Hiking in the South

Varied, atmospheric, and full of surprises,  this less-traversed Cave Peak Hike showcases some of the most distinctive features of the area: numerous cave entrances along the base of the cliffs, the cool Afromontane forest of Echo Valley, and a return journey through an unusual natural rock arch that cuts through Cave Peak to descend back to the saddle between Kalk Bay and Clovelly. Start — From Kalk Bay or Clovelly, ascend to the saddle between the two suburbs, then turn toward Cave Peak and walk upward to the base of the cliffs. Climb — At the foot of the cliff, traverse left for a few hundred metres to a wide cleft in the rock face. Scramble up a steep path using a simple root-assisted pull-up at the top. Continue along the upper slopes of Cave Peak. Forest Section — A fork to the left leads past a small for...

The Silvermine Skyline Path is widely regarded as the best hike in Upper Silvermine, offering spectacular sea views over Noordhoek and Hout Bay along with exciting ridge ascents. Start — From the Upper Silvermine Dam parking area, take the gravel road to the left of the dam heading back toward Ou Kaapse Weg. Ridge Traverse — Take the first right turn to reach a ridge overlooking Silvermine Dam. At the T-junction, turn right again and ascend to the ridge summit, enjoying sweeping views across the reserve. Return Loop — Continue along the ridge until a split allows a left turn down to the gravel road. Follow this road past Noordhoek Peak , then take the sandy path toward the ridge above Chapman’s Peak Drive.  Continue over two steep but unexposed ascents until you reach a wide, sandy path that leads back to th...

The hike to Cave Peak begins with a steady climb, with rocky sections near the summit that require some careful scrambling. At the top, the open summit rewards you with sweeping views over Fish Hoek.   From there, the trail follows a high traverse past the Clovelly entrance of Boomslang Cave before looping back and descending through a forested section at the base of the cliffs along the lower traverse, offering a varied mix of ridges, forest, and cliffside paths. Start — Begin either from Kalk Bay or Clovelly  and hike towards the saddle between the two suburbs before turning up to Cave Peak. Scramble & Climb — At the base of the cliffs, complete a 2m slightly challenging scramble followed by a relatively steep section to the top. Another short scramble is required just before reaching the top. This is best attempted along the right-hand side against the cliff. Traverse — ...

The Trappieskop hike is a short, accessible loop trail rising above Kalk Bay and Fish Hoek, providing excellent views over False Bay and the coastline. Route Overview — Starting from Clovelly or Kalk Bay, the hike follows a circular route up the mountain on a stony trail. The ascent culminates in an excellent viewpoint with sweeping views over Kalk Bay Harbour. Descent — The return route descends on the Fish Hoek side, passing a lookout point overlooking Fish Hoek Beach. While steep in places, the trail is manageable for most hikers. 📍 Meeting Point  —  Either Godfrey Rd in Kalk Bay or Clovelly Rd in Clovelly. 📌 Meeting spot Kalk Bay  —   Google Maps 📌 Meeting spot Clovelly  —   Google Maps ⏱️ Hiking Time  —  1hr 30min 📏 Distance  —  2.4km ⛰️ Elevation...

Start this adventurous hike at the saddle between Kalk Bay and Clovelly, ascending to the top of Cave Peak for excellent views along the ridge leading to Blokhuiskop. The route offers a mix of rocky sections and forested cliff side paths, winding along ridges and through fynbos before doubling back to the starting point. Overview — This out-and-back hike begins either in Kalk Bay or Clovelly and leads to the saddle between the two suburbs. From there, the trail ascends to Cave Peak before traversing along the cliff base and continuing to the summit. From the top, hikers can walk across the mountain plateau to Blokhuiskop. Optional Loop — For the adventurous, a narrow passageway descends to the Clovelly side , allowing for a loop around Blokhuiskop. This option requires careful route finding and will be challenging to find for th...

This rewarding short hike is one of the more unusual routes in the area, featuring some scrambling with climb‑ups and downs. It takes an unconventional route around Elsies Peak along a climbing traverse at the base of the cliffs, offering some easy scrambling and striking ocean views throughout. Start — The hike begins in Glencairn Heights and winds inland up and around Elsies Peak . Follow the path as it curves back towards the sea, then take a left down towards Mountain Rd for a short distance followed by a sharp right on an indistinct path leading to the base of the cliffs. Traverse Section — The route circles around the front of Elsies Peak , including some easy crawling, scrambling, and step-down sections. The path eventually connects with the Glencairn descent back to the starting point. 📍 Meeting Point  —  14 G...

