Vlakkenberg to Baviaanskloof

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Features Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers

The route starts at the Vlakkenberg Hiking trail with a relatively steep ascent through a Silvertree forest. After reaching the peak, it briefly merges with the famous Cape Town Hoerikwaggo trail, winding through the Hout Bay mountains before descending along the Baviaanskloof trail to the Baviaanskloof waterfall.

This point to point hike combines three trails to create a fantastic route through the Hout Bay Mountains in Cape Town. Starting at the beginning of the Vlakkenberg Hiking Trail in Constantia, the first part of the route leads through a Silvertree forest up a relatively steep zig zag path to the top of Vlakkenberg.

These unusual trees with shimmering silver leaves are a species of the Protea family that are found only on the east and south facing slopes of Table Mountain. From Vlakkenberg peak the route then heads down into the valley to join Alfies Path and the Hoerikwaggo Trail which runs along the Hout Bay Mountain. After hiking a short 3km section of this trail which extends over 75km from Cape Town city centre to Cape Point in the far South of the city, the route takes a sharp steep downhill to Baviaanskloof (Baboon Valley) and runs through a shaded forest past a beautiful waterfall to end in the seaside suburb of Hout Bay.

There are great views of the sea and mountain along the way. The hike is mostly through indigenous Cape Fynbos with a brief section of Afromontane Forest. It is mostly unsheltered so best avoided in the hot summer months. The mostly stoney mountain path is easy to navigate with some very easy scrambling during the ascent and descent but no exposure to heights.