A three day hike from Noordhoek beach to Table Mountain is a must-do for local and international hikers alike! I had the privilege of hiking with two clients recently and the experience was nothing short of spectacular. AWOL`s two guests, Liam, an environmental engineer from Australia, and Heike, a German lady, owner of a plumbing business that has been in existence for over 80 years, has really embraced the challenge of hiking for three days in Cape Town.
A three day hike from Noordhoek beach to Table Mountain is a must-do for local and international hikers alike! I had the privilege of hiking with two clients recently and the experience was nothing short of spectacular. AWOL`s two guests, Liam, an environmental engineer from Australia, and Heike, a German lady, owner of a plumbing business that has been in existence for over 80 years, has really embraced the challenge of hiking for three days in Cape Town.
A three day hike from Noordhoek beach to Table Mountain is a must-do for local and international hikers alike! I had the privilege of hiking with two clients recently and the experience was nothing short of spectacular. AWOL`s two guests, Liam, an environmental engineer from Australia, and Heike, a German lady, owner of a plumbing business that has been in existence for over 80 years, has really embraced the challenge of hiking for three days in Cape Town.
After our safety briefing, we headed off from Noordhoek Beach working our way to the top of Chapman`s Peak. We enjoyed amazing views of Hout Bay and the greater part of Noordhoek and Kommetjie. Climbing Noordhoek Peak was extremely tough as we walked in an extreme heatwave. We were relieved to reach the top of Noordhoek Peak and rushed down to cool off in the Silvermine Dam. The rustic Silvermine Tented Camp was the perfect setting to spend our first night. The camp was built out of alien vegetation (pine tree and gumtree), with an amazing fully equipped kitchen and braai area. The camp is also themed to fit snugly into its environment with its low, rounded design complimenting the low, undulating fynbos thicket of the Silvermine Reserve. We had an amazing time around the fire, braaiing our porterhouse steaks, sharing stories of our different backgrounds, and ended our evening off by having sundowners on top of the Silvermine Crags, which is a stone`s throw away from the camp.
We had an early start to the second day as we wanted to get out of the heatwave as early as possible. The walk to the top of Blackburn Ravine was pleasant, although we could already feel the heat on our skin as early as 7am! For most of the morning we enjoyed views of Hout Bay, its harbour and the beautiful Sentinel and Kabonkelberg Mountains. The day progressed easily and we were relieved to spot a few shady areas to hide from the 36 degree Celsius heat. We reached the top of Vlakkenberg Peak feeling excited as we were able to spot Orangekloof Tented Camp from there.
We were greeted at the Orangekloof Tented Camp by a friendly site guide, John Wallace, who showed us around the camp and helped us to settle for the night. It became a very special place for me as it is nestled amongst ancient Afromontane Forest. It has an amazing raised viewing tower where we were able to view the back of the Twelve Apostles mountain range before settling around the fire in front of the boma. Supper was amazing as we had a huge Texan steak which was devoured mostly by the first person who has a bigger appetite than I, named Liam. It was a perfect Summer`s night, and we fell asleep under a canopy of stars, listening to the Disa River, with the Spotted Eagle owl hooting in the background.
Our last day started off with an early breakfast and headed off walking through the enchanted Orangekloof Forest. It is the last pocket of indigenous forest that`s left in Cape Town, and the amazing Cape Holly and Cape Saffron trees, offered much welcomed shade along our walk in the morning. Heike and Liam, both with engineering backgrounds, was fascinated with the Old Pumphouse that`s found in the forest, and were amazed at its design. Hiking through Disa Gorge was just so amazing, with the different arrangement of fynbos plants out on display. Once, we arrived at Woodhead Dam, our focus was to get to the top of Table Mountain, as the heat once again caught up with us.
Reaching the top of Table Mountain was very emotional for the three of us, as we braved the heatwave, and managed to finish the hike. It was also the first time that we were in contact with other people on the mountain and immediately Heike and Liam turned to me and asked, “What are all these people doing on our mountain?” . We ended the tour off with some refreshments on top of the mountain before we headed down with the cable car. As we said our goodbyes, we all agreed to do the three day hike again. Next time however, we`ll place an order for the Southeaster to accompany us!
For more information on our tours, please visit www.awoltours.co.za.
After our safety briefing, we headed off from Noordhoek Beach working our way to the top of Chapman`s Peak. We enjoyed amazing views of Hout Bay and the greater part of Noordhoek and Kommetjie. Climbing Noordhoek Peak was extremely tough as we walked in an extreme heatwave. We were relieved to reach the top of Noordhoek Peak and rushed down to cool off in the Silvermine Dam. The rustic Silvermine Tented Camp was the perfect setting to spend our first night. The camp was built out of alien vegetation (pine tree and gumtree), with an amazing fully equipped kitchen and braai area. The camp is also themed to fit snugly into its environment with its low, rounded design complimenting the low, undulating fynbos thicket of the Silvermine Reserve. We had an amazing time around the fire, braaiing our porterhouse steaks, sharing stories of our different backgrounds, and ended our evening off by having sundowners on top of the Silvermine Crags, which is a stone`s throw away from the camp.
