Trail Notes and Other Stories

Discover five easy Cape Town walks for the whole family, from leafy parks and riverside trails to seaside strolls, with plenty for children to explore along the way.

Weather can change suddenly on Table Mountain In October 2019, Tim Lundy was in Scotland with a long-held ambition to climb Ben Nevis. At 1,345 metres, Ben Nevis is Britain's highest mountain. For someone who has spent much of his life walking and working in the mountains, reaching its summit was something Tim had wanted to do for years. There was just one problem. The Springboks were playing Wales in the Rugby World Cup semi-final that morning. South Africa had lost their op

A Table Mountain rescue on Platteklip Gorge saw WSAR use a powered exoskeleton for the first time to help an exhausted hiker walk safely off the mountain.

Five hikers, one long-awaited trail and a landscape that delivered far more than expected. Some trails sit on your wish list for years. The Klipspringer Trail at Augrabies Falls was one of mine. I’d wanted to walk it for ages, but somehow never managed to get enough people interested. Last week, I finally persuaded five others to come along. I knew the falls would be spectacular. What I hadn't expected was how much the landscape beyond them would surprise me. The power of Aug

Walking is one of the easiest ways to improve your health. A walk is good for the heart, good for the soul. You don’t need expensive equipment, a gym membership or even a training programme. Put on a pair of sturdy, comfortable shoes and walk out the front door, and you’re already doing something good for your body and mind. And increasingly, research suggests that where you walk matters too. Walking in nature may offer benefits beyond those of walking alone. Walking is good

Table Mountain is spectacular. And — fact check — it’s also a real mountain. It’s surprisingly easy to underestimate. Table Mountain rises directly above a major city, there’s a cable car to the top and, from below, it can look reassuringly accessible. The reality is different. Its highest point, Maclear’s Beacon, stands 1,088 metres above sea level, and many hiking routes begin close to sea level. The terrain includes steep gorges, ravines, rocky ledges, sheer drops, forests