The Orange kloof hiking trail on

 Table Mountain

Orange Kloof is the area at the South end of Table Mountain which does not have open access. Everywhere else on Table Mountain (except for the botanical gardens) entry is free through open gates. The reason for the extra protection given to Orange Kloof is due to the Afromotane forest found there.

Orange Kloof. The only restricted area on Table Mountain

 Afromotane forest is found throughout South Africa in patches. Water is the limiting factor with these patches occurring mainly below 1000m in kloofs and gullies. Always beautiful, the protection afforded these isolated patches of forest are vital to the protection of the diversity of plant species found in South Africa.

The beautiful forest of Orange Kloof

Walking in Orange Kloof

A permit is given to 1 group of 12 people daily, and those who book into the tented camp in the kloof  are also permitted to hike there. Each group is required to take a registered mountain guide with them. Thus there is a maximum of 24 people in the area daily. There are a couple of hiking trails you can do. All beautiful and well worth the effort of obtaining a permit. The most popular is Disa Gorge. This is where the forest is at its most impressive.

About half way up you also have the opportunity to see the site of the old tunnel that was built in the 1800′s in order to divert the water to the Pipe Track and hence the Molteno reservoir in Cape Town.

Exploring the Woodhead Tunnel in Disa Gorge

At the top of the gorge you are met by the imposing wall of the Woodhead Dam, and steps up the side lead you onto the back table.

The dam wall at the top of Disa Gorge

Join Ridgway Ramblers on a guided hike in Orange Kloof. It will be a day you will never forget

Walk on Table Mountain as a

training hike for Kilimanjaro

Kilimanjaro, which is the highest mountain in Africa was first climbed in 1883 by a German geology professer called Hans Meyer. Since then the mountain has been summitted by literally thousands of people looking for the adventure and experience of a lifetime. The reason Kilimanjaro fullfills the dream of so many, is that no special equipment or skill is required to reach the top. You do, of course need to be relatively fit and very determined. But with these resources many people find the summit achievable.

Testing out new equipment on Table Mountain

South Africa is used by many as a base for their adventure. Both in order to enjoy the many game parks and other natural wonders that are found in South Africa. But also to do a training hike on that other famous African mountain. Table Mountain.  Table Mountain towers majestically over the city of Cape Town and although it can offer no altitude training, its steep sides offer a good work out for anyone with Kilimanjaro in their sights.

Made it to the top of Kilimanjaro

A Cape Town walk with both beach

and Fynbos

A walk in Cape Town is always special and always has something different that cannot be seen in many other places. Beaches, fynbos, shipwrecks, indigenous forest, wonderful views are all things which are found in plentiful supply in the area and all add up to make a walk here truly memorable.

A wonderful walk that combines as many of these sights as possible is divided into 2, with a short drive inbetween.  

 Beach walking in Cape Town

Section 1 takes you along Kommetjie beach to the Kakapo shipwreck. Kommetjie beach which is found on the Atlantic side of the Cape Peninsula about 40 minutes drive from Cape Town is a classic white beach. Never crowded and always beautiful.

Long Beach. Kommetjie

The boiler sticking defiantly out of the sand

After a well deserved break at the wreck, you can either retrace your steps to Kommetjie or, if you have a driver, continue along the beach to Noordhoek. (The wreck is found pretty much half way between Noordhoek and Kommetjie so the return journey should take you +/- 1 hour in either direction. 

 

A short hike in the Silvermine Nature Reserve 

Part 2 of this combo hike is then in the Silvermine Nature Reserve found at the top of Ou Kaapse Weg. Drive to the top of the pass and turn left into Silvermine West. (From Kommetjie this is a 20 minute drive.) Immediately after the entrance turn left and park in the parking area. The fynbos part of the hike now takes you along the “river trail” This delightful path leads gently uphill to the Silvermine reservoir. Much of the path is in the shade of beautiful indigenous trees such as the Keurboom. A small stream wtih the characteristically brown fynbos water runs along side the path adding to the character and beauty of the path.

 

The shady path alongside the river

 

Inbetween the trees many of the typical plants of the Fynbos plant Kingdom are found. After about an hour you find yourself at the reservoir. Here you have several choices. Either continue on one of the many trails in the aresa, retrace your steps back to the car, take a swim in the dam etc.

