We sit in awe and think of the day’s hikes in this magnificent peninsula. It is unusual for the best that nature has on offer to surround a city or be as close, as in the ‘fairest Cape’ of them all. We are learning that it is neither good judgment nor ‘safe’ to give ratings especially as we are not that well traveled. Nevertheless, in this instance we are happy to live dangerously. We surmise that at the time Hashem was crafting this area, He must have felt particularly creative and content.
The weather over the last two days has been near perfect following two prior, poor days. With the tough Table Mountain hike behind us, we headed towards Muizenberg but diverted to the Silvermine Nature Reserve. From the moment we entered, we were entranced. It is serene, colorful and sits in a bowl surrounded by mountains, and bays in the distance. There is an aura about the reserve but who can say what that really is or means.
Just below the peak of Constantiaberg is a VHF mast and radar station that dominates the mountains for at least 50 miles distant. The summit is just on 3,000 feet, joining Table Mountain and Devil’s Peak as the highest points in the area. Identifying markers on the various peaks from other viewpoints and then touching them has been an exciting experience. For example, from Table Mountain the mast is prominent which we viewed yesterday and then today, we passed it on our way to the peak.
“Isn’t that False Bay?” our editor asked as we gazed at mountains that appeared to rise from amidst the ocean. “True,” we answered, so taken in by the incredible sights that we almost gasped. “No,” she countered, “False.” You can see it was going to be that kind of day. Our destination was 'Elephant Eye' cave overlooking the Tokai forest. It proved to be unusual as well as a place that provided stunning views. On the way up, we could not help but notice a high peak above the cave. The guidebooks had omitted anything about Constantiaberg so it was a surprise. “Do you think there is a path up to the peak?” we asked our informative editor.
“And if there isn’t? I know when you get that look. You and I are obviously going to the top, path or not.” We love it when she shows such spirit. On such occasions, we could fall in love all over again.
We did hike to the summit but not before coming across four false peaks. In fact, the mountain that enticed us was just a tease. Four ‘bigger buddies’ hid behind it. We are rarely amused when mountains play 'silly buggers' like that. The hike ended up being about nine miles, much more than we anticipated. It also was one of our most enjoyable experiences. The choices are endless—parts of the Cape Province we have visited are magnificent.
“What is the correct etiquette should we meet an elephant on one of these narrow ledges?” we wondered. “Don’t be silly. The first part of the hike is named after the elephant shaped mountains,” answered our editor.
“And you believe everything you read. Just because we haven’t seen an elephant yet doesn’t mean there aren’t any on this mountain. By the way, be careful of that pile of dung in front of you.”
Cheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
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