Please Can you share, this 🌿 Unique Nature Experience - [Latest Update 17 Going – 13 x Spots Left - Booking Essential] – 🥾 Soulful Silvermine Fynbos River Trail, which follows the Old Wagon Route and passes through the Daisy Swamp Valley section, offers breathtaking views of Fish Hoek and Sun Valley. I'm looking forward to seeing the new fynbos flowers that have emerged after the April fires and the early rains we've had this year. The Daisy Swamp Valley area is quite marshy, so it will be a treat to discover which flowers have appeared in the early spring bloom.
✨As an additional bonus, if the trail is clearer after the fires, I’ll head down to where the old silver mine shaft is located. This has been on my bucket list for a while—to see if we can find the shaft from this historic mine.
SILVERMINE GATE 1 Officially opened on the 1st of September 2025. If it’s warm enough, we might even stop for a swim after the hike on Sunday at the Silvermine Dam. This will be a repeat of the trail that got cancelled due to the Strong winds.
🌞It’s going to be at least 25 degrees on Sunday and no wind and If it’s warm enough we might even stop for a swim after the hike on Sunday at the Silvermine Dam
📅Sunday – 30th of November 2025 @ 8.30am - [12.59km] - Finishing time of walk @ approx. 4pm. IF KEEN TO JOIN, YOU CAN MESSAGE ME ON
aWFpbiB8IGF3YWtlbmluZy1pbnR1aXRpb24gISBjb20=, or you can call me or WhatsApp me on - 072 327 2840 --- Wherever possible, I aim to offer you hiking trails that you might not have previously discovered, all while ensuring the safety of a group experience.
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🗺️Trail Distance - [12.59km] -- The map above also gives you an idea of the route gradient for the trail. ==> TRAIL MAP ROUTE –
https://www.mapometer.com/walking/route_5621003.html
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🛡️Please ensure that you will be on time for the meeting point and that you can commit to the ending time of the hiking trail before you join. This is for your safety reasons, since we will all be leaving and returning as a group together. As an added measure of protection, on every walk, we have at least 3-5 two-way radios in the group to ensure that everyone is accounted for at all times.
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⏰ Ample time has been allocated to fully immerse ourselves in the beauty of nature on this day. The anticipated conclusion of the walk is 4pm. It is important to note that this is an approximate time, so it is recommended not to plan any other activities immediately after the walk. Although I make every effort to adhere to the estimated schedule, unforeseen circumstances may arise that could potentially delay our return.
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🚗LIFT SHARING TO MEETING POINT OF TRAIL ON OFFER, WITH A WHATSAPP GROUP, BEFORE EVENT
“Meeting Point is located about 40min from Central Cape Town CBD”
Wherever possible, there will be lift transport sharing options, to save on petrol costs in getting to the start of the hiking trail.
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✨ORGANISED GROUP HIKE COST AS LISTED BELOW
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COST: R114.00 per Person for the organised walk, or R70.00 if you have a Green or Wild Card – There is an R44.00 permit fee that you need to pay at the entrance gate. If you do use your wild or Green card, please ensure you bring along your ID or driver's licence.
@ Please note that unfortunately, no dogs are allowed on any of the walks that are on offer
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💪FITNESS REQUIRED & TYPE OF TRAIL🌿
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This will be a suitable intermediate-to-beginner walk, with some rocky downhill sections along the way. If you can comfortably walk halfway up Lion’s Head, you’ll manage this route just fine. The pace won’t be rushed. However, if you’re new to the group and have any concerns about your fitness—whether due to terrain or duration—please feel free to call me, and I’ll gladly advise.
If you’re new to the group and unsure about your fitness level — whether due to terrain or duration — please feel free to call me for guidance. The pace will be gentle and unhurried, with plenty of time for photos and to soak in the beauty of this special part of our country 😊.
If you have any questions about the walk, you’re welcome to call or WhatsApp me on 072 327 2840. This trail offers a unique chance to explore the landscape, connect with like-minded souls, and experience the restorative power of nature.
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⚕️If you have any injuries or physical conditions that could affect your experience on the trail, please let me know in advance. I’ll be happy to advise whether this hike is suitable for you or not.
PLEASE NOTE: Start time is 8:30 AM for this walk.
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✨ FULL WALK DESCRIPTION ON OFFER FOR THIS HIKE 🌿
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The Silvermine River Trail begins at the parking area just before the boardwalk to the main dam. From here, we will follow the newly rebuilt boardwalks along the river to our first stop and tea break. This section of the trail passes Boekenhout Dell at the waterfall and meanders past Minnie’s Pool and Hennie’s Pool. Along the way, we’ll encounter unique waterfalls, unusual fynbos species, and ancient fern trees that are slowly recovering after the recent fires—an inspiring reminder of nature’s resilience.
