Hiking to see shipwrecks around the Cape coastline is not an unusual activity. Our rocky and tretcherous coastline along with unreliable weather has seen many ships floundering onto various beaches over the years. However most of those we usually go to see are ancient or at least old!

This week things have changed with the beaching of the Japanese fishing vessel on Clifton first beach over the weekend. The Eihatsu Maru is 20m offshore and having ran aground has sat snug in the sand since then. After rescuing the crew authorities attempts to relaunch the boat were hampered by rough seas. They have now removed the oil from the ship and have reinforced the rear of the ship prior to trying to relaunch it in the spring tides tomorrow.

The japanese fishing vessel on Clifton first beach

A little bit of the history of Cape

Town

The view of the city of Cape Town from the top of Table Mountain is quite incredible. Whether you look out to sea, across Table Bay, towards the mountains of Stellenbosch or down onto the city itself you cannot help but be amazed.

The city of Cape Town viewed from the mountain

The Castle of Good hope with Table Mountain in the background

From the mountain top the Castle can be spotted close to the Good Hope Centre. It is notable mainly for its pentangular walls and the orange colour of the walls. What is interesting is the position of the castle which is quite some distance from the shore. Knowing the main purpose of the castle was to defend the citizens of Cape Town from assault from the sea its position seems strange.

The soccer stadium is an easily recognised land mark

 

However the reason for this is very easily explained. The castle was built between 1666 and 1679 and at this stage it was indeed on the coast. However in the 1940′s 194 hectares of land were reclaimed on the Southern and South Eastern shores of the Bay. Thus most of the foreshore and waterfront are on land that has only existed for 70 odd years!

 

Much of Cape Towns waterfront is on reclaimed land

 

Ridgway Ramblers offer guided hikes on Table Mountain. Join us on a walk and learn some of the history of Cape Town from the vantage point of Table Mountain

 

 

 

For those of us who live within sight of Table Mountain it comes as no surprise to hear that its status as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature has become official after an international audit confirmed the result of a global voting process.  The results followed three years of intense campaigning in a contest that drew votes from 220 countries worldwide.

Table Mountain towering over the city of Cape Town

Not only the flat top rising out of the ocean that is visible and instantly recognisable the world over. Table Mountain has withstood six million years of erosion and hosts the richest, yet smallest floral kingdom on earth with over 1,470 floral species. It boasts numerous rare and endangered species and can claim to have more species of plant than the whole of the British isles.

There is an amazing variety of plant life on Table Mountain

Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille described the title as “a great accolade for a unique wonder of nature that belongs to all the people of Cape Town, South Africa, Africa and the world.

On the top of Table Mountain

Ridgway Ramblers offer small group guided hikes of Table Mountain.

A beautiful hike in Cape Town is to the top of the Kalk Bay peak. You can be to the top and back in less than 3 hours and in that time have gone through 2 beautiful stretches of indigenous forest and enjoyed some fantastic panoramic views.

Park your car on Boyes drive  just before it reaches Kalk Bay. The path begins with some steep steps that ascend the mountain for +/- 20 minutes before you reach a junction. This is called “weary willies wait” and you will return passed this spot on your return journey.

Weary willies wait!

Take the left turn and continue up the mountain for a further 15 minutes before entering the enchanted forest. Here the steep cliffs of the Echo valley have sheltered a small stretch of gorge and allowed a small patch of this wonderful forest to survive.

The enchanted forest above Kalk Bay

All too soon you emerge from the forest and after a further 5 minutes you take the path to the right signposted into the Amphitheatre. This leads you to a “box canyon” and a good place for a tea break.

Many paths lead out of the Amphitheatre. Take the one on the East leading back towards Kalk Bay. After 10 minutes on this path you pass the turn for the Spes Bona Valley. You will return here after your visit to the peak. For now keep straight ahead and at the next junction take the right fork.

This is the path that leads to Kalk Bay Peak. After 5 minutes you pass a first beacon. This marks the actual highest point of 516m.

Looking North towards Table Mountain from Kalk Bay peak

 However it is well worth continuing along the path for a further 15 minutes to the next beacon. Although slightly lower at 507m, from here the views are absolutely unbeatable.

Enjoying the view of False Bay

After enjoying the view return to the Spes Bona Valley and descend here. This is another beautiful stretch of indigenous forest. After about 30 mins you reach a junction and turn right. 10 minutes later you will be back at Weary Willies and continue down to your car.

Explore the Cape on foot on a guided hike with Ridgway Ramblers.

 Table Mountain

The hike from Rhodes Memorial to the Kings blockhouse on the slopes of Devils Peak is a short sharp hike. You should be able to reach the blockhouse in a little over half an hour but not without a great deal of effort as the path up there is pretty steep. So the return journey can be finished in a little over an hour but you will have had a good workout.

The Kings blockhouse on Mowbray ridge

The steep steps up to the contour path

At the contour path turn right an you are almost immediately confronted by a turnstile. Go through here (or over the ladder at the side)

 

The imposing stile on the contour path

Once through the stile you are on a jeep track that splits here. Take the left fork that leads up the hill. You can either follow the jeep track around a sweeping turn to the left, or take a steep short cut that leads off the track to the left about 100m after the fork.

