Cape Town Hikes | Cape Town Trail and Trekking Guide | Western Cape Trail & Trekking Guide, South Africa | Hiking in Cape Town, Western Cape

Emergency SAPS - 10111 (02110111 on cell)
Emergency Table Mountain - 0861 106 417
Emergency CT Emergency Services - 021 480 7700
Emergency – CT Central OPS Centre - 021 467 8002

Other numbers which could come in handy:
Emergency NSRI - 082 911
Emergency TM Cable Car Company - 021 424 0015
Emergency – Cigarette - 021 424 7715 (if you spot someone throwing a cigarette out of their car!! Seriously!)

• Water bottle with plenty of drinking water – top up from the streams along the way, but always have water on you.
• Food/snacks
• Charged Cell phone with the mountain rescue number already saved on it: (021) 948 9900
• Comfortable pair of walking shoes & thick pair of socks. Never walk without shoes.
• Take a map and elect a leader of the walk to be in charge of directions – The Uncover the Cape Map can be printed off the website
• Always take a Wind Breaker & Rain Gear (On the mountain the weather can change very quickly so always be prepared)
• Long trousers if you are walking through thick bush to protect you from scratches
• Suntan Lotion/Hat/Sunglasses
• First aid kit
• Camera
• A torch

• You should walk with at least one other person, 4 is a good number.
• Inform someone where you are going and when to expect you back. Give them the emergency services number so if they do not hear from you and cannot contact you they can call for help.
• Do not venture off the path or take shortcuts if you are not absolutely certain about the route.
• Avoid hiking around midday and in very hot/cold weather.
• Always check the weather forecast before you hike – Uncover the Cape has a 7 day weather forecast updated daily.
• Choose the route according to ability, fitness, experience.

• Do not panic! You must stay calm so that you can think clearly and deal with the situation as best you can.
• Do not move an injured person unless they are in a dangerous position. Moving them could aggravate the injury.
• Apply first aid: Check ABC, Airway, Breathing, Circulation and stop bleeding
• Do not leave the injured person alone.
• Make note of landmarks around you so that you are able to direct emergency teams to you position.
• If you have a cell phone call mountain rescue. This number should already be on your phone (021) 948 9900. If you have no phone, send someone to call for help, preferably send two persons for help.
When you speak to emergency services:
• Stay Calm
• State what happened
• Explain who is injured? (Name, Gender, Age)
• Describe the injuries (Where on body, fractures, how bad are the injuries…)
• The person’s condition (Are they alert, unconscious, only responding to pain…)
• Look around you, and explain A: where the injured person is and B: how they can find you? (Area, Valley…)
• If you can, stay on the phone and in contact with emergency services.
• Reassure the injured person that help is on the way.
• Keep them warm and alert until help arrives.

• Don't panic. If you get lost or find yourself in an area that looks unsafe retrace your steps, however do not walk into the unknown, rather call for help and remain where you are.
• If you cannot find the path you left look for a safe route - preferably down broad open slopes - making sure that at all times you can retrace your steps.
• If you told someone where you were going and when you were returning, a rescue team will come looking for you.
• If trapped, look for shelter. It is important to get out of the wind, but don't hide yourself so well that you become impossible to find.
• Do not descend an unknown ravine. A cliff or waterfall may be hard to spot in dim light or rain.

• Antiseptic lotion eg Savlon, Betadine
• Pain relief tablets eg Codis, Panado
• Anti-diarrhoea tablets eg Lomotil, Immodium
• Cold and flue medicine
• Eye drops eg Covomycin
• Anti-inflammatory tablets eg Voltaren
• Oral antihistamine eg Phenargan
• Sticky plaster, with and without gauze strip
• Sterile gauze wound dressings
• Crêpe bandages and safety pins
• Cotton wool for cleaning
• Small, sharp scissors, tweezers and needles
• Pencil and paper, for emergency messages.