978-1-919900-97-1 thethe teamteam atat SilvermineSilvermine ...... Cartography © 2009 by Peter Slingsby Published by Baardskeerder cc PO Box 303 Muizenberg 7950 Trade enquiries & mail orders: [email protected] Many of these walks are described in more detail in our Third Edition: October 2009 “WALKS with a FAT DOG” [see website for more details of this delightful book] BRIEF ROUTE DESCRIPTIONS WITH APPROXIMATE WALKING TIMES Times do not include time for stopping/resting. Some walks may take more or less time if walked in the reverse direction. The condition of the paths in this area varies considerably, and could affect the time needed for your walk. Please try to avoid trampling out new paths next to the existing ones—you will only make eventual rehabilitation more difficult and more costly. In some areas, eg. near Muizenberg Cave, the Amphitheatre and Cave Peak, there are networks of little paths. Try to avoid these, in many instances for your own safety. SILVERMINE Most of the mountainous area covered by this map was once part of TABLE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK the old Silvermine Nature Reserve. In historic times the Steenberg was regarded by the Dutch colonists as the refuge of the Peninsular The only South African National Park in the middle of a city, Khoi, but that did not prevent the Dutch from prospecting for silver the Cape Peninsula National Park was created in 1998 to here in the 1680s. Shafts were sunk and the remains of these have conserve the unspoiled natural areas of the Peninsula. Most given their name—originally “Zilwermijn”—to the area. No silver of the undeveloped area covered by this map is managed by was ever found, but a limited amount of manganese was extracted the SA National Parks, and further information is available in later years. from their offices at Westlake Park, near the southern end of In 1797 the eastern mountains looked down upon the Battle of the Simon van der Stel Freeway (M3). The Park’s contact Muizenberg, which ultimately led to British control of the Cape details are: Colony. However, the British found, as the Dutch had before them, TELEPHONE: 021 701 8692 FAX: 021 701 4261 that these mountains formed a difficult barrier between Cape Town [email protected] :: www.tmnp.co.za and the anchorage at Simon’s Bay. For many years the area P O Box 37 Constantia 7848 remained virtually trackless, although a fisherman’s path led over the mountains between the villages of Hout Bay and Kalk Bay. By 1817 there was a farmstead— Kleinplaats—near the present Silvermine entrance gate, but it was poor farming and there never was a “wagon road” right over the mountains. When modern road The mountains remained the preserve of enthusiastic walkers builders punched the “Ou Kaapseweg” through here in the 1960s and mountaineers. In the 1940s a group of these—still remembered that name was based on pure romance. as “The Moles”—explored the mountains and discovered some In the late 1890s the Kalk Bay Municipality built the sixty caves to add to the list of the few already known. The “Hansen’s Reservoir”, but the Municipality was soon absorbed by Mountain Club of South Africa’s 1944 Journal is essential reading the City of Cape Town, and the reservoir (now the Silvermine for those interested in caving here. Some 107 caves are now Reservoir), which was provided with a very inadequate outlet pipe, known, many of them requiring specialised techniques for was only ever used to provide water to the Clovelly Country Club. exploration (see note elsewhere on “Caves”). The Trigonometrical Survey Office’s 1934 map of the mountains Although by the 1950s a steep zig-zag road had led to the shows only a few footpaths and a pipetrack to the dam. This angled Silvermine Reservoir and the Waterfall, it was the Ou Kaapseweg up from Lakeside below the Steenberg Peaks. Of the reputed “Old that opened up the area for recreation. Extensive pine plantations Wagon Road” there is no sign; this road was only built by the Cape were planted and the area became severely invaded by alien Town Municipality in the 1940s, and quite possibly has never, ever vegetation and suffered devastating wild fires. In 1998 Silvermine felt the wheels of any wagon. became part of the Table Mountain National Park. Extensive At the turn of the 19th century the mining magnates Bailey and clearing of alien vegetation has followed, and a start has been made Rhodes adopted Muizenberg as their holiday playground. Abe on repair of damaged and eroded footpaths. Much remains to be Bailey, builder of Bailey’s Cottage, built a folly at the foot of Peck’s done, but this should not detract from your enjoyment of some of Valley (which is named for Farmer Peck, famous innkeeper of the finest Fynbos vegetation in the Peninsula, with magnificent Muizenberg). Abe’s head gardener reputedly built the stone-laid views and largely safe and easy walking routes. Approved paths on the mountainside above Muizenberg, we presume for his mountain biking routes are also shown on the map. The animal life employer’s delight. In later years many more paths were stone-laid of the area has been severely depleted, but there are still many birds by the Cape Town Municipality. and smaller creatures present for your delight. 