Table Mountain National Park General Information

[Richprins]

WATCH: Waterfalls gushing across Cape Town's Table Mountain
39 minutes ago - Selene Brophy






Cape Town's serious water shortage due to insufficient rainfall and alarmingly low dam levels over the last year has had a bit of respite with the start of Winter 2018.

The latest rainfall since Thursday, 18 June has seen a 2% jump in the latest weekly trend reported by the City of Cape Town. See News24's full coverage here.

Mini trickles spotted a couple of weeks ago are now rushing waterfalls that will hopefully push out Day Zero even further than 2019. The City of Cape Town confirmed the combined dam levels across the province are sitting at 31.8%. Click here to see the latest Dam Restrictions.
#LoveSA: 3 City Peaks is the new outdoor adventure challenge

It must be stressed that Level 6b water restrictions remain in place, and despite Day Zero only forecast for 2019, visitors and locals are encouraged to use water sparingly.

Take a look at what the waterfalls look like across the face of Table Mountain:

What you need to know when heading out across Table Mountain for a hike:

Cape Town has been getting some much-needed rain, with winter hikes rewarded with views of mini-waterfalls across Table Mountain National Park.

This globally unique and much-loved World Heritage Site offers some of SA’s top hiking experiences, with Devil’s Peak, Platteklip Gorge and of course Lion’s Head.

If you’re planning a hike keep the following in mind…

- Program emergency numbers into your fully charged cellphone:

Main emergency number: 086 110 6417
Emergency SAPS (South African Police Service): 10111 (02110111 on cell)
Emergency CT Emergency Services: (021) 480 7700
Emergency CT Central OPS Centre: (021) 467 8002

- Don’t hike alone- Choose your route carefully and stick to it.

- Start early, rather than later.- Inform someone of your route and what time you’re expected back.

- Choose a hike leader and walk at the pace of the slowest member.

- If lost - don’t split up. Rather try to retrace your steps. Remember that climbing down is more difficult than climbing up.

- Always take waterproof clothing, even in mid-summer, and wear walking shoes or hiking boots. Wear a hat or cap and sun block in summer. The weather changes rapidly.

- If lost or forced to stop because of bad weather, stay together and remain in one place. Find the closest shelter from wind and rain.

- Always take enough water, especially in summer, and food in case of a delay.

- Don’t pick, break or trample any plants or flowers, or remove seeds, rocks or plants.

- Don't feed, touch or harm any of the animals or birds in the Park

- Dassies, baboons and even the African Penguin all have ferocious bites!

- Wild fires can cause loss of life and property. Only use designated braai (barbecue) areas. Do not throw cigarette butts anywhere.


https://www.traveller24.com/FindYourEsc ... n-20180618

[Klipspringer]

A new camp in the park:

https://www.capetownmagazine.com/san-pa ... 3_22_18448

[Lisbeth]

Strange that we have not heard anything about this. As far as I know it has not been mentioned on the Sanparks website

Smitswinkel tented camp
Sleep under the trees

Smitswinkel is the newest tented camp for SANParks and is located approximately 300m from the Cape of Good Hope entrance gate. The environmental friendly camp ties in with SANParks‘s accommodation concept: 'Touching the earth lightly'. Here you won’t find heavy structures, nor treated woods, Smitswinkel has been constructed entirely from locally harvested and milled timber, with a minimum impact design. Interestingly, Smitswinkel was previously a forestry station.

Accommodation
The camp provides six tent huts, each with two single beds, an en-suite bathroom and an outside kitchenette. Family-friendly Smitswinkel sleeps a maximum of 12 people. The communal dining and braai area is fully equipped for self-catering (check out the gum tree seed lampshades).

Things to do

Simply relax
From here both short and long hikes are possible, especially recommended around the Cape of Good Hope area, try the hike from Smitswinkel to Simon’s Town
Go for drives, angling, picnicking, beaching and cycling
Relax in Smitswinkel’s indigenous garden and gum plantations
Watch and listen to the animals that call the mountain home: klipspringer, gemsbok, porcupine, and many more.
Good to know

You need to bring your own bedding and towels
It’s fully wheelchair accessible
Smitswinkel is solar-powered
There’s secure parking
There’s firewood for sale at the camp
Between May and July you get 20% off the rate

Rates
It's R550 per tent per night with an additional charge of R275 for extra adults and R137.5 for extra children that will also be staying in the tents. SANParks offers a 20% discount off accommodation in its Cape Town region parks in May, June and July.

Find out about SANParks' other places to stay. Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

[Richprins]

[Lisbeth]

[Richprins]

SANParks Retweeted
SANParks TMNP
@TableMountainNP
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20h

Tokai Picnic Site Notice

Dear Visitors,

Please note that the Tokai picnic site has reopened today. Gate Entry times will be 07h00 am - 18h00 pm with exit time at 19h00 pm daily. The following protocols will apply:
• No mask- no entry.