Table Mountain Trail, Orangekloof and
Cape Point Trail
The Table Mountain Trail is the flagship of the trails in the Table Mountain National Park. It's a luxurious trail – plenty of exercise but also loads of sightseeing and pampering. You won’t be roughing it!
For details of the Orangekloof and Cape Point Trails --
including my personal account of the Orangekloof hike ;o)
-- see below
I almost dismissed this trail as "visitor-stuff" because I had completed most of it in separate stages. Been there, done that - yawn. BUT... the overnight stops are totally unique and historically intriguing. The settings are fabulous and the food to-die-for. Why let visitors have all the fun? So now it's on my do-list...
What's involved?The Table Mountain Trail is a 3-day, 2-night trail. Day 1 starts with a
boat trip around the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront
, then a walking tour of the city centre. You take in gems such as the Malay Quarter (Bo-Kaap),
the Castle of Good Hope
,
the District Six Museum
and the Company Gardens. Your first night is spent at the Platteklip Wash House on the lower slopes of Table Mountain.Day 2 you walk up and catch the cable car up
Table Mountain
. From there you hike to Maclear's Beacon, the highest point on the mountain chain, where lunch is served. More hiking in the afternoon takes you to the old Overseer's Cottage for the night.
Day 3 - last day on the Mountain! Time to make the most of it. You'll spend the day roaming the Back Table, enjoying beautiful fynbos and getting a close look at the Waterworks Museum and various old dams up there. After lunch you descend via
Kirstenbosch
and find your own way back to wherever you're staying.
More good news about the Table Mountain Trail...all you carry is a daypack! Your other goodies are ferried to your overnight stops for you.your meals are designed to give you an authentic Cape Malay and South African taste experience - mmm!your guides are professionals trained on the mountain, one guide to 8 guests the minimum group size is 8 guests, the maximum is 16
Now you need to book! Bookings can only be made through SA National Parks http://www.sanparks.org/parks/table_mountain/ht/tourism/request_booking.php Demand for the Table Mountain Trail is seasonal - winter months are easier to get bookings in. On the other hand, remember that January and February are the hottest driest months of the year – also not ideal!
The Orangekloof Trail - part of the Tip to Top Trail
I did the Orangekloof Trail :o) Awesome! -- Click here for photos and details...
This is a 2-day, 1-night trail from
Silvermine
to Orange Kloof (where you overnight in a tented camp) then on to the Table Mountain Cable Car. This trail is guided and portered, but you bring your own food, kitchen utensils, sleeping bags and pillows.
Cost - R350 if you have a Wild Card, R420 if you don't. Oh, and if you book for a full group of twelve you get a further discount...
Bookings - e-mail your details to patricia@sanparks.org or call her on +27 21 465 8515. .
Looking for another overnight trail in the Park? There is one other overnight trail on offer in
Table Mountain National Park
and that's the Cape of Good Hope Trail. No catering, portering or guiding on this one - you're on your own. This is a 2-day, 1-night trail starting and ending at the gate of the
Cape Point
Nature Reserve. The days are pretty long - you cover 34km in 2 days - not for the very young or the unfit. You need to have all your own hiking kit and food and carry it yourself. Crockery, cutlery and cooking facilities are provided. Cost is R88.00 per person for the hiking trail accommodation plus the daily conservation fee (R55 per person, R10 per child). Book by phoning + 27 21 21 780 9204 during office hours
Monday to Thursday between 09:00 and 16:00. Friday's between 09:00 and 15:00.
Photos courtesy of Sanparks: http://www.sanparks.org/gallery/v/trails/ht/tm/
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