Llandudno ravine, the Grootkop caves and Oudekraal ravine
Visitors to Cape Town are often surprised by the sheer size of Table Mountain. Not so much its height but the area it covers. Table Mountain is so much more than the cliffs towering over the city bowl.
The next next surprise is the variety of scenery. In a day you can pass through forest into pristine fynbos to dramatic cliffs and interesting rock formations.
The hike from suikerbossie to Camps Bay via the Grootkop caves going up Llandudno ravine and down oudekraal ravine is an amazing 14km route where in around 6 hours you may see no other hikers and pass through a number of different ecosystems with ever changing views.
Llandudo ravine is on the South West corner of the mountain so overlooks Hout Bay and Llandudno.
It is steep with a couple of very minor scrambles. Once at the top of the ravine you join the 12 Apostles path and follow this past Judas peak towards Grootkop. This is one of remotest areas on the mountain.
Grootkop is the highest peak on this part of the mountain and is also home to a labyrinth of caves that offer an interesting diversion.
After the caves the trail leads you around the base of Grootkop. Here huge rocks create interesting features with head high fynbos annd small yellow woods growing from impossible places.
Once the other side of Grootkop to get to Oudekraal you need to take a faint path to the left. The beginning of the descent is steep and loose underfoot but with amazing views.
After the initial steep descent. The path begins a traverse which eventually joins the pipe track. This is a wonderful part of the hike that changes around every corner.
The path weaves between head high bushes and often takes you past overhangs and awesome cliff faces. All the time with stunning views of the Atlantic until it eventually joins the pipetrack which you follow into Camps Bay.
Contact us if you would like to explore some of the most remote areas on Table Mountain
