Silvermine Waterfall Hike

The winter rains have already begun here in Cape Town and it seems like we’re in for a continued wet winter! While the rain can put a dampener on things it brings with it the opportunity to go chasing waterfalls. There are only a few waterfalls (another great one is the Cecilia Waterfall) in Cape Town and so you need to have at least one of them on your winter hiking bucket list! The Silvermine Waterfall hike is really short and sweet providing a chance to go chasing waterfalls without too much effort. The start of the Silvermine Waterfall Hike trail is located on at the Silvermine East gate/ gate 2.

Details:

Start Location: Silvermine East gate/ gate 2. This gate is located directly on Ou Kaapse Weg on the left hand side of the road coming from Constantia/Tokai side.

Distance: 2km

Duration: 45 mins

Difficulty: Easy. Path is easy to follow and the walk is short.

Conservation fee: None

 

The Route:

Once you have parked your car at the Silvermine East gate or gate 2 you will see a path to the right of the wooden toilet huts. Follow this path which will soon open up to a wide gravel jeep track that veers off to the right. Follow this path for about a kilometre before you see a narrow, bushy path to the right. Take this path and you will find yourself above a rushing waterfall. You can make a short scramble down the rocks to the base of the waterfall.

You’ve made it to the final destination of the Silvermine Waterfall hike- the waterfall! The area is shaded and cool because of the spray from the waterfall. After heavy rains this waterfall is abosolutely magnificent and you could happily spend quite some time basking in it’s glory. Once you have taken it in enough you can head back the way you came.

This route is very short and very easy. It’s ideal for young children or older hikers with tempromental injuries. If you are fitter and keen for a bigger hike you can head back up to the gravel jeep track and continue on a bit further before turning right towards the Amphitheatre or Kalk Bay Peak. The options in these mountains really are endless.

For chasing waterfalls just outside of Cape Town why not check out the Krom River Trail (my next out of town hike!), the Bainskloof Waterfall Hike or the Crystal Pools Hike.

For more exciting and adventurous hikes in and around Cape Town why not check out my hiking blog posts on 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.

 

Looking for accommodation near Silvermine Nature Reserve? Check out these gorgeous studio apartments in Noordhoek or these ones with a stunning sea view.