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Walking in Cape Town |
Introduction
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There are 300
walking routes and over 1000 climbing routes up Table Mountain. Plus the Cable
Car to help you get down!
Do not underestimate the Mountain. Every year tourists have to
be rescued. Take a map (available at any bookshop), whistle, water, food,
sensible footwear and extra clothes - if the wind rises the temperature can
drop rapidly! It can also be drastically colder on top - be prepared! Program
the Table Mountain Rescue number into your cell phone - 021 948 9900.
You will have more fun and be safer if you have a specialist
walking or climbing guide - call the Mountain Club for advice 021 465
3412
The Bookshops (such as Exclusive Books) carry walking sections
and there are excellent books such as Mike Lundy's 'Day Walks in the
Cape'.
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Walks on Table Mountain
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Lion's Head is a
perrenial favourite, and to be highly recommended, as it is relatively short
but dramatic. Simply drive a few hundred metres along Signal Hill road and then
take the path rising from the car park.
The easiest and most direct walking route to the top of Table
Mountain is Platteklip Gorge. It starts about a mile beyond the cable
car station. Allow one and a half hours. It is NOT the most interesting route,
but it is the quickest, although very strenuous.
There is a beautiful and easy contour path above Camps Bay
called the Pipe Track, which starts at Kloof Nek. This is a flat path
with lovely views. Come back the way you came. It is possible to ascend the
mountain from this side - but go with someone who knows the way, and expect a
long walk once you are on top.
More interesting walks start from Kirstenbosch up
Nursery Ravine or Skeleton Gorge. You can go up one and down the other, or head
on to the Cable Car station - but this is a long way.
Another route begins at Constantia Nek. There are gentle
contour routes through to Kirstenbosch. If you head up to the dams and along
the top, allow a full day to reach the cable car station. This is wonderful -
but quite strenuous.
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Other Walks on the Peninsula
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If you are at
Cape Point drive to Olifantsbos and walk along the beach. Just beyond
the wreck of the Thomas T Tucker you will see a dead tree marking the circular
route back to the car park - superb walk, allow 3 hours.
Hout Bay has some walks - ask at info on the Main Road.
Constantia has Cecilia Forest, Die Hell (ironically named) and a wonderful
'green trail' running across the area.
There are gentle and scenic walks at Silvermine - drive
to the top of Ou Kaapseweg (on the way to Noordhoek/ Fish Hoek) and you will
see the turnings off the road.
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Beach Walks
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There are some great beaches for
long wanders in Cape Town.
Clifton: start at 4th beach car park, down the steps
onto the beach and keeping walking via the steps over the rocks to 1st beach,
then climb up to the road and back to the car park. Impressive.
Noordhoek: really get away from it all on the long, deep
and deserted beach at Noordhoek, you can walk all the way to
Kommetijie.
Hout Bay: a picturesque walk along a busier stretch of
beach. Walk from Mariner's Wharf at the harbour to the Leopard statue near
Chapman's Peak drive.
Muizenberg: a 32km long beach, with warmer water, the
favourite beach of Cecil John Rhodes.
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