The Elephant’s Eye hike is a beautiful 5km hike in Silvermine Nature Reserve. The route is relatively easy with flat sections through fynbos and some elevation towards the end that leads to a cave overlooking Tokai and Muizenberg. Finish off with a lovely refreshing swim in Silvermine Dam.
Start Location: Silvermine Nature Reserve Gate 1
Distance: 5km
Duration: 2 hrs
Difficulty: Easy – Moderate. The path is easy to follow with well marked routes. The path is mostly flat with a 297m elevation gain near the end up to the cave.
Conservation fee: Please check updated tarrifs on SANParks website. WildCard holders enjoy free entry.
*NB* Silvermine only accepts cash and has no card machine facilities
| 1 November 2024 – 31 October 2025 | Adults (12+ years) | Children (2 – 11 years) |
|---|---|---|
| South African Citizens and Residents | R42 | R21 |
| SADC Nationals | R85 | R42 |
| International (non-South African) Citizens | R184 | R92 |
*A very important note before we begin on the route description is that Silvermine does not have any signal. If you are connecting with a bigger group you will not be able to message or call each other once you have arrived so ensure all plans are communicated ahead of time to avoid difficulties. You also need to note that the conservation fee needs to be paid in cash as Silvermine does not have card facilities.
To get to the start of the route drive in to Silvermine Nature Reserve Gate 1 and drive all the way to the end to the dam parking lot. Just to the right of the toilet facilities and boardwalk you will see a hiking path. This is the start of the trail.
You will walk along a gravel road for about 800m before you can take a narrow path to the right up a rocky trail. At the top of this short narrow incline path you can turn right onto the flat sandy path. You will walk along here for about a kilometer before turning left at the little stone house to go up towards Elephant’s Eye cave. The last half kilometer to the cave follows a zigzag steep path where you will gain about 120m in elevation. There is a point where you will need to keep right to go to Elephant’s Eye to avoid taking the Constantiaberg path. But the signage is very clear.
After the steeper zigzag path you will reach the Elephant’s Eye Cave which is the destination of this Elephant’s Eye hike. You can go into the cave and enjoy a well-deserved rest and views of Tokai and Muizenberg. You will go back down the way you came.
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Make sure you pack in a swimming costume for a refreshing dip at Silvermine Dam afterwards! This Elephant’s Eye hike is a lovely entry level hike in Table Mountain National Park
If you’re looking for more Cape Town hikes check out these hiking guides.
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