Silvermine: Klein-tuin Kloof & Crassula Path

Date: 18 October 2009

Location: Silvermine East

Walkers: Helen, Michele & Dorothy

**** Route plotted here ****

Setting off from the parking area at Silvermine East (Gate 2) we followed the gravel road, past the waterfall and up into the hills.




Wow, there was an abundance of yellow flowers! Daisies and vygies...



... gorgeous Wachendorfia paniculata....



... and cape gorse, Aspalanthus (more than one variety) amongst others.



We walked towards the peak, Klein-tuinkop, finally leaving the road and taking a path to our right that contoured around the front of the mountain.




The view of Silvermine West behind us was breathtaking!



Noordhoek came into as we rounded the hill. The blue of the ocean matched the dazzling blue of the sky. And look, there's Chapman's Peak!




A couple of purple flowers caught my eye along this stretch. Roella ciliata.



And this spectacular Pseudoselago. There are two similar varieties, spuria and serrata, most easily told apart by their leaves. I think this is spuria.



But I wasn't paying much attention to the leaves. Oh, the buds! The flowers!



From the contour, our path began to climb as we got into Klein-tuin Kloof.




About midway along we looked back at the path we'd come along, snaking along the hillside behind us. And we looked up towards the top of the kloof. It was a very gentle climb. What a lovely valley this is - we didn't see a soul and felt very far away from the city and civilization.



It wasn't long til we reached the crest.



Hello False Bay! If we'd carried on straight we'd have gone down Echo Valley, into Kalk Bay.



Instead we turned left to the Amphitheatre.



From here we took the Crassula Path, clearly signposted. This route took us up and out, and then along the central plateau of Silvermine, in a northerly direction.



Behind us we could see all the way to Simon's Town, and ahead all the way to Constantiaberg and beyond. Aah, yes, there's nothing like that 'top of the mountain' feeling. I love it!




Some flat rocks provided the perfect picnic spot.



Then it was a short climb down, and an easy walk on the sandy flats.



Very typical Cape fynbos scenery seen here: reeds and grasses on the damp sandy flats, with shrubs and bushes growing vigorously on the slopes, and rocky outcrops above.



Moraea collina and everlasting, Syncarpha speciossisma.



Also, sundews, Drostera. These were plumper and larger than any I've seen before (about 6cm in diameter) but sadly not in flower at the moment.




After crossing the road we joined the Old Fisherman's Track which look us to the right of Maiden's Peak and back to the Waterfall, where we re-joined the road and had a short walk back to the start.


(Photos by Helen and Michele)
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Spes Bona and Echo Valley, Kalk Bay

Date:1 February 2009

Location: on the mountains above Kalk Bay, in the eastern part of the Silvermine Reserve

Walkers: Michele, Dorothy, Jenny, Iain, Helen and Tarryn


The Old Mule Path at Ou Kraal off Boyes Drive is the easiest way to get up into the mountains above Kalk Bay and St James on the False Bay coast. We set off on a hot and sunny summer's morning.

The well-used path climbs very gently up the slope, through thick fynbos.


(Photos by Michele)

We stopped to admire the view of the villages of St James and Kalk Bay below us, and Fish Hoek and Simonstown across the bay.


(Photos by Helen)

Once on top of Ou Kraal we couldn't see any sign of civilization below. It was just sky, sea, mountain and fynbos.


(Photo by Michele)

We then started the second climb, up towards Spes Bona valley between Kalk Bay Mountain on the right and Ridge Peak on the left.


(Photo by Michele)

Sun hats were essential protection as the morning heated up.


(Photos by Helen)

We were amazed at the number of flowers to be seen on the mountain at this time of year.




(Photos by Michele and Helen)

Once we got up into Spes Bona valley proper we followed the path into an area of indigenous Afro-montaine forest. The trees here are mainly yellowwood and milkwood. A wooden board-walk has been constructed through the forest to protect this delicate environment.


(Photo by Helen) (Photo by Michele)

It was delightfully cool and shady in the forest.


(Photo by Helen) (Photo by Michele)

At the edge of the forest we stopped for a bit next to a cliff face that is a waterfall for most of the year, and even in dry midsummer was damp and mossy. Iain spotted a red Disa flower against the cliff.


(Photo by Michele)

Back on the path we headed out of the head of the valley.


(Photo by Michele)

The view back to False Bay was framed by the rocky peaks.


(Photo by Michele)

The path then took us along the plateau.


(Photo by Michele)

The hills above Glencairn and beyond could be seen ahead, and Long Beach and Chapman's Peak in the distance off to the right.


(Photos by Helen)

There were also many flowers to admire up here.




(Photos by Michele and Helen)

We walked down into the Amphitheatre. It is not hard to believe there are over 60 caves in these mountains. There are rocky outcrops in every direction.


(Photos by Helen)

And next we began our descent into Echo valley.


(Photo by Helen)

We passed through another indigenous forest (known locally as Kroon se Bos or Amazon Forest).




(Photos by Michele) (Photo by Helen)

Back into the sun we continued to head down, back towards Kalk Bay.




(Photos by Michele)

It was such a perfectly fine day that Hangklip on the far side of False Bay was clearly visible.


(Photos by Michele)

We rejoined the Old Mule Path and headed down. As we rounded the bend Muizenberg became visible, and the long stretch beach along False Bay towards the Helderberg.


(Photo by Michele)

It wasn't long until we were back down on Boyes Drive. This circular walk was about 7km long.


(Photo by Michele) (Photos by Helen)