Constantia Nek, Table Mountain Hike

The Constantia Nek Table Mountain Hike is a very popular route up to the top of Table Mountain. It is the least strenuous hiking route up to the top of Table Mountain with a much less steep ascent compared to the other Table Mountain Hikes; Platteklip Gorge, Kasteelspoort and Skeleton Gorge. Constantia Nek Table Mountain Hike is also a very popular hiking route for those who want to spend the night on Table Mountain in either the Overseers Cottage, the MCSA hut or the Scout Hut.

It has lovely views over the Constantia Winelands and False Bay with plenty of beautiful fynbos lining the mountain path. Looking for a shorter hike in Constantia Nek? Check out my blog on the Eagle’s Nest Hike.

Details:

Start Location: Constantia Nek Parking

Distance: 7km

Duration: 2 hours

Difficulty: Moderate with a short steep section that is fairly strenous. Path is easy to follow.

Conservation fee: None

The Route:

Park at the Constantia Nek parking and make your way up to the boom at the start of the Jeep Track. Start walking along the Jeep Track and take an immediate left turn up the steps. Follow these steep steps up until they meet up with the Jeep Track. At the point where it meets the Jeep track you will walk diagonally to the right to cross the Jeep Track to where it reconnects with another set of stairs. Continue up these stairs as they become a narrow path that winds up the right hand side before turning left and reaching the concrete Jeep Track. Follow the concrete Jeep Track as it forks to the right. This path is lined with a beautiful moss-covered wall on your left and a stunning view over False Bay on your right.

This concrete Jeep Track will take you up to the top of Constantia Nek to the Table Mountain Plateau. From here you are a short walk away from the de Villiers Dam and the Overseer’s Cottage. The Overseer’s Cottage can be rented out through San Parks. It sleeps up to 16 people and is a lovely group overnight hike adventure idea.

The de Villiers Dam is a great turn around point for this as a day hike and what the described 7km hike includes. However, you are on the top of Table Mountain now and can walk to all of the different dams on top of the mountain. Following the path you would pass Victoria and Alexandria dams before continuing past Orangekloof on to the Woodhead Dam and Hely-Hutchison Dam (the dam at the top of Skeleton Gorge). To get back down you can turn around and go back down the way you came. However, if you are doing an overnight hike and staying over at the Overseer’s Cottage, the MCSA hut or the Scout Hut, you may want to make this more interesting and go down a different route. You could go down Kasteelspoort or Nursery Ravine as alternative descent routes.

The Constantia Nek Hike is a lovely option to hike up to the top of Table Mountain.

For more exciting and adventurous hikes in and around Cape Town why not check out my Cape Town hiking blog posts on Kalk Bay Peak, Silvermine Waterfall, Bailey’s Kloof, the Red Disa Hike, Eagle’s Nest, Suther Peak, Tranquility Cracks, Cecilia Waterfall, Kloof Corner, Devil’s Peak, Judas Peak, Panorama hike in Jonkershoek or my post on the Top 10 Hikes in Cape Town.