Hike from Silvermine to Constantia Nek
A Table Mountain walk away from the crowds
The walk from Silvermine to Constantia Nek is 14km long but apart from a bit of a climb at the end is mainly on the flat. It takes you right around the side of the Constantiaberg and over the Vlakkenberg to the top of Constantia Nek. This route includes a short walk through some indigenous forest, then the thick and lush fynbos of Silvermine before moving onto the tougher mountain fynbos of the Constantiaberg and Vlakkenberg. The views are just as varied with the final views of Table Mountain herself from the top of the Vlakkenberg Nek being spectacular. It is an A to B route so you need to either drop a car at the end or arrange for a driver to pick you up at the end.
Park your car at the entrance gate to Silvermine and begin walking on the river trail. This a beautiful boardwalk along the Silvermine river through indigenous forest. During the winter you may get your feet a bit wet at plpaces but it is well worth the discomfort.
After about 30 minutes you meet the jeep track at the Silvermine dam. Turn right and follow the road for 100m to the main carpark. Turn left and follow the path towards the Constantiaberg mountain. You follow the jeep track up a switchback hill for about 40 mins until taking the path signposted to the Elephants Eye cave. On either side of the track the Fynbos is colourful and abundant. Follow this path for 10 minutes until you come to a junction where you turn right. This path leads you to a steep and uneven drop onto a path below the fire lookout hut and elephants eye cave. This path now follows the contour at 450m right around the Constantaiberg overlooking the Tokai plantation. You walk along this path for around an hour accompanied by stunning cliffs on your left and clear views across the forest and False Bay on your right.
The final 15 minutes lead you steeply up to the tar road that leads to the tower. Turn down the hill and continue on the road for 10 minutes until you come to a sharp bend to the right. You turn left onto a path here. Almost immediately you turn right and head down a short incline and across a river, before heading steeply up to the Vlakkenberg Nek.
Here at 530m you reach the highest point on the hike. This climb is the toughest of this route but is relatively short. (+/- 150m)
From here you head steeply down towards Constantia Nek. The path has recently been improved and is part of the Hoeerikwaggo Trail so is in good condition. You pass alongside some Vineyards and into the Silvermist estate so need to keep dogs under very close control here.
Shortly after getting onto the Silvermist estate you reach a gate and walk onto the busy road that goes over Constantia Nek.