These tips have been tested by me and some tips are just good, sound advise and is a way to make life a little bit easier when taking on that big adventure. I will add weekly new tips & quotes and you can see it all on my Facebook page.
Please check in when going on your adventure, sharing is caring after-all…
to be continued…
I have written before about the Pipe Track that makes a beautiful Sunrise hike but this time we took the Diagonal Route and had a breather in the open cave with a magnificent view of Camps Bay hiding beneath Lion’s Head.
The Pipe Track was built in 1887 for the purpose of servicing a pipeline that used to supply Cape Town with water from the Disa Gorge.
The route started at Kloof Nek Parking with a quick inclined of stairs.
Along the route the pipes indicated the way with drainage and even water meters.
Following the Pipe track for about three (3) kilometers you will make your way through a very easy but lots of loose rocks and sand trail. Where hikers and trail runners greeting you around each corner. The track has plateaus of beautiful orange and yellow Leucospermum cordifolium (Speldekussings) as well as fynbos showing you the one way and on the other side Camps Bay with its beach and sea. We reached the Diagonal Track sign board.
Up the mountain we went for about one (1) kilometer taken a breather every five minutes.
A spectacular view followed us up to the cave. This is actually very exposed especially for people that has a fear for heights and I would advise caution here but it is worth the effort.
We turned around once we have reached the Cave and came back the same way. However, you can follow the Diagonal route further up the mountain and we will definitely do that next time.
Information:
Place: The Pipe Track. Parking at Kloof Nek parking, Tafelberg Rd, Table Mountain (Nature Reserve), Cape Town.
Length of Hike: 8 kilometers round trip.
Fee: Free
Easy hike up until Diagonal Route where there is some exposure and that one (1) kilometer to the cave was quite steep for us that were not that fit.
Do this hike early in the morning or later in the afternoon as it can get extremely hot. Please take enough water and some energy drinks as well as a Bar-one for that extra energy spike up to Diagonal cave.
As with most hikes up Table Mountain a rain jacket is a must as well as a hat or buff and sunscreen. Wear comfortable hiking shoes with a good grip. Because of all the loose rocks and sand your feet will need the extra protection. Tip: use thick socks for this adventure.
Lion’s Head is a distinctive shaped mountain slope found alongside Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa adjacent to the Twelve Apostles Mountain Range. It offers a breathtaking view from its 669.9 m summit.
Starting and ending point Karmat on Signal Hill Road, at the base of the Forestry Road
Duration 2 – 3 hours
Grade 2B Ladder Route / 2C Chains Route
Need to know You will have to do some climbing, however there are handholds and chains to assist you. If, you’d prefer to avoid the climbing, a roundabout route (that’s still quite steep) adds half an hour to your hike. This is a very popular hike so if you want to do the Sunrise hike be early. Take lots of water and have a picnic at the summit.
Child-friendly? Yes, although they’ll probably want to avoid the climbing chains (and rock scrambling near the end of the trail)
Dog-friendly? No
Contact 021 422 1601 (Kloofnek Office).
021 712 0527, Table.Mountain@sanparks.org
TMNP emergency numbers: 086 110 6417/ 107 or 021 480 7700
2. Pipe Track
This trail is not only mesmerisingly beautiful, it also has an interesting history, in that it was built in 1887 for the purpose of servicing a pipeline that used to supply Cape Town with water from the Disa Gorge.
Starting point The junction of Tafelberg Road and Kloof Nek (you can park your car in the Kloof Nek parking lot)
End point Camps Bay
Duration 4 hours. The route is easygoing, although it becomes slightly tougher after passing by Slangolie Ravine.
Grade 1A
Good to know There are a number of trails that lead off the Pipe Track, but these should not be attempted without the assistance of a knowledgeable guide. Many of these trails are not beginner-friendly, and they are not recommended for children or dogs.
If you do have a guide, it’s recommended to visit Tranquility Cracks, a hidden gem that Capetonian hikers have only recently discovered. These are narrow, labyrinthine tunnels through the rock, formed naturally through erosion.
Need to know The Pipe Track can be tough on hot days, as large portions of it are exposed to the afternoon sun.
Child-friendly? Yes
Dog-friendly? Yes, although the Table Mountain National Park is under the jurisdiction of SANParks, which requires that dog-walkers have a Level 1 My Activity Permit (R270 for a year). Contact Tokai Plantation Office (021 712 7471) for more information.
Contact 021 712 0527, Table.Mountain@sanparks.org
TMNP emergency numbers: 086 110 6417/ 107 or 021 480 7700
Location Table Mountain National Park
3. Maclear’s Beacon
At 19 meters above the Upper Cableway Station, Maclear’s Beacon is the highest point on Table Mountain, 1 086 meters above sea level. This cairn was build by Sir Thomas Maclear in 1865, the cairn was not built to mark the height of Table Mountain, it was to assist in measuring the curvature of the earth. Plaques at the Upper Cableway Station point you towards the beginning of the hike, and from thereon the trail is marked by yellow footprints. If you do the Platteklip and Maclear’s Beacon trails in one go, then you can truly say you hiked from the bottom of Table Mountain to the very top.
Starting point Upper Cableway Station
End point Maclear’s Beacon
Duration 1 hour
Grade 1A
Need to know SANParks does not recommend attempting this trail in cloudy or misty weather, as it becomes more difficult to find your way in such conditions.
Child-friendly? Yes
Dog-friendly? No
Contact 021 712 0527, Table.Mountain@sanparks.org
TMNP emergency numbers: 086 110 6417/ 107 or 021 480 7700
Location Table Mountain National Park
Just a few points:
Grading was used in accordance with Mike Lundy’s system. Mike Lundy’s Best Walks in the Cape Peninsula:
A. No exposure to heights
B. Some mild rock scrambling, but no worse than climbing a short ladder
C. Moderately exposed; those with serous fear of heights should not attempt this walk
D. Very exposed; not for those with even a mild fear of heights
Hiking in Cape Town especially during the summer can be very hot. Please take enough water. Take a Hat, Sunblock and a Rain jacket. The weather is very unpredictable one moment it is sunshine and very next moment the wind is blowing and it starts to rain.
Please do not hike alone.
Choose your route according to the ability, fitness and experience of the group.
Use a guidebook, or go with someone that knows the way.
Ensure at least that one member of the group has a fully charge cellphone.
Always go prepared for bad weather.
Never split up.
Leave only footprints.
Cornelia 