Hiking the Elephant's Eye of Silvermine

 Located in the central section of the Table Mountain National Park (TMNP), Silvermine offers some of the best hikes in Cape Town - with beautiful fynbos landscapes. There is even a short and wheelchair-friendly boardwalk for certain parts.

If you're planning on going, note that there are two sections with formal parking:

Gate One: Turn right off Ou Kaapse Weg coming from Cape Town. This area offers mountain biking tracks and a selection of hikes ranging from easy to challenging. Hikers can walk to the top of the Constantaiburg Mountain for perfect views of Hout Bay or simply stroll around the reservoir's wheelchair friendly boardwalk. There are also picturesque braai/ picnic sites available.

Gate Two: A few hundred metres past Gate One, turn left into the car park. From here you can hike over to Kalk Bay or simply do a circuit route. This section of the Park includes Afromontane Forests, waterfalls and very interesting geology.

Opening times: 

October – March (summer) 8am – 6pm, exit at 7pm

April – September (winter) 8am – 5pm, exit at 6pm


Conservation fee: Adults, R25; children R10; free entrance for WILD Card holders

Beside all your hiking essentials such as water, sunblock, sunhat and picnic snacks don't forget to pack a swimsuit, otherwise you'll miss the opportunity to take a dip in the Silvermine Reservoir. It is also possible to overnight at the Silvermine Tented Camp - contact +27 (0)21 422 2816 to arrange.