 

Watsonias found alongside the river walk

The Kasteelspoort viewpoint

onTable Mountain

One of the most famous photographs of Table Mountain is of someone standing on a slab of rock that protrudes from the cliffs. It looks perilous and terrifying. Surely the person is mad!

To get there you need to turn right onto the 12 Apostles path at the top of Kasteelspoort. After a few hundred metres you come to a junction. Turn right again and after 100metres you come to the site of the old cable car. (where the materials for the building of the dams were hauled up the mountain)

The old cable car at the top of Kasteelspoort

 Walk to the cliff edge and you can see the path up Kasteelspoort and Camps Bay below you. Straight ahead and you can’t miss the springboard rock. To get onto the rock there is a small path on the left of where you are standing now. Take that and it leads behind the rocks at the top of the cliff here. Follow the path and you come to an opening in the rocks that leads straight onto the springboard.

Kasteelspoort view point

A day hike in Cape Point

Hiking in Cape Point is a fantastic way to experience the most Southerly tip of the Cape Peninsula and the most Southwestern tip of Africa. Although there are plenty of trails to choose from, the best includes a combination of beach, cliff and mountain hiking.

You start the trail at Platboom beach. Here the wide expanse of white sand, turquoise ocean and blue sky offer an idyllic start to your day. The first hour of the hike follows a small trail through the dunes towards Cape Point. In many places you can choose between walking on the beach, hopping from rock to rock or following the trail though the fynbos.

Looking back towards Platboom beach

The path leading up the cliffs away from the carpark

The next hour of the hike takes you along the cliffs towards Cape Point itself. This is the busiest section of your walk today but considering the number of people who visit Cape Point it is amazing how few take the opportunity to follow this trail. The views are spectacular and looking over the cliffs down onto the nesting birds totally awe inspiring.

 

Looking along the cliffs towards Cape Point

Cape Point itself is a very touristy area, but it is worth following the crowds up to the old lighthouse and then along the cliff path to look at the new lighthouse. It is crowded but the views and history are amazing.

 

The old lighthouse

Next you head away from the carpark and up Da Gama peak. The next hour is the steepest climb of the day. Within moments you are away from the crowds and cannot help but compare how different this side of the point is to the other. Now alongside False Bay there are far fewer beaches and small hills rather than beaches line the shore. The fynbos is thicker with some trees and as always the views are the best.

 

The highest point of your hike in Cape Point

The path now leads you back down to sea level and begins to take you back towards the West coast where it rejoins the path you followed thismornking for the last 20 minutes back to Platboom.

 

Escape the crowds on a guided hike of Cape Point with Ridgway Ramblers.

Hiking in the Silvermine Nature

 Reserve

Silvermine Nature Reserve offers a variety of wonderful hiking trails without the steep climbing that is often required on Table Mountain trails. One of my favourite routes is in Silvermine North. It is a circular trail that includes a variety of terrain and views.

Silvermine North is on the right of Ou Kaapse Weg if you are heading towards Cape Town. Enter the reserve (R25 entry fee if you don’t have a wild card) and park immediately on your right. You then head out of the car park down the trail away from the entrance gate.

The first section of the hike follows the river trail. This is wonderful shady path that follows the Silvermine River to the resevoir. The path is well maintained with a boardwalk in places. Slighty up hill you hardly break into a sweat so can just relax and enjoy the walk.

The shady boardwalk in Silvermine Nature Reserve

The reservoir in Silvermine Nature Reserve

 

The path you are on now cuts across the veld to rejoin the jeep track on the otherside of Noordhoek Peak. At its highest point on this path you will be at 680m, and at a wonderful lookout area where you can see both Noordhoek and Fishoek, as well as the Constantiaberg and Table Mountain. It should take you about 40 mins to reach this point from where you left the jeep track. You climb about 200m over this distance. This is the steepest part of your hike today.

 

Looking over onto Noordhoek Beach

A little further along the trail you come to a wonderfully sheltered tea spot. Reminicent of Tranquility Cracks with some tough and hardy trees having managed to grow here.

