The people of Cape Town often come to the Silvermine nature reserve to breathe in the fresh air and enjoy the ocean views. This peaceful oasis is located just south of the busy city in a wide area between Table Mountain, Noordhoek and Sun Valley. The landscape in Silvermine is mainly covered by fynbos. This unique vegetation, typical for the Cape region, has a rich endemic flora including rooibos, aloe and gladioli. In fact, the King Protea, South Africa’s national flower, only grows here in the wild.
Because the plants, shrubs and flowers of the fynbos have different flowering times, the Silvermine nature reserve is a great place to go hiking at any time of year. The routes lead you through stunning mountain and coastal landscapes where you’ll see amazing fauna, including sunbirds attracted by the sweet nectar of the gladioli. You can choose from various hiking trails in several lengths and difficulty levels. Make sure to bring plenty of provisions for a picnic or a typical South African braai (BBQ).
Silvermine waterfall
Another gorgeous walk leads to Noordhoek Peak. Despite the winding path, the 6-kilometre trail is an easy path and along the way you’ll look out over the Cape Peninsula and the ocean. Hikers can also take a small detour towards Elephant’s Eye Cave. This amazing cave looks like an elephant’s eye from the east, and is partly covered in bright-green ferns. If you’re hungry after the hike, this is a nice location for a so-called skottelbraai or wok barbecue.
Elephant’s Eye