The Wolfberg Cracks

The Wolfberg Cracks is one of the most amazing hikes in South Africa. It is found in the Cederberg mountains about 3 hours from Cape Town.  It is an out and back route starting at the Sanddrif cottages and campsite. To the Cracks and back should take you around 4 hours. You do need a permit to do this hike which can be bought at the farm before you leave.

From the campsite follow the jeep track towards the mountain. If you are there in the summer make sure you start early as there is no shade on the climb which is severe. It in obvious path which winds its way up the mountain towards the obvious cracks above you.

Looking towards the Cracks

From the bottom you can see the gaps in the rock face above. The path is steep and should take you around 2 hours to get to the base of the cracks. The first crack on the left is clear and wide. It is impressive, but a far more fun way through the cracks is through the now obscured right crack. To get there you need to scramble up the wall on your right , then follow the ledge around to the right. After a 2 minute walk you will see the path leading into the first cavern.

From here you walk literally through the mountain. There are several pplaces where it is a bit of a squeeze. I have one friend who is well over 6 foot and built like a rugby player. It took a bit of hauling to get him though some of the cracks – so be warned of you are claustrophobic!

Photos of the Wolfberg Cracks

Unfortunately the light (or lack of it)  in the cracks makes photography difficult, hence I only the 2 photos above which although impressive fail to catch the adventure of this hike!

Getting right through the mountain should take you around an hour. Here the path continues to the Arch. Return via the first crack which takes you in 10 minutes back onto the path over looking Sanddrif.

Hiking in the winter on Table

Mountain

We are lucky in Cape Town in that we really don’t get many miserable days. Throughout the winter we get many wonderful hiking days with clear horizons and perfect temperatures.

However yesterday and today are just plain wet. Table Mountain is shrouded in a thick cloud and the North Westerly wind is gale force, so whilst its fairly mild in town I would guess it is freezing on the Table Top.

The waterfalls gushing down the slopes of Table Mountain

If you are like me (and have dogs needing excercise) there are still opportunities for really enjoyable walks even in this weather! The Kirstenbosch (South Easterly) side of the mountain is out of the wind, and the trees offer a semblance of shelter of the rain. 

Obviously in this weather going to the top of the mountain would probably not be pleasant but walking along the contour path can be really beautiful. The best place to start is at Kirstenbosch Rycroft gate. (dogs can’t enter Kirstenbosch at the main gate) Follow the paths where dogs are permitted and you join the contour path where it leaves Cecelia Forest. Turn right and just follow the path. It winds along the side of the mountain passing numerous streams and small waterfalls. After really heavy rain you might have to get your feet wet at a couple of river crossings but this all adds to the fun.

Waterfalls cascade down the mountain

There are numerous paths down into Kirstenbosch from the contour path. If you have dogs with you you will have to continue as far as Newlands forest (about an hours hike) or turn around and retrace your steps.

You will be wet by the end of the hike. But with the right company a walk in the rain can still be fun.

Climb up Table Mountain

underneath the cable car

It seems to have been a week of India Venster. Its funny how sometimes I may not do this route for a month, and then suddenly I do it four times in one week. This is the route that you sometimes see people on from the cable car as for much of the way the path is directly below the car. It is an exciting route with a little bit of scrambling but nothing really scary. The route takes its name from from the triangle of green you can see above you. This is India Ravine and viewed from below takes the outline of the map of India. The venster part of the name describes a window (venster) created by a fallen boulder.

You start off directly behind the cable car and head up the steep stairs to the contour path. From here you follow the small unsigned path that leads straight up the mountain. An important word of warning here. Don’t follow this path uness you are with someone who knows the route. There are other paths leading off to climbing routes the whole way up so you need to know where you are going.  

The window on the India Venster route up Table Mountain

For the first half hour the path leads you around the right of Venster Butress. The window is found after about 15 minutes. You need to take a small detour off the left which is well worth the effort. Back on the path continue up to top of the buttress. Here the path takes a right and leads you to the top of India Ravine.

The Path leads accross the top of India Ravine

 Here the path is clear and leads you diagonally up to the left hand corner. Here the real scrambling begins. You carry on going up and to the left until reaching a series of staples in the rock face. These take you up almost to the bottom of the final sheer cliffs that lead to the cable car itself. Follow the path to the right and you will find yourself almost directly below the cable car.

One of the scrambles

Take a moment to break here and enjoy the views of the city before following Fountain Ledge around the side of Table Mountain above Camps Bay.

Almost directly under the cable car

 This is a straight forward path but beware of the drop off on your right! One more short scramble up and then the path continues around the mountain. Eventually you get right around this section of the mountain and into Fountain Ravine. Follow this path to where it pops up almost directly opposite Platteklip Gorge.

The view from Fountain Ledge

The Krakadouw hiking trail

The Krakadouw peaks are found in the Northern Cederberg close to Clanwilliam. They offer some remarkable hikes of varying duration and difficulty.

Although there are a number of different places to start hiking I recommend starting at Dwarsriver farm. To get there go through Clanwilliam and at the bottom of the Pakhuis pass take a road to your right. (it is signed Krakadouw) Follow the road for +/- 12km to the farm. Here you can park right by the farmhouse and access the hike through a gate right beside the house.

Initially the path is quite indistinct as it leads across a field to a style.

The style at the beginning of the trail

 Once over the style the path is clearer as it follows the Dwarsriver up the valley. Quite flat to begin with the path crosses the river on occasion until after +/-2km you cross the river and encounter 2 paths. Take the right turn and continue to follow the river. At times it is difficult to see and follows the river for a small time until starting to lead away from the river and up to the right.