After our tea break at the Yellowwood Braai spot, the trail continues past the historic Kleinplaats ruin of 1817. From there, we follow the Jeep track around Bokkop, known as the “Old Wagon Road,” before ascending into Swamp Daisy Valley. Passing through Vleistompiehoek, we take the first right trail and climb toward the ridge. This will be our lunch stop, offering panoramic views across Fish Hoek, Sun Valley, and the Silvermine Plateau. The Old Wagon Road itself is thought to have been used in the late 1800s to cart ore from the silver mine lower down the mountain, adding a layer of heritage to our journey.
From the ridge, the trail leads along the side of Steenberg Plateau before looping around Silvermine Dam. If the weather is warm, we may pause for a refreshing swim to conclude the hike. Should conditions allow, we will also explore the old silver mine shaft—a long-standing item on my bucket list. To reach it, hikers follow the Old Wagon Trail from the reserve entrance, past picnic spots and the nek between Bokkop and its neighbour, before descending to a buttress about an hour in. This site offers a tangible connection to the valley’s mining past.
The silver mining shafts, first dug in 1687 under Governor Simon van der Stel, were part of the Dutch East India Company’s efforts to locate precious metals. Prospectors believed silver was present as early as 1675, but the shafts yielded no significant deposits. Although the venture proved fruitless, the name “Silvermine” endures, shared by the river and surrounding mountains. Today, the old workings remain as historical landmarks within the Silvermine Nature Reserve, reminding us of early colonial ambition and the enduring stories embedded in the landscape.
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⛏️ SILVER MINES IN THE SILVERMINE VALLEY
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If the trail is clearer after the fires, I’ll head down to where the old silver mine shaft is located. This has been on my bucket list for a while—to see if we can find the shaft from this historic mine.
Depth: Approximately 18–20 metres (not a large-scale mine, but rather a prospecting shaft). I would assume it’s similar to the Silvermine shaft we saw at Pniel, which extends flat into the mountain.
To view the old prospecting shaft, take the Old Wagon Trail from the reserve entrance (turn left just after the ticket office). Follow the path past the picnic spots and the nek between Bokkop and its neighbour, continuing until the trail drops to a lower level and curves around a buttress—roughly an hour from the start.
The silver mining shafts, dug in 1687, are located in the Silvermine Valley in Cape Town, South Africa. Although they never proved commercially viable, they remain as historical remnants of early colonial ambition. The area now forms part of the Silvermine Nature Reserve, within the greater Table Mountain National Park.
The name “Silvermine”—shared by the river and the surrounding mountain range—originates from these early efforts by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) to locate precious metals. Prospectors believed silver was present in the mountains as early as 1675, and shafts were sunk in the 1680s. However, these yielded no significant deposits. The old mine workings, including a tunnel and a shaft, still exist as silent witnesses to this failed venture.
The VOC did not give up easily. In 1687, under Governor Simon van der Stel, additional shafts were dug on Steenberg, but these too proved fruitless. Still, the place-name “Silvermine” and the old prospecting shaft remain—reminders of those early, blasted hopes.
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🌿ABOUT THIS SOULFUL TRAIL EXPERIENCE
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What’s on offer is a soulful nature experience shared with like-minded people, with plenty of extra time allocated for breaks to appreciate the beauty of our surroundings. This includes a morning tea break en route, a relaxed lunch stop, and quiet time in nature for reflection on the return leg—weather and timing permitting
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🚗 HOW TO GET HERE FROM CAPE TOWN
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⚠️ VERY IMPORTANT: Regardless of the walk, please bring at least 2 litres of water—and 3 litres if the day is hot or humid. This is non-negotiable for joining any of our walks.
📍 Before You Leave – A Travel Reminder: Please make sure your directions are clearly sorted before setting out for the walk. Some of our meeting points are in remote or mountainous areas where cell phone reception can be limited or unreliable, especially if you're relying on mobile data or GPS apps.
A little preparation goes a long way—it helps us all arrive on time, feeling relaxed and ready to connect with nature. If you're unsure about the route or need help with directions, feel free to reach out before the day of the hike—I'm happy to assist.
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From Cape Town City Centre
From the city, drive to the end of the M3 (Blue Route) as if you were going towards Muizenberg. Turn right and then left up Ou Kaapse Weg. At the top of Ou Kaapse Weg turn right onto a tarred road into the Western half of Silvermine. Follow the road straight ahead for 2.4km until you reach a parking area just to the right of the Silvermine Reservoir wall, this will be our meeting point.
PLEASE ENSURE YOU ARE ON TIME, AS THERE IS NO CELL RECEPTION AT THE MEETING POINT
You will be required to pay an entrance fee to Cape Nature at the gate – R42.00. Immediately beyond the gate you have a choice of taking a left turn or going straight ahead.
📍IF IN DOUBT, USE THE GOOGLE MAPS LINK BELOW TO REACH THE LOCATION
Please give yourself extra time, as people often underestimate the travelling time in getting there. It’s about 40min travelling time from the City Central Cape Town Or to check where you are coming from see link -
https://tinyurl.com/5c92zh9c
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