The  Elsies Peak hike in Fish Hoek is a local favourite offering a good short workout with great views across the peninsula. Start — From Berg Street in Fish Hoek, this easy and relatively busy path curves up the mountain to the top of Elsies Peak which offers excellent views of the ocean towards both Fish Hoek and Glencairn. Return — The return route loops back around the Glencairn side of the mountain to join the path that leads back down to Berg Rd in  Fish Hoek. 📍 Meeting Point  —  1 Berg Road, Fish Hoek 📌 Meeting Spot  —   Google Maps ⏱️ Hiking Time  —  ± 2hrs 📏 Distance  —  3.3km ⛰️ Elevation Gain  —  249m 🟢  Grade  —  Easy 🐾🐾  —  Dog Friendly Route Notes  — This is an easy hike on w...

This is one of the best hikes in Kalk Bay, taking you through the Mimetes Valley, up towards Kalk Bay Peak, and back down through the cool Afromontane forest of Spes Bona. Start — From Ou Kraal on Boyes Drive, follow the trail toward Bailey’s Kloof before ascending steadily through the Mimetes Valley . Contour Section — After turning left toward Kalk Bay, the route passes Kalk Bay Peak before descending into the shaded Spes Bona Forest . Return — The loop closes by following the historic Old Mule Path back to Ou Kraal , completing a scenic circular hike. 📍 Meeting Point  —  Ou Kraal at the start of the Old Mule Trail on Boyes Drive, St James. 📌 Meeting Spot   —   Google Maps ⏱️ Hiking Time  —  3hrs 30min – 4hrs 📏 Distance  —  6.9km ⛰️ Ele...

This well-marked hike runs from Lakeside to Muizenberg and St James Peak, offering spectacular views along the way before finishing at Ou Kraal on Boyes Drive. Start — From  Boyes Drive in Lakeside, this point-to-point hike begins with a steady ascent. The first turn at the top to the left leads you toward Muizenberg Peak , then crosses over the top of Pecks Valley and continues on to St James Peak. Descent — From St James Peak , the path veers down and continues over Baileys Kloof , descending to Ou Kraal on Boyes Drive. 📍 Meeting Point  —  Ou Kraal on Boyes Drive (just before Sharkspotters driving from Kalk Bay) 📌 Meeting spot Ou Kraal  —   Google Maps 📌 Meeting spot Lakeside  —   Google Maps ⏱️ Hiking Time  —  3hrs 30min 📏 Distance  —  5.3km ...

This route traces the Upper Silvermine River from the main gate, leaves the river trail to ascend Steenberg Ridge,  and completes the loop back down to the dam, for an optional dip before heading back down along the river. Start — This out-and-back hike begins at the Upper Silvermine parking area (Gate 1)  just to the left of the pay point. The trail follows the Silvermine River upstream parallel to Steenberg Ridge. River & Ridge Section — Continue along the river until reaching a cycle crossroad. Turn right, cross Silvermine Reservoir Road, and pass through a small parking area before climbing gently toward Steenberg Ridge. The trail then runs along the ridge with Silvermine Dam visible on the left. Return — At the end of the ridge, turn back toward Silvermine Dam and return along the river, retracing your...

The Upper Silvermine Amphitheatre Path  is a scenic loop hike offering elevated views over Silvermine Dam and Noordhoek, combining ridge walking with a dramatic contouring path high above the valley. Start — From the Upper Silvermine Dam parking, take the path to the right of the car park heading up towards Steenberg Ridge. Ridge Section — Follow the ridge path until it crosses the Elephant Eye Trail. Turn left to join the concrete road, then continue along the jeep track heading toward Hout Bay. Amphitheatre Loop — The Amphitheatre Path branches off on the left. Stay on this path as it curves high above the dam, offering excellent views, before returning along the ridge and descending to a sandy road that heads back to the dam. Important Note  —   Silvermine entry is cash only ...