2 A. SILVERMINE (Western Section) 6a. LONG VARIATION ON THE ABOVE, 5½ hrs circular 1. SILVERMINE RIVER WALK, 1 hour one way A full-day walk, and be sure you’re fit enough for the long slog up Start either at the Entrance Gate parking area (uphill walk), or at Blackburn Kloof. From the viewpoint & beacon (see 6. above) the Silvermine Reservoir parking (downhill walk). A highly- take the footpath left and wind down the slopes below Noordhoek recommended stroll, much of it on an attractive raised Peak. At the intersection you can either take a long (2 hours boardwalk, that follows the Silvermine Stream. There are patches return) diversion to Chapman’s Peak or turn right on the contour of indigenous trees, wetland and features of historical interest. path to Blackburn Kloof. The path down the hill ahead leads to Chapman’s Peak Drive; the hard-left path leads down to private properties where you might not be welcomed. At Blackburn 2. SILVERMINE RESERVOIR CIRCUIT, 20–40 mins Kloof you can either divert left down the mountain to the second From the Silvermine Reservoir parking area. A very short stroll car you’ve left at East Fort (about 1 hour away) or you can slog up around the reservoir on a boardswalk suitable for wheelchairs. Blackburn Kloof, cross the nek and proceed until you meet the The walk visits the wetlands above the reservoir, with attractive jeep-track that leads back to the Reservoir. flora and interesting views. NO DOGS ALLOWED. 7. SILVERMINE AMPHITHEATRE, 2½ hrs circular 3. BOKKOP CIRCUIT (a), 2½ hrs circular route A walk of singular floral beauty with continuous great views, our Start either at the Entrance Gate parking, or the Silvermine recommended direction is anti-clockwise. From the Reservoir Reservoir parking (recommended). From the latter cross the take the north-western track past the toilet block. Follow the track Silvermine Stream below the reservoir wall and follow the gravel up the zigzags until you find a small cairn and path on the left. If track that leads up the hill to the south. At the summit the road you miss this path the jeep-track will suddenly swing left— go swings to the right; just around the corner is a path to the left. back 100m and look for the path. Follow this for about 1km down the valley until you meet the next The path is stony and faint in places but traverses around the jeep track. Turn right and after about 100 m take a path to the left eastern side of the Noordhoek Ridge through beautiful flora. that descends through an attractive, shallow valley to the lower Ignore all right-hand turns until the path descends sharply down jeep track. Turn left on the jeep track and cross the Silvermine stone steps and meets another path. Turn left and follow the track Stream at the picnic area. Turn left again and follow the back to the Reservoir. Silvermine River Walk back to your starting point. 8. ELEPHANT’S EYE CAVE, 2½ hrs return 4. BOKKOP CIRCUIT (b), 3 hrs circular route From the Reservoir ascend the zigzags (see 7.); at the summit is a A variation of 3. above; you could mix and match these two footpath right or, after another 200 m, a jeep-track. Follow either attractive strolls. Start as above but just after crossing the to the Tokai Fire Lookout. Beyond the Lookout there are two Silvermine Stream you’ll see the sign indicating the Silvermine routes; the lower one involves a small exposure. The upper path River Walk. Ignore that and turn left a few metres further on, on zigzags up the hill for a short distance before you must branch the jeep track. Follow this as it follows the valley down and then right to the cave. gently rises over the ridge and into the valley beyond. As you Return via the same route or, if you have left a car there, cross the nek, Bokkop (410 m) is the low hill straight ahead. The descend to the Tokai Arboretum (see 10. below—no dogs). track meanders down into the valley and shortly after making a pair of zigzags it splits. Keep left and downhill, following the 9.