 

If you stay on the road it should take you about 15 minutes to reach the blockhouse. This historic ruin was originally built in 1795 by the British and named for King George 111. It was built as a lookout as from here you can see both False and Table Bay and thus much of the Southern suburbs and city.

 

 

From the Kings blockhouse there are a number of walks you can do. Along the continuation of the contour path or, after a brief scramble along the upper or middle paths. Alternatively you could follow the knife edge path to the top of Devils Peak from here.

 

Or if stuck for time. Just come back the way you came.

 Mountain walk

At the moment whilst walking on Table Mountain you might be forgiven for thinking you see a baby tomato plant. Perhaps someone threw away a sandwich? Once you’ve seen a couple of these plants though you begin to doubt the likelihood of so many sandwiches being discarded. A closer look will also reveal that the leaves are quite spikey and not those of your average tomato.

Solanum linnaeanum masquerading as a tomato on Table Mountain

A Solanum linnaeanum on Table Mountain

 

Although historians of the past had a tendancy to forget that there had been a variety of indigenous inhabitants of the Cape Peninsula long before the 15th century, it is from this time that the history of the Peninsula is most well known. It was during the 15th century that European seafarers searched for a sea route to the East. Such a route would enable them to outflank the the Islamic empire in its control of trade to the Meditteranean region.

The first European reputed to have rounded the cape was Bartholemew Dias. With a small fleet of 3 vessels he left Portugal in 1487. Off the Namibian coast he was battered by strong winds and driven South. Eventually they were able to turn East but found only open sea. Turning North they eventually encountered land and realised they had “turned the corner” and rounded the South of Africa.

Dias Beach The Southern most beach at Cape Point.

Dias reportedly named the Peninsula the “Cape of Storms”but when he reached Portgal and reported his discovery King John renamed it the “Cape of Good Hope”

Explore Cape Point on a guided hike with Ridgway Ramblers.

http://www.ridgwayramblers.co.za/index.php/hiking-options/walks-at-cape-point/

 Constantiaberg

Hiking to the Elephants eye cave, up to the Constantiaberg tower and then down to the viewing platform above Hout Bay is one of the most rewarding hikes in the Cape Peninsula. It is relatively short (should take you +/- 4 hours to complete) has wonderful views in every direction, includes a chance to explore the elephants eye cave and takes you through some of the most amazing fynbos.

The starting point is in Silvermine North at the top parking area. (Going up Ou Kaapse Weg from the Southern suburbs turn right into Silvermine and continue following the road until you can’t drive any further) Then follow the path signed towards the elephants eye cave. Initially you follow a jeep track forking left after about 5 minutes walking. Then take the short cut cutting out a huge corner. As you rejoin the jeep track you will a small path to the right that is clearly signed to elephants eye cave.

The path off the jeep track is well marked

The lookout hut overlooking Tokai forest

You should reach here about 30 minutes into your hike. Its a good place to take a break before tackling the steep climb first to the cave and then up the Constantiaberg.

 

The view of the lookout hut from the cave

Drop back down the path from the lookout hut and you will see the path to the cave almost immediately on your right. This starts to climb steeply up a zig zag path until after less than 15 minutes climb you turn off the main path and head for the cave. It is well worth taking this 5 minute detour as the cave is large and quite deep. Photos from inside the cave are breathtaking.

 

The detour to the cave is well worth it

Once you’ve explored the cave return to the path and continue up. This is now the hard part of the hike. You head up hill for about 45 minutes until meeting the tar road that leads to the mast.

 

Looking South from half way up the Constantiaberg

 Cross over the road and take the continuation of the path that cuts out a corner of the road. Where you rejoin the road again take the small path that leads off it and takes you around the back of the mast.

 

Follow the path around the side of the Constantiaberg mast

 At the first path junction take the left option. At the second junction again turn left and you will begin to head down a steep path towards the Silvermine lookout platform. You are now overlooking Hout Bay, Chapmans Peak drive and the Atlantic.

 

 

After about 30 minutes hard downhill you join the path to the Silvermine viewpoint that overlooks Hout Bay. Turn right here and you will be at the viewpoint in less than a minute. Relax and the enjoy some of the best views in Cape Town.

 

Enjoying the view over Hout Bay

From here you follow the path from the view point back to the jeeptrack. Turn left and follow the road back to your car. It is all down hill and should take you about 30 minutes to get to the end.

 

 

 Table Mountain hike

Whilst walking on Table Mountain through the summer your eye might well be drawn to a shrub with bright orange tubular flowers.

The bright orange flowers of the wild dagga

The flower of the wild dagga

 

The Karbonkelberg is the largest of the peaks that tower over the Northern side of Hout Bay. Viewed from the top of Chapmans Peak there are 2 visible peaks that tower over the sea to the left of Hout Bay. The Sentinal is the smaller more Southerly peak with the taller Karbonkelberg behind it.

Karbonkelberg viewed from the top of Chapmans Peak

Be careful on the top

One word of caution: This is one of the very few places on the Table Mountain where I would hesitate to go in a small group.

Please be careful