain points but you will soon recover as you descend into Kirstenbosch Gardens.
Weather Report:
Click here to plan your hiking day noting daily wind directions and temperatures. |
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| Riebeek Kasteel – by Karen Watkins |
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Riebeek Kasteel is an inselberg 945m, protruding from golden wheat fields in the Swartland (park on the farm Gloria after asking permission of the farmer). From the second gate and a patch of large trees, go right to the perimeter fence and follow this line to the tower and beacon. Scaling the renosterveld-covered slopes entails rock hopping along an occasional game track. On reaching the summit, the view makes up for the rough terrain with views of Table Mountain 100km away, the Groot Winterhoek Range, Riebeek Wes, the PPC cement factory and the farm Ongegund, birthplace of General Jan Smuts.
Submitted by Karen Watkins
(Author of Adventure Walks & Scrambles in the Cape Peninsula) |
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Where: Riebeek Kasteel is an inselberg 945m, protruding from golden wheat fields in the Swartland
Start/End: Park on the farm Gloria after asking permission of the farmer.
Phone: (022) 461 2016 Gerrie or Ursula.
Walk Duration: Walking time depends on fitness and route but allow a minimum of four hours.
Type of Terrain: Rough terrain
Difficulty: There are no paths and the terrain is rough so long pants and sleeves are advisable and fitness is essential.
Weather Report:
Click here to plan your hiking day noting daily wind directions and temperatures |
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| Silvermine Amphitheatre Circuit |
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With a negligible amount of effort, this remarkable circuit will present you with magnificent vistas, glorious fynbos and leave you with a sense of wonder that only walking in Cape Town can offer. Forming part of the Table Mountain National Park, this stunning route is located in the northern section of the Silvermine Nature Reserve. It hugs the top of the ridge that forms the walls of the ‘amphitheatre’ that contains the Silvermine Reservoir built in 1898 to supply water to Cape Town. A modest fee is payable at the entrance gate at the top of Ou Kaapse Weg. The walk starts at the parking area just before the reservoir.
Submitted by Bryan Chute – owner of Take-a-Hike
(Take-a-Hike: Your Cape Town guided trail specialist) |
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| Up Skeleton Gorge, Down Nursery Ravine |
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| This is a great hike that will take you up Skeleton Gorge and down Nursery Ravine with steep steps and scrambling up river beds part of the route. The hike does demand a certain degree of fitness but the exertion is well worth it as the terrain and views are magnificent. Starting at Cecilia Forest you will make your way up and across to Skeleton Gorge. You will actually pass the base of Nursery Ravine on your way to Skeleton Gorge. Going up the Gorge is tricky, with two ladders and loose river stones to negotiate as you crisscross your way to the top. At the top you will pass by the Hely-Hutchinson Dam and then cut back down Nursery Valley until you reach Nursery Ravine. Be cautious on your way up and down the two ravines. Take your time and enjoy the scenery of this very memorable walk. |
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Starting Point: Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens (Main Entrance)
Ending Point: Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens (Main Entrance)
Walk Duration: 5 – 6 Hours (Add on for stops)
Type of Terrain: Dirt road, Single Track, Steep Stairs, Steep Rocky River Bed and Ladders
Difficulty: This is a difficult hike requiring fitness and hiking experience.
Weather Report:
Click here to plan your hiking day noting daily wind directions and temperatures. |
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