This is a combination of
parts of two interesting routes on the Back Table, incorporating
nooks, crannies, holes cracks and fantastic views. It’s
a good route to do in summer as most of it is in the shade and
it’s great for children, if you can get them to the start.
Route finding is a little tricky but this adds to the adventure.
From Constantia Nek you need to get to the top of the concrete
road and De Villiers Reservoir. Continue uphill to the Overseers
Cottage on your right - this is accommodations on the second
night of the luxury Hoerikwaggo Trail. Take the path to the left,
opposite the tap and continue along this sandy path which runs
parallel with De Villiers Reservoir, 5min.
The path comes to a sharp bend going off to the left descending
to the dam wall. There is a large rock on the right. Turn off
from the main path going behind the rock onto a narrow footpath
along the ridge above the restricted area of Orange Kloof. After
a short distance the path rises over a rocky section just before
flattening out next to a moss-covered rock-face and then descending
slightly. A little further there is a narrow step-over next to
yellowwood trees.
After roughly 15 min the path dips slightly into a trough of
ferns and boulders. Continue through this trough before climbing
a short distance to the right where you pass through a hole or ‘doorway’.
As you pass through the ‘door’ keep right and head
for a sheer rock-face where there is a small hole in the corner.
This is the Hole-in-the-Wall and the route passes through this!
After crawling through the hole there is a forest dripping with
what looks like green hair but is a lichen called Old Mans Beard/Klimop,
Usnia spp. Lichens are formed when there is limited nutrition
but they efficiently absorb nutrients from dust and drops of
moisture in the atmosphere. They contribute to soil formation
by combining algae and fungus and exuding an acid that eats away
at the rock. This weathering makes the rock weaker and eventually
the lichen-covered rocks erode and crumble to form soil - obviously
over many years!
Keep to the right passing beneath branches before scrambling
up and over rocks to once again reach daylight. The path now
crosses rocks and then vegetation to a large rock and an easy
scramble to the other side (do not go around it).
The path rises gradually hugging the rock before flattening
once again keeping to the rocky ridge. Carry on along the ridge,
where you will see the concrete road and Alexandria and Victoria
Reservoirs but, take care not to fall into holes. Follow the
ridge where there are a few cairns but look for broken branches,
worn rocks and flattened vegetation - signs of where others have
trodden. The route passes up, over and around rocks and Podocarpus
latifolius, Geelhout/Yellowwood.
Wynberg caves are in the forested area below the ridge. This
is the only place on earth where the missing link between worms
and insects occurs. The velvet worm peripatus is regarded as
the evolutionary link between segmented worms, such as the common
earthworm and anthropods, such as millipedes.
As you get closer to walls of rock ahead, you will reach a junction
where a path goes off to the right to descend to the forest,
in the direction of the concrete road. For Caveman’s Overhang
variation, you must turn left, following cairns uphill to a crack
sheltered by trees. Scramble up this short pitch to reach the
top of the ridge.
You are now walking a section of the Caveman’s Overhang
route, the original one starts from Orange Kloof, where a permit
is needed and is limited to 12 people, tel 021 6894441.
From the ridge, continue a short distance before dropping one
level to where you need to crawl through a hole. Squeeze through
the hole and go left on a level path before descending into a
gully and passing a large cavern on the left. At the rocky area
keep left under large trees and then descend, 5min.
Go to the left and keep to the rock face as much as possible
scrambling down a short pitch before going left and eventually
coming to a fern-covered area and Caveman’s Overhang, 15min.
Continue along the rock face climbing over boulders and under
trees. There are a couple of rock cracks to squeeze through and
at times it seems that it’s not possible to continue, but
you can, 30 min.
The route eventually joins the Hole-in-the-Wall route and terminates
at De Villiers Reservoir, 30 min.
Karen Watkins (Author of Adventure Walks & Scrambles
in the Cape Peninsula)
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