 

A perfect tea spot

Shortly after leaving here, you rejoin the jeep track. Turn right and head down the road. It winds steeply downwards for about half an hour before a junction. Take the right hand fork and you will be lead back to the reservoir. Once at the reservoir retrace your steps back down the river walk and back to your car.  

 

 

More inspirational hiking quotes

People sometimes ask me if I ever get bored of hiking. Truth be told, I really don’t.  It doesn’t matter who I am walking with or where I am walking, my mind sort of potters along either chatting to my companions or just sort of wanders along on its own. Of course the views,scenery,flora and fauna are always changing, but somehow it is the activity of walking that really seems to satisfy something deep in my soul.

Here are some quotes from people who share my thoughts:

” You need special shoes for hiking. And a bit of a special soul as well” (Terri Gullemets)

“My father considered a walk among the mountains as the equivalent of churchgoing” (A. Huxley)

“A vigorous 5 mile walk will do more for an unhappy but otherwise healthy adult than all the medicine and psycology in the world” (Paul Dudly White)

“Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk” (Raymond Lamen)

“After a good days walk everything has twice its usual value” (George Maculay Trevelyan)

“The best remedy for a short temper is a long walk” (Jacqueline Schiff)

“We have always honoured high places because we sense them to be the homes of the Gods” (Rob Parker)

“One does not climb to gain enlightenment. Rather one climbs because he is enlightened” (Zen master Futomaki)

So next time you need a bit of relaxation try a hike on Table Mountain on for size. You will return rejuvenated and looking forward to your next day out on the mountain.

A New Year hike on Table

 Mountain

What better way to start the New Year and begin all those promised resolutions, than with a hike on Table Mountain. Both full and half day hikes available for the whole family.

Contact Binny on 082 5226056 for more details.

email: binnyridgway@gmail.com

A christmas hike on

Table Mountain?

Traditionally Christmas is a time of feasting and family. So what better way to work an appetite for that family feast than a hike on Table Mountain. Whether you feel like a full day strenuous hike before an evening party, or a shorter half day hike in order to be home in time for lunch.

A Christmas hike on Table Mountain will ensure that this years Christmas is the best

Contact Binny on 082 552 6056 to confirm prices and availability

email:binnyridgway@gmail.com

The hidden secrets of a Table

Mountain Walk

Table Mountain is home to many secrets that can only be discovered by hikers. Some obvious and some hidden these secrets vary from man made wonders to delicate flowers to natural phenomenon.  

Here are just some of the wonders you can visit on your Table Mountain walk

Caves and hidden rock crevices

All over Table Mountain often invisible from even a couple of metres are several hidden caves and crevices. Most well known of these is Tranquility Cracks found between Corridor and Slangholie Ravines. Not only are the caves themselves interesting, the amazing trees that have made their homes in these shady, damp areas are beautiful and awe inspiring.

Tranquility Cracks. Table Mountain

A sandy beach

There really is a beach right on top of Table Mountain. It is found at the top of Skeleton Gorge. The rock of Table Mountain is sand stone that when broken down creates sand. Here the sand has all been blown into one area creating quite a large sand dune.

The sandy beach on top of Table Mountain

A tunnel through the mountain

The Woodhead Tunnel was dug through the mountain in the 19th century in order to channel the water from the dams to the pipe track and then on to the city of Cape Town. Although no longer in use the tunnel itself is still in existance.

Squeezing into Woodhead Tunnel on Table Mountain

Amazing rock formations 

The sand stone of Table Mountain has been eroded through millions of years creating some pretty wonderful rok formations which offer the amateur climber some interesting challenges. The camel rock, found on the Constantia corner hike is just one of these.

Camel Rock is just one of the interesting rock formations on Table Mountain

Beautiful and rare flora

The Cape Floral Kingdom is the smallest and most diverse of the 6 floral kingdoms found on earth. Throughout the year many rare and beautiful flowers appear. Some of the best known are Orchids of the genus Disa.

A disa found on Table Mountain

 A museum on top of Table Mountain

The museum found on top of Table Mountain contains much of the machinary used in the 19th century to build the reservoirs. Inaccesable to anyone who is not prepared to climb Table Mountain this museum is not known to even many Cape Town residents.

The steam train found in the waterworks museum on Table Mountain