Perched on the edge of Eagles Nest
I had no idea this hike would become quite as epic as it turned out to be! I joined The Ramblers hiking group for the first time for a Sunday hike, which are generally the more difficult hikes. They reserve Saturdays for the gentle ambles.
We set off on my very familiar Constantia Nek track in the Table Mountain Nature Reserve, but very quickly cut up to the left up the steps which I usually avoid. They’re steep and nasty. But with company we made it up the section pretty fast and joined the track higher up the mountain side.
My buddy Gail
The Belmonte Scramble
From this point we cut up and around the peak and it was a steep scramble around Belmonte Peak. I was especially impressed by a 78 year old gentleman with only 1 arm who managed to do the entire hike with no fuss. His love of the outdoors keeps him coming back but I reckon this one was a little more challenging than he had expected it to be.
Ian right behind me making the single-handed climb
Belmonte peak up ahead
As we made our way over the shoulder of Belmonte Peak we cut a path across towards a spot called the Eagles Nest. It’s a very unusual rock formation of jutting slabs and caves below, all worn out by the weather over time. Our group leader, Chris, egged me on to climb the shelf and it paid off!
Standing on the edge of Eagles Nest
time for tea in the caves below
This was our first official rest stop for breakfast and hot tea! I’ve decided that carrying my flask of tea is essential during our winter months. It’s just that little luxury that I can’t do without.
The next section was relatively easy. We were now on top of Table Mountain and able to enjoy the more gradual terrain of the mountain top.
Constantia Nek is at the back and the furthest most point from the flat front edge of Table Mountain which is the view that tourists usually see. It would be around a 6 hour walk from this point to the Cable Car on the front end and it’s a walk I’m keen to do really soon.
Camel Rock
The path lead to Camel Rock! Another epic rock formation that was a first for me. Chris again egged me on to climb the rock saying some other guy had scaled it and took a photo on top but I later found out it was a fib! Ha! Oh well. I tried my best.
The next short section was rewarded with a view of De Villiers Dam, the first of 5 dams on top of Table Mountain. We headed around the top of the dam to reach the dam wall which also opened up the epic views of Hout Bay in the distance (my old crib) and the steep slopes of Orange Kloof below.
De Villiers Dam wall
We made an interesting detour through low dense bush from this point cutting over an outcrop.
It seemed like an odd route, but we very quickly realised why we were taking this path. The bush quickly dropped down into a steep crevice between the rocks that hid us in a secret forest between the rocks.
This Underground Enchanted forest is completely hidden from view from every point on the paths above so you need to know exactly where this small path begins.
It’s an obstacle course of holes leading to underground caves and moss covered slippery rocks surrounded by trees that would seldom see human life.
This was also our lunch spot where we sprawled out in the deep forest, sitting on cold rocks eating tasty sandwiches and snacks.
All feeling refuelled we continued a short way along the crevice and then cut back up to the flat mountain top above and quickly found Victoria Dam, the 3rd of the 5 dams.
Victoria Dam
It was wonderful see our dams so full!!! Last year we had just come out of a three year drought where our dams were very near to empty. It had been shocking to only see sand and rocks with a pond of water below. But this time we’re we’re greeted by thousands of litres of fresh water.
Back on the jeep track, we headed towards the path that I know well, but instead of following the track down the mountain we cut left down a tiny single track that again did not look like it was regularly used. It makes you ask yourself why it’s not well used and I soon found out!!!!
From the top it looked like those ahead of me basically stepped off the edge of the cliff and disappeared!!!
It was a slow, step by step process of carefully placing each step down this rocky, washed away, steep path. I was very grateful for my stick that I was trying out for the first time. It meant I spent less time sliding down on my bottom and was more steady on this treacherous path.
We eventually joined an upper contour path that headed back to a more familiar route that I had done just a couple days before. (See my previous hike in my blog posts)
This route took us straight to the very beautiful Cecelia Waterfall. The last time we had turned off before getting to the waterfall, so I was so chuffed to get to see it first hand.
Cecelia Waterfall
We didn’t hang around too long. It had been hours of walking already and we were getting anxious to get back.
We joined the Cecelia stream path and zigzagged down the mountain side towards the old faithful jeep track.
Here’s the full route map of the 13.8km hike:
It feels like we did 3 hikes in one day with the many sites that we explored. The wonder of Table Mountain is that there is just SO MUCH MORE TO SEE!!!!
I’ll be back as soon as I can so don’t worry, the wait won’t be long.
See you on the trails again soon.
