Several hiking trails on Table Mountain and Lion’s Head are straight-forward enough to hike without assistance. But wherever you choose to hike, having a Table Mountain guide to show you the way greatly enhances your experience of Cape Town’s iconic landmark.
A Table Mountain guide will take you to all the best places!
Firstly, there’s the safety aspect. Once away from its familiar flat-top, Table Mountain opens out into a maze of hiking paths in wild, craggy country. Hikers who want to explore the interior of the mountain without a guide run the risk of getting lost and into trouble. You also want the advantage of a first-aid trained guide with the right kit and the right phone numbers as well as someone who knows to make a Plan B on a bad weather day.
Table Mountain’s 12 Apostles range has several excellent hiking trails.
Then there are the logistics. A guide takes care of route planning; transport to and from your Cape Town accommodation is provided if you need it; food and drinks carried and served with the best views. With The Fynbos Guy as your Table Mountain Guide, you’ll enjoy fynbos tea and fresh coffee as well as out-the-oven croissants as part of the hike; a picnic lunch can easily be added to the deal; and on a summer hike, cold drinks are waiting for us at the end of the day.
Coffee and croissant – is there a better mountain breakfast?
And then there’s the insight you’ll gain into this extraordinary environment. With me as your guide you’ll learn how climate and geology have shaped this ecosystem, giving rise to blankets of beautiful plants, bursting with colour. We’ll cover subjects like local human history and medicinal uses of plants, all the time keeping an eye out for Table Mountain’s wildlife. And if you have a particular interest – birding for example – the hike can be tailored to reflect this.
There’s great hiking on the Constantia side of Table Mountain.
Make The Fynbos Guy your Table Mountain guide and contact me here for information on any kind of hike on Table Mountain and the rest of the Cape Peninsula.
Hi There,
I am an avid chef and would like to know how much you know about the making of Fynbos as a food/drink?
Thanks a mil
Luke
Hi Luke – although the fynbos seems fairly sterile when it comes to food, there is plenty if you know what to look for. Iris bulbs (Watsonias especially, boiled in water or milk) were the staple food of the Khoi; there are a few fruiting plants (Skilpadbessie for example) and the ‘almonds’ of the Wild Almond were used as a coffee substitute. Rooibos and Honeybush of course make a great tea, and can be used as meat marinades; Salvias make a tea to relieve indigestion; Sour Figs can be made into a jam and the Sugar Bush was our source of sugar in the old days, certainly before sugar cane came to SA. Buchus make a great health drink (hot or cold) and we used to compete against baboons for the seeds of pincushion proteas.
In fact, you’ve just given me a great idea for a blog!