Silvermine Nature Reserve

Silvermine Nature Reserve. Photo courtesy Ian Junor

Silvermine Nature Reserve forms part of the Table Mountain National Park and encapsulates part of the Cape Peninsula mountain range, from Kalk Bay through to Constantiaberg.

It’s an easy getaway from city life from most parts of the peninsula, and offers some relatively gentle walks compared to the more arduous hikes up the mountain from Kirstenbosch for example. It’s therefore a good option for younger and older visitors, and those who might not be fit enough or have enough time to undertake a longer hike.

That said, it’s also possible to walk up the back of Table Mountain from Silvermine – pretty much a full-day hike for the fitter visitor. 

Silvermine takes its name from the Silvermine River, which starts in the reserve and runs to Clovelly.

Just 20 minutes’ drive away from the city centre, the reserve is an important conservation area for indigenous fynbos plants. Apart from walking and hiking, it’s also a popular spot for bird-watching, picnicking, and mountain biking. Silvermine Nature Reserve also has a number of sandstone cave systems and rock climbing routes to Muizenberg.

The relatively short hiking trails lead to a point where a picturesque view of the landscape stretching from False Bay, all the way around to Cape Point, can be viewed.

One of the easier walks circles around a large reservoir. A boardwalk accessible to wheelchairs and prams is in place for much of this walk. There are also several picnic and braai areas in the park, including some along this picturesque trail. The reservoir dates back to 1898 and was built to supply water to the growing city of Cape Town.

The reserve is one of the locations for the Hoerikwaggo Trail camps. Contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to book the camp for one night or as part of the longer trail.

The South African naval headquarters are also situated within the reserve, but are off-limits to the public.

The entry point to the reserve is at the top of Ou Kaapse Weg and a small fee is charged (R15 for adults and R5 for children from 1 to 11). The reserve is open daily from 07h00 to 19h00, and plenty of parking is available.

Contact Cape Town Tourism if you require further information and maps. We can also book qualified nature and adventure guides and operators and will find you accommodation in the area should you require it.