Hiking in Newlands Forest at the

foot of Table Mountain

Today is an absolutely beautiful day in Cape Town. Clear skies, no wind, cool winter temperatures. Really perfect for a walk. But today is also the 11th June 2010. The opening day of the soccer world cup in South Africa. With the first game featuring our own Bafana Bafana. Even I wanted to be inside in front of the television in the afternoon!!

So I needed a morning walk. Newlands Forest offers the perfect choice. Parking at the forest station you head straight up into the forest. Well maintained jeep tracks with plenty of smaller tracks leading off to explore the numerous small rivers.

This morning I headed pretty  much straight up the mountain from the car park. Indigenous wild almond trees abound, with branches twisting across rivers and bending low to make you dip and turn along paths. All the time above you the steep cliffs of Table Mountain and Devils Peak tower over you. 

Table Mountain towering over Newlands Forest

 After criss crossing numerous paths all the time heading up hill you get to the contour path at the waterfall of Ascension gulley. A quick water stop here then head back towards Constantia Nek. The contour path is a mixture of boardwalks in sensitive areas, with a few rocky gorges and small streams to cross in places.

One of the numerous paths through Newlands Forest

After 30 minutes you turn off the contour path back into the forest. This time just keep following your nose down hill. You meet with a jeep track that will lead you back to the car park.   

The contour path above Newlands Forest

This walk took me 2 hours this morning. Enough to feel like I took some exercise and to take in some good fresh air. But now I am in front of the TV for the afternoon.