Heritage Day in South Africa is meant for braais, family, and remembering where we come from. This year, we decided to celebrate it a little differently — by finishing something that had consumed us for months: the 13 Peaks Challenge. Peaks 12 and 13, Devils Peak and Signal Hill, stood between us and the […]
13 Peaks Finale: Devils Peak & Signal Hill — Peaks 12 and 13 on Heritage Day Read More »
Date: Saturday, 30 AugustStart Time: 7:10 AMRoute: Constantia Nek → Bel Ombre → Klaassenskop → Bridle Path → Rooikat → Kirstenbosch → Newlands Forest Constantia Peak from Bel Ombre On Saturday, 30 August, and by 7:10 AM we were at Constantia Nek, ready for our next adventure on the 13 Peaks Challenge. The day promised
13 Peaks Challenge – Peak 11: Klaassenskop Read More »
The Dilemma By now you’ll know the 13 Peaks Challenge is less of a trail and more of a negotiation between weather, wildfire, and SANParks gate closures. The plan was simple: tick off Constantia Peak from Silvermine Gate 1. Only one problem — Silvermine Gate 1 has been locked tight since April’s devastating wildfire,
13 Peaks Challenge: Peak 10 (Constantia Peak via Blackburn Ravine) Read More »
Saturday, 2 August 2025 – 20km, 2 Peaks, 9 Hikers, 1 Fish and Chips Feast Houtbay Harbour When you sign up for Cape Town’s iconic 13 Peaks Challenge, you sign up for more than just summits. You sign up for windless miracles in the middle of winter, green shoots pushing through scorched earth, friends arriving
The Best-Laid Plans (Drenched in Reality) Monday 16 June dawned grey and moody—typical Cape Town winter weather. It was meant to be leg 3 of our 13 Peaks Challenge. For Peaks 1-4 go here. The goal: two peaks—Little Lion’s Head (Klein Leeukoppie) and Suther Peak—from the spot we’d ended on
Drenched on Little Lion’s Head: When Rain and Wrong Turns Rule Your 13 Peaks Adventure Read More »
We began our 13 Peaks Challenge on Friday the 13th at 15:31 under a windless Cape Town sky. With mysterious coincidences, brutal wind, and an unexpected rescue, here’s how our first two days unfolded on one of SA’s most iconic trail adventures.
Chased by Wind, Guided by Numbers: The first 4 peaks of the 13 Peaks Challenge Read More »
1. The Pipe Track 2. Three Firs 3. Woody Ravine Table Mountain offers a labyrinth of hiking trails, each with its own character, challenges, and rewards. Some trails are well-worn, bustling with hikers, while others feel like secret passages into the mountain’s quiet heart. One such hidden gem is the Three Firs route,
A Tale of Three Trails Read More »
Ultimate Training Hike for Multi-Day Treks Platteklip Gorge is one of the most well-known trails up Table Mountain, offering hikers a direct and challenging route to the top. While not my favorite trail, it remains an excellent test of endurance and fitness, making it the best training hike for multi-day treks. Having hiked it
A Scramble To The Top The India Venster trail is one of the most exhilarating hikes on Table Mountain, offering breathtaking views, thrilling scrambles, and a rewarding sense of achievement. On Sunday, 2 February 2025, we set out to tackle this exciting route, and one of the biggest surprises of the day was just
Hiking The India Venster Trail Read More »
Hell’s Gate Route The Hidden Gem of Orange Kloof: Hell’s Gate Hike A Permit and Guide Are Mandatory On Sunday, 22 December, we embarked on an incredible adventure: the Hell’s Gate Hike in Orange Kloof. This hidden gem, tucked away in the access-restricted area of Constantia Nek, offers a unique and exhilarating hiking experience.
Orange Kloof Hiking Trail Read More »
