Hikes | Peninsula Ramblers

Upcoming Hikes

Hike programs cover a four month period and are published in October, February and June. Every two weeks the upcoming hikes are updated below for ease of reference.

Important notes:

All hikers (members as well as visitors)

Leaders MUST be contacted at least 24 hours before hikes (36 hours is even better).
Most leaders prefer to be notified via WhatsApp messages and don’t like voice messages.
Once you have “booked” and realise that you’re not coming, please let the leader know.
Hikes may be cancelled due to weather and leaders need to know who to contact if there are cancellations.
The leader has the right to assess any hiker’s ability and reject if thought not suitable.

Times

There are many people enjoying the outdoors and so you need to arrive early in order to find parking.
The times indicated in the hiking program are the times that the hikes start/leave from the meeting place.
Please be at the meeting point at least 15 minutes before the starting time to allow for enough time to sign in etc.
The leader may choose to wait 5 minutes for late comers, but more than this is not fair to the hikers that did arrive on time.

Visitors

The club welcomes visitors to join any of our hikes. We request that you make contact with the leader who will advise you on the suitability of the hike based on your fitness level. Visitors to any of our hikes are asked to offer a nominal donation to the club. Currently the amount asked is R50 per visitor.

Table Mountain National Park (TMNP)

Unless you are a holder of a valid Wild Card or a My Green Card, you have to pay Conservation Fees (“Entrance Fees”) at the entrance gates.

Wild Card

Wild Card Membership gives you one year’s unlimited entry to 80+ National Parks, Reserves and Resorts around Southern Africa, depending on the membership cluster and category that you choose.

https://www.sanparks.org/wild-card/overview

My Green Card

The TMNP My Green Card is available exclusively to South African residents of Cape Town, costs R200 and provides the holder with 12 free entries into any of the Table Mountain National Park’s pay points: Cape of Good Hope (Cape Point); Boulders Penguin Colony, Oudekraal and Silvermine, as well as to the braai and picnic areas at Tokai, Newlands and Perdekloof.

https://www.sanparks.org/parks/table-mountain/cards-permits/my-green-card

Conservation Fees if you DON’T have a valid Wild Card or My Green Card:

As per https://www.sanparks.org/travel/book/useful-information/rates-fees

Cape of Good Hope Section

Conservation Fees per person – adult rates Debit/Credit cards only	01/11/2025 – 31/10/2026
Standard Fee	R515
SADC Nationals (with Passport)	R225
South African Citizens and Permanent Residents (with ID*)	R110

Silvermine Section (Pay gate on the western side)

Conservation Fees per person – adult rates Cash only. No cards accepted	01/11/2025 – 31/10/2026
Standard Fee	R200
SADC Nationals (with Passport)	R90
South African Citizens and Permanent Residents (with ID*)	R44

* South African Citizens/Permanent Residents must provide proof of South African ID, South African Drivers Licence, or South African Passport on arrival. This proof is accepted in original, electronic or certified paper copy.

Which means that unless you can show/prove that you are a South African Citizen or reside in South Africa permanently, YOU HAVE TO PAY THE FULL PRICE!

NB: The entrance gates are a cash-free environment, and they only accept payments via debit and credit cards.

Dogs

Dogs are generally permitted in TMNP, for exceptions see the interactive guide to “Walking your Dog in the Park”:

When hiking in the TMNP, Peninsula Ramblers allows dogs on certain hikes “with TMNP Activity Permit only”. Currently the cost is R380 p.a.
See: https://www.sanparks.org/parks/table-mountain/cards-permits/my-activity-permi
To apply: https://www.sanparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/myactivity_permit_form.pdf

Saturday 12 September

Scarborough and Red Hill

Meet: 8:00 AM

Scarborough -The Hub

Permits required to be paid at the hub (R60 p/p). It is requested to have no more than 12 on a hike so please book your space! This is a circular route. We will make our way up to Grootkop. Following the jeep track down to the Hoerikwagga trail. We will head towards the Red Hill dam and walk along the road to Maylands where we will ascend the last uphill and back down to Scarborough.

Hike Leader

Lizette Leigh

074 462 3496
WhatsApp messages preferred

Sunday 13 September

Liesbeek River Confluence and Eco Trail

Meet: 9:00 AM

Corner of Observatory Road and Liesbeek Avenue, opposite entrance to SA Astronomical Observatory

We look at the historically significant confluence of the Liesbeek and the Black Rivers and explore the Eco Trail at the Riverlands Development.

Hike Leader

Dorothy Holder

083 572 3259

Saturday 19 September

Soetwater to Slangkop via new cliff edge path

Meet: 8:30 AM

Kommetjie KOM parking

Spring flowers in Soetwater and climb sand dunes as well as cliff paths.

Hike Leader

Chris Taylor

083 294 5845
(WhatsApp messages preferred)

Sunday 20 September

Gifkommetjie to Hoek van Bobbejaan Hike (Cape Point)

Meet: 8:30 AM

Gifkommetjie parking area (on Circular Drive) in Cape Point Nature Reserve – click here for map

We will walk along the ridge, then down to the beach at Hoek van Bobbejaan, and back along the coast. The terrain is moderate – not too much elevation, but it’s a fairly long walk.

Hike Leader

Max Brock

082 938 4442
(WhatsApp messages preferred)

Thursday 24 September (Heritage Day)

Elephants Rear and Karbonkelberg View

Meet: 8:30 AM

Silvermine 1 Upper Parking lot near dam

Walk to Blackburn lookout. Ascend towards the mast and skirt to the Elephant’s rear. Depending on weather, we will ascend up to the dome and continue further to view the Karbonkelberg.

Hike Leader