Meander along the Table Mountain Contour

Date: 6 October 2012

Location: Table Mountain

Walkers: Brenda and Helen

*** Route plotted here ***

The Table Mountain Contour Path archive is here.

Brenda and I parked at Platteklip Gorge and walked down Tafelberg Road to the start of the Saddle Path. Up the steps we went.

Alongside the path we saw clumps of the painted lady, Gladiolus carneus.

 

 

 

Also spotted this yellow one, which I think is Sebaea exacoides.

A powderpuff, Pseudoselago spuria. 

And one of the loveliest pelargoniums, Pelargonium myrrhifolium var. myrrhifolium.

We followed the Saddle path up to the intersection with the contour, then right along the contour towards Platteklip Gorge.We passed lots of pretty pink erica on these slopes.

 

We passed Platteklip and continued on the contour.

 

Perched on rock alongside the road, a small bird of prey. Lucky sighting!

Lots of happy fynbos hereabouts.

We took the alternative route down, just past Platteklip Gorge. This path isn't very well used, but it is a nice easy descent.

 

On the way down we saw a small fire below Tafelberg Road. A fire engine appeared on the scene very quickly and fortunately by the time we passed it the incident was taken care of. Well done, fire-fighters!

Table Mountain Contour Path

Date: 18 August 2012

Location: Table Mountain

Walkers: Michele & Helen

*** Route plotted here ***

Archive of other walks along the Table Mountain Contour here.

This is the same walk Michele and I did a fortnight ago but this time my camera played along a little better. Once again the weather was perfect and once again we started at Kloof Corner and walked all the way along Tafelberg Road to the start of the Saddle path.





Spotted along the way: yellow morea...



... and white china flower.



The grasses were also growing well along the roadside.



Up the Saddle path we went. It's an easy route on a stepped zig-zag path.



Before long we had climbed a good way up above Tafelberg Road.



On the slopes: sunny yellow daisies!



And clumps of pink erica. Erica baccans I think.




And orange Erica abietina too.



More daisies along the side of the path.



The turned onto the contour and followed the path direction Platteklip.



After all the winter rains the waterfalls were flowing strongly. We hopped across a wet path...



... and continued along the route.



Past the cave and another full waterfall.




We crossed the Plattefklip path too and took the high road onwards.




This wet winter has resulted in very healthy and bushy fynbos.



I love the colours.





There were plenty more early spring flowers too. Erica lutea.



Pretty butterfly bush, Polygala garcinii.



Gorgeous pelargonium.



And a mystery bud. Hmm, what is it?



Best bit of the walk: going behind the waterfall.




Wet paths everywhere.



And grass and reeds.




The contour ends at Kloof Corner.



Spring daisies.



Plenty other flowers hereabouts too. Brown sage, Salvia africana-lutea.



Lobostemon glaucophyllus.



The balloon pea, Sutherlandia frutescens.



This looks like an aspalanthus, although I am not sure which one.



More yellow: doll's rose, hermannia.



Babiana ambigua.



And plenty of pink mesembs.


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