The first part of the trail is relatively flat and follows the river

After another 3km you come to an old was blockhouse overlooking the gorge which you can see leading into the mountains in the distance. Drop down to the river again and the path leads you up into the gorge on a steady climb. Even in midsummer this river flows and there are several lovely little campsites in the trees.

This path leads right up the gorge for +/- 10km and down to join the donkey cart track at Heuningvlei. Although not very steep for most of the time the path can be decieving as it has several false peaks where you summit only to see the path winding on above you again.  

The path leads up the gorge on the right of the river

The views are quite brilliant with the Klein Krakadouw peak towering above you on the right.

Looking back down the gorge

 Once at the top of the gorge if you only have a day available it is best to turn around and return the way you came.

Looking down towards Heuningvlei

 However if you are really looking for a challenge (and have a driver)  you can drop down the other side of the gorge to the donkey track that links the top of Pakhuis pass to Heuningvlei. You can follow this track to the top of the pass and meet your vehicle here.  Although a fairly straight forward hike this road is 10km, so to do the whole hike in one day would be ambitious for anyone but the extremely fit.

A misty hike on Table Mountain

Yesterday was a perfect day for a hike on Table Mountain although the weather in the city was somewhat misleading. A thick fog blanketed the entire city and most of the Atlantic seaboard. But from a height of about 700m you were above the clouds. The top of the mountain was bathed in sunlight and the views, although not the classic Table Mountain views were fantastic.

You can just see Lions Head peeking out of the mist

The light was so strong that some of the photo’s taken looking towards the sun are silouettes. Still you can see how amazing it was.

Looking towards Devils Peak from the cliff edge path on Table Mountain

Camps Bay was completely engulfed.

Looking over the 12 Apostles

So next time you think its a miserable day, think again!

The Dark Gorge route up

Table Mountain

Dark Gorge is a route up Table Mountain onto the saddle between Devils Peak and Table Mountain. It is not a well known or regularly walked route. Mainly because the last half an hour is very steep, loose and slippery. Its the kind of route where you need to have 3 points of contact at all times and even then test each foot or hand hold. It doesn’t really have any exposure and a slip would result in a long slide rather than a terrifying fall, but still it is a route not to be taken lightly and I would not recommend going down this route.

The start of the gorge is from the contour path between Newlands Ravine and Rhodes memorial. It is the next gorge past the Newlands ravine picnic spot. The path is not well marked. As you pass the gorge look for a small cairn and then follow the indistinct path slightly on the left of this cairn. The path leads up through the thick indigenous forest. Several fallen trees cross the path and it is overgrown in places. Still once you have found it it is quite clear.

After about 30 mins the forest begins to clear. The gorge is quite wide here and strewn with large rocks and boulders. Up ahead you can see the gorge splits. Right leads you into Dark gulley which is not possible without ropes. So move across to the left hand fork and begin to m ake your way up Dark Gorge. There is no clear path here, you just have to make your way up.

The trees clear further up the gorge

The gorge gets narrower and narrower. The trees are now clinging precariously to the cliff sides which are running in water through much of the year.

Looking up the Gorge

Here is where it also begins to get very steep and possibly slippery. Towards the top look behind you onto the Southern Suburbs. Narrower even than Platteklip the view is amazing.

The view onto the Southern Suburbs

The final scramble brings you up onto the saddle and stunning views of Table Bay and Robben island.

From here I usually turn left and after 10 minutes come to Newlands Ravine which is a much safer descent back to the contour path.

Table Mountain hikes after the

rain

Don’t be put off hiking in the winter in Cape Town. Although we are a winter rainfall area we get some beautiful clear days as well, and Table Mountain after a day of rain is even more beautiful than during the summer.

Waterfalls cascade down the sides. On the Camps Bay side they slow to a trickle pretty quickly whilst on the Kirstenbosch side they continue to flow strongly for several days.

A waterfall above Hout Bay

Myburghs waterfall above Constantia

On the mountain itself numerous small streams criss cross the paths.  

 The water is clean and pure although the colour may surprise you.( I call it coca cola water!) The brown colour is the tannins that come from the roots of the fynbos plants and are good for you!

The pristine water on Table Mountain is brown in colour

So if you are in Cape Town this winter don’t forget to plan for at least a half days hike. It really is worth it.

Book a hike with Ridgway Ramblers to see the waterfalls on Table Mountain

Please Note:

The Table Mountain Cableway will be closed for routine maintenance between the 18 and 31st July.

Enjoy a Table Mountain hike whilst the cable car is closed

This does not mean “the mountain is closed!”

Join Ridgway Ramblers for a guided hike up Table Mountain. Whatever your age or fitness level, Ridgway Ramblers will ensure it is the highlight of your holiday in South Africa.

Some fantastic multiday hikes

found only a 2 hour drive from

 Cape Town 

The Cederberg Wilderness area which is found 200km North of Cape Town encompasses 71000 ha of rugged mountainess terrain that offers some of the wildest and best hiking trails in South Africa.

A typical Cederberg view

The area is famous for San (Bushman) paintings, as well as strange and unusual rock formations such as the Arch and the Maltese cross. It is also an area where the Cape Leopard still roams freely, as do baboons and many other types of wildlife.

The Wolfberg Arch

Hiking trails vary from easy to strenuous and there is an opportunity to wander for days camping wherever the mood takes you. Alternatively guest houses are plentiful in the larger  towns such as Clanwilliam.  

Explore the Cederberg on an organised hike with Ridgway Ramblers

“A wilderness in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognised as an area where the earth snd its community of life are untrammeled by man. Where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.” (US congress Wilderness Act 1964)