The Kid-friendliest hike in Cape Town
21 January 2023
A picnic hike!
The kids and grandkids had been asking Papa (aka Chucky or ‘Chippi’ as Marissa calls him) to take them on another hike.
But they also wanted to play in the water and picnic.
And the grown-up kids wanted an EASY hike.
In this case, ‘easy’ means something Baby A can do. He is 15 months old.
Okay.
The only hike that fits this bill, is Deer Park.
Hidden under the tablecloth, at the foot of Table Mountain, Deer Park is the under-rated, hidden gem of easy trails in The Table Mountain National Park.
There are picnic tables and many spots where you can throw down a blanket and bring out the snacks.
The kids can run around freely and it’s a popular venue for children’s birthday parties.
Chucky and I once witnessed an organised Easter egg hunt.
It was most entertaining watching the children climbing trees and slithering under bushes to find the elusive chocolate covered marshmallow treats.
Moulana Beat Us!
Miracle of 2023… The Moulana got there before us.
Our excuse is that Z and A made us late. But we didn’t stress about time.
The walk is mostly in the shade and we had no hurry.
It was for the kiddos, after all, and Chucky and I were trying to rest before our race the next day.
We covered maybe 2 kms in total?
But because we had to keep up with the 15 month old’s pace, it took us about 2 hours to complete the circular route.
Baby Steps!
We were strolling, basically, and I noticed, for the first time, the flowers and the great views from the jeep track.
Peak looked like she was wearing a green ballgown.
Doesn’t look like Cape Town may be facing another water crisis. (But we are!)
Table Mountain was as imposing as ever, bossing it over everyone in her blue ensemble.
While Lions Head sighed resignedly as yet another bunch of Instagrammers wore her down in search of the perfect shot.
I gazed at Lions Head wistfully.
I haven’t hiked it in maybe 4 years now.
The trail is overcrowded and the people who use it don’t respect the mountain or nature.
Not all. But many.
The litter is revolting. Regular hikers dedicate days to clean up the mess.
In fact, there will be an organised clean-up of Lions Head on 18 February 2023. Please join if you can. Here is a link to the Facebook page:
(1) Love our trails | Facebook
Also, the mindset of the ‘tickbox-ers’ is to get it over and done with so they can take their shot, so they will often do stupid things, like jump from a ledge or pass people when its unsafe to do so, resulting in injuries.
Most mountain rescues are on Lions Head and/or Platteklip Gorge. Obviously because those are the most popular routes, so statistically the risks of injury would be higher.
These routes, like any mountain trail pose risks, but if people can exercise patience, then they will make it a better experience for all mountain users.
But also because a lot of casual hikers underestimate the weather and the terrain.
I must also take a moment to look at my fellow trail runners who think Lions Head is a single track. Yes, it is, but there are also exposed sections that if you fall or slip, can mean serious injury.
Take a chill pill.
The Route
We started at the main entrance from Oranjezicht side, coming up Deer Park Avenue and parked under the trees so we could enjoy the shade and have reasonably cool cars when we left later.
(That’s called thinking ahead)
We walked towards the boom gate and followed the jeep track to the weir. The weir was empty.
The kiddos were disappointed. But the stream running into the weir looked robust, so we took a detour there instead. After a bit of rock hopping and trying not to get their shoes wet – which everyone did, except the one who is just now learning to walk – we got back onto the jeep track.
We went left, instead of right (Right would have taken us to the boardwalk) and followed the red gravelly road towards a clump of trees.
Chucky and I suggested following a path through the trees, but the kids were happy to be in the full sunlight.
But soon Baby A’s legs gave in, and he hitched a ride on his dad’s shoulders. Z and M took turns riding on Aunty’s back. They had had enough exercise for the day.
It was time to picnic.
The jeep track led us back to the parking area where we unloaded the cars and went back to the boom gate.
Instead of following the jeep track this time, we turned right and followed a well-worn path down to the wooden boardwalk and past an old water-pump tap.
For some reason the kids love the novelty of turning on this tap, even though most of them are too small to turn it on.
‘Our’ picnic spot was unoccupied, and we threw down our blanket.
Fay was the only one who actually remembered to bring a blanket.
Once fed, the kiddos were happy to spend the rest of the day hunting frogs and crabs in the stream.
The Karamat
Deer Park is the resting place for five Karamats. This is the name given to Muslim ‘Saints’ for the lack of a better word.
The Arabic word is “Awliyah” which means ‘Friend of Allah’.
These individuals are held in high esteem by Muslims all over the world. Legend has it that the Cape is protected by a circle of Kramats, from Sayed Yusuf (RA) of Macassar to Sayed Nurul Mubeen (RA) in Llandudno and Sayed Matura (RA) on Robben Island, which protects us from natural disasters.
The main Karamat in Deer Park is that of Sayed Abdul Haq al Kaderie.
Several of his companions are buried in the area behind his shrine. About 4 years ago the Karamat was desecrated, faeces was smeared on the walls, the wrought iron fencing was ripped off and the burial cloths torn.
Fortunately, the Mazaar society was quick to restore it to its previous state.
Deer Park: A Cultural Hub?
Besides the Muslim shrines, Deer Park is sacred to members of the Rastafarian religion who believe the water cleanses them of their sins and makes their hair grow stronger.
Many indigenous people also believe the water flowing from Platteklip stream is purer than tap water and come to the park to perform rituals and pray.
Pap Tyres (Flat Wheels)
By 3pm the kiddos (regardless of age) were fading, and we thought it best to call it a day.
They did manage one last pose though, before everyone piled into their cars for the ride home.
Deer Park remains my go-to venue for easy hiking, easy picnicking with plenty of shaded, grassy areas, and the relaxing sound of a flowing river and most importantly, laughing children. Happy Days 😊
For more kid-friendly hiking options, go here.
Nice Family outing dressed like serious Hikers