The South Peninsula has some hidden gem climbing trails with caves and shipwrecks. When you’re attempting to flee the climbing visitors on Lion’s Head and Desk Mountain however are additionally looking for gentler mountains to climb, then these climbing trails are what you’re searching for. Listed below are 5 climbing trails you’ll be able to get pleasure from with youngsters.
1. Boomslang cave
The Boomslang cave is situated proper above Kalk Bay and is a reasonably simple cave to entry. You don’t have to be the fittest individual to have the ability to full this hike and this makes it a child-friendly path too. To get to the start of the path, you have to to stroll as much as Boyes Drive to an indication printed ‘Echo Valley’. Bear in mind that you’re climbing right into a cave so be sure that to hold a torchlight and ideally put on lengthy pants as a result of you can be doing a number of crawling contained in the caves. Boomslang cave is a haven for bats so don’t make an excessive amount of noise and DO NOT shine your torchlight onto the bats in any other case you’ll disturb them. From up the mountain, you’re capable of look down onto Kalk Bay and the harbour. This hike is a spherical journey so you’ll begin and finish your hike on the ‘Echo Valley’ signal.
The place: Kalk Bay on Boyes Drive
Length: 2 hours (4km)
2. Elsies Peak
From the underside car parking zone proper reverse 1st Avenue on Kommetjie Highway, you’ll stroll up a flight of stairs that can lead you to the start of the path on Mountain Highway. After the ‘Elsies Peak’ signage, you’ll start to climb the mountain whereas wanting down at Fish Hoek and Glencairn. The primary little bit of the hike is a strenuous staircase that can give your legs the run for his or her cash. After the staircase, the climb will get much less steep till you’re casually strolling on sand. Whenever you get to the final little bit of the mountain approaching the highest, you’ll have to climb rocks utilizing each your palms and toes. From the highest of the mountain, you’ll stare upon Kalk Bay, Glencairn, Fish Hoek, and Simon’s City. This path undoubtedly isn’t a tricky one so youngsters can take part on this hike too.
The place: Fish Hoek, Mountain Highway
Length: 1 hour half-hour
3. Friends cave
Friends cave is situated proper above Fish Hoek’s sand dunes close to the soccer fields. The climbing begins on the dunes. Proper after that climb you’re met with what appears to be a unending flight of stairs. Similar to the paths talked about above, this hike is an efficient however steep hike. In case you are unfit this climb will take you a short while longer to succeed in the cave. The cave nonetheless has work on the rocks and also you clearly will see that over some individuals have drawn some current outlines.
The place: Above sand dunes in Fish Hoek
Length: 1 hour 45 minutes
4. Thomas T Tucker shipwreck hike
Formally generally known as the Olifantsbos Shipwreck Path, the climbing path falls throughout the Cape Level Nature Reserve with over 1200 endemic and guarded vegetation and numerous wildlife. Following the yellow path markers, you’ll hike down from the Olifantsbos car parking zone to the ocean the place the Thomas T Tucker struck the Albatross Rock in 1942. When you’ve reached the shipwreck you’re welcomed to discover the left of items of the Thomas T Tucker with youngsters too. This hike is a protracted one. Relying in your health, it would take 2 – 4 hours to climb down and again as much as Olifantsbos parking.
The place: Olifantsbos, Cape Level Nature Reserve
Length: 2 – 4 hours (3km)
5. Elephant’s Eye
Elephant’s Eye is a climbing path in Silvermine and it’s referred to as this as a result of the mountain appears to be like just like the facet of an Elephant’s head and the cave is positioned simply the place a watch can be. Many of the stroll alongside this path is on gravel, and the upper you stand up the mountain, the extra publicity you get to the fantastic thing about False Bay. This path is the youngsters’s favorite due to the cave and the likelihood to swim within the dam.
Length: 50 minutes