We had an early start to the second day as we wanted to get out of the heatwave as early as possible. The walk to the top of Blackburn Ravine was pleasant, although we could already feel the heat on our skin as early as 7am! For most of the morning we enjoyed views of Hout Bay, its harbour and the beautiful Sentinel and Kabonkelberg Mountains. The day progressed easily and we were relieved to spot a few shady areas to hide from the 36 degree Celsius heat. We reached the top of Vlakkenberg Peak feeling excited as we were able to spot Orangekloof Tented Camp from there.
We were greeted at the Orangekloof Tented Camp by a friendly site guide, John Wallace, who showed us around the camp and helped us to settle for the night. It became a very special place for me as it is nestled amongst ancient Afromontane Forest. It has an amazing raised viewing tower where we were able to view the back of the Twelve Apostles mountain range before settling around the fire in front of the boma. Supper was amazing as we had a huge Texan steak which was devoured mostly by the first person who has a bigger appetite than I, named Liam. It was a perfect Summer`s night, and we fell asleep under a canopy of stars, listening to the Disa River, with the Spotted Eagle owl hooting in the background.
Our last day started off with an early breakfast and headed off walking through the enchanted Orangekloof Forest. It is the last pocket of indigenous forest that`s left in Cape Town, and the amazing Cape Holly and Cape Saffron trees, offered much welcomed shade along our walk in the morning. Heike and Liam, both with engineering backgrounds, was fascinated with the Old Pumphouse that`s found in the forest, and were amazed at its design. Hiking through Disa Gorge was just so amazing, with the different arrangement of fynbos plants out on display. Once, we arrived at Woodhead Dam, our focus was to get to the top of Table Mountain, as the heat once again caught up with us.
Reaching the top of Table Mountain was very emotional for the three of us, as we braved the heatwave, and managed to finish the hike. It was also the first time that we were in contact with other people on the mountain and immediately Heike and Liam turned to me and asked, “What are all these people doing on our mountain?” . We ended the tour off with some refreshments on top of the mountain before we headed down with the cable car. As we said our goodbyes, we all agreed to do the three day hike again. Next time however, we`ll place an order for the Southeaster to accompany us!
For more information on our tours, please visit www.awoltours.co.za.
After our safety briefing, we headed off from Noordhoek Beach working our way to the top of Chapman`s Peak. We enjoyed amazing views of Hout Bay and the greater part of Noordhoek and Kommetjie. Climbing Noordhoek Peak was extremely tough as we walked in an extreme heatwave. We were relieved to reach the top of Noordhoek Peak and rushed down to cool off in the Silvermine Dam. The rustic Silvermine Tented Camp was the perfect setting to spend our first night. The camp was built out of alien vegetation (pine tree and gumtree), with an amazing fully equipped kitchen and braai area. The camp is also themed to fit snugly into its environment with its low, rounded design complimenting the low, undulating fynbos thicket of the Silvermine Reserve. We had an amazing time around the fire, braaiing our porterhouse steaks, sharing stories of our different backgrounds, and ended our evening off by having sundowners on top of the Silvermine Crags, which is a stone`s throw away from the camp.
We had an early start to the second day as we wanted to get out of the heatwave as early as possible. The walk to the top of Blackburn Ravine was pleasant, although we could already feel the heat on our skin as early as 7am! For most of the morning we enjoyed views of Hout Bay, its harbour and the beautiful Sentinel and Kabonkelberg Mountains. The day progressed easily and we were relieved to spot a few shady areas to hide from the 36 degree Celsius heat. We reached the top of Vlakkenberg Peak feeling excited as we were able to spot Orangekloof Tented Camp from there.
We were greeted at the Orangekloof Tented Camp by a friendly site guide, John Wallace, who showed us around the camp and helped us to settle for the night. It became a very special place for me as it is nestled amongst ancient Afromontane Forest. It has an amazing raised viewing tower where we were able to view the back of the Twelve Apostles mountain range before settling around the fire in front of the boma. Supper was amazing as we had a huge Texan steak which was devoured mostly by the first person who has a bigger appetite than I, named Liam. It was a perfect Summer`s night, and we fell asleep under a canopy of stars, listening to the Disa River, with the Spotted Eagle owl hooting in the background.
Our last day started off with an early breakfast and headed off walking through the enchanted Orangekloof Forest. It is the last pocket of indigenous forest that`s left in Cape Town, and the amazing Cape Holly and Cape Saffron trees, offered much welcomed shade along our walk in the morning. Heike and Liam, both with engineering backgrounds, was fascinated with the Old Pumphouse that`s found in the forest, and were amazed at its design. Hiking through Disa Gorge was just so amazing, with the different arrangement of fynbos plants out on display. Once, we arrived at Woodhead Dam, our focus was to get to the top of Table Mountain, as the heat once again caught up with us.
Reaching the top of Table Mountain was very emotional for the three of us, as we braved the heatwave, and managed to finish the hike. It was also the first time that we were in contact with other people on the mountain and immediately Heike and Liam turned to me and asked, “What are all these people doing on our mountain?” . We ended the tour off with some refreshments on top of the mountain before we headed down with the cable car. As we said our goodbyes, we all agreed to do the three day hike again. Next time however, we`ll place an order for the Southeaster to accompany us!
For more information on our tours, please visit www.awoltours.co.za.