After finally waking up to a sunny Sunday in spring, my friends and I decided that a hike was in order. After debating about whether to tackle Lion’s Head or Elephant’s Eye, we eventually agreed to hike up Echo Valley in Table Mountain National Park, just above Kalk Bay.
The hike begins from Boyes Drive (signage for Echo’s Valley will ensure you’re in the right place), but can also be undertaken from the opposite direction, starting from Silvermine on Ou Kaapse weg. A steep set of stone steps lead straight from the busy road up into the mountain, shaded by dense bushes and shrubs. Climb through beautiful fynbos, pass crashing waterfalls, and through the break in the trees, you can enjoy the most exquisite views of False Bay and the Kalk Bay harbour.
The walk was a little harder than expected, despite our friend Graeme (who had done the same hike plenty of times previously) constantly promising us that it would “even out soon”. To his merit, it did, but only after about 30 gruelling minutes of steep “rock climbing”. This was, of course, due to the fact that I am incredibly unfit, so those who hike more often will probably find it much more enjoyable.
The views were absolutely incredible and I couldn’t resist turning around every couple of minutes to snap a few shots of the turquoise ocean, cuddled between bright yellow spring flowers and stone mountain crops. What I enjoyed most was the complete silence. There was not a breath of wind, no noise pollution, and the only sounds were that of the rushing water from the passing streams, our own voices, and those of other hikers passing by.
We came across the sign for the Boomslang Caves, which are the perfect introduction for caving beginners, with all sorts of nooks and crannies to explore. While we didn’t have time to explore the caves ourselves, we hope to return and tackle them next time. The entrance to the cave is a large vertical crack on the Fish Hoek side of the mountain (the opening you’ll pass on the Boyes Drive side is known as the exit). These caves are best visited in summer as the seasonal pool just inside the entrance tends to make the experience pretty damp in winter. We had been warned to keep an eye out for the spider-like creature known as the cave cricket (Spelaeiacris tabulae). This long-legged, golden cricket is not found anywhere else in Africa, but similar ones can be found in the Falklands, New Zealand, and Australia. There are also plenty of bats that roost in the cave, so be sure to keep your disturbance level at a minimum! You can also explore the White Dome Grotto; a second cave located next to the entrance to Boomslang.
We continued on towards the Amphitheatre in Echo Valley Forest, passing a clearing of Milkwood trees where a wooden walkway begins to wind between the trees. We stopped here to snap some photographs, before heading back the same way we had come as we had left our cars on Boyes Drive. A great tip for those doing this hike is to arrange two cars (one to park on Ou Kaapse at Silvermine and one on Boyes Drive). This way, you’ll be able to hike all the way along the route without having to double back. You’ll then continue along the wooden walkways towards the Amphitheatre; a small area surrounded by rocks from which many exciting caves and tunnels branch off, offering hours of excitement for the kids. Along the way, you’ll be afforded the most spectacular view of False Bay on your right hand side!
Hiking Details:
- Starting point: Boyes Drive (or Silvermine)
- Ending Point: Silvermine (or Boyes Drive)
- Duration: 2 – 2.5 hours
- Terrain: stone steps, sandy mountain path, and wooden walkways
- Difficulty level: Moderate with several steep sections
Have you hiked this route before? If so, let us know how it was!
Keep an eye out for these 5 venomous snakes you may come across while hiking in the Cape. Other hikes you may want to try include Lions Head and the new Chokka Trail. Here’s what to pack for a day hike.
