update (30 June 2025): SANParks will reopen trails in Tokai and Silvermine in phases from 01 July 2025 following the April 2025 fire that affected approximately 2,800 hectares in the area.
Silvermine Gate 2, located on the eastern side of Ou Kaapse Weg, which includes the Waterfall, Kalk Bay trails, Echo and Spes Bona Valleys, Boyes Drive, and Steenberg Plateau trails, will reopen on 01 July 2025. Likewise, Upper Tokai will reopen on the same date, excluding Level 4 & 5, which will remain closed due to unstable terrain during the rainy season.
Silvermine Gate 1, on the western side of Ou Kaapse Weg, including the Silvermine Dam, Elephant’s Eye trail, and the Silvermine Riverwalk, will remain closed. The targeted reopening for hiking trails in this area is September 2025, while the Silvermine Dam and Riverwalk are expected to reopen in December 2025, pending ongoing infrastructure restoration.
Although some trails may appear visually unaffected, access is being managed to ensure user safety and support ecological restoration. Public safety remains our priority, and SANParks urges all trail users to strictly adhere to signage, area closures, and instructions issued by rangers.
South African National Parks (SANParks) has confirmed that several hiking trails within Table Mountain National Park in Cape Town - including those in Tokai and Silvermine East, which cover areas such as the Kalk Bay, St. James, Muizenberg mountains, and the Steenberg Plateau - will officially reopen to the public on 01 July 2025.
These trails were closed following a large wildfire in late April 2025, which scorched approximately 2,800 hectares of land. In the aftermath, SANParks initiated comprehensive post-fire safety operations, including the removal of hazardous debris, trail clean-ups, and ecological rehabilitation.
However, not all areas will be accessible. The Silvermine picnic site, the boardwalk around the dam, as well as the riverwalk and other infrastructure in Silvermine West will remain closed. These areas suffered significant fire damage - infrastructure such as boardwalks was destroyed, and the ablution blocks were completely burnt down. As SANParks noted, it is not feasible to reopen the picnic site while basic amenities like toilets are unavailable.
Although some trails in Table Mountain National Park may appear unaffected, many still pose serious safety risks, including exposed nails, sharp metal, and unstable ground. For public safety and to avoid confusion, SANParks has decided not to reopen only select trails or allow access to specific user groups like mountain bikers while restricting others. A coordinated reopening ensures better control and fairness for all visitors.
Beyond safety, the closures are also essential for ecological recovery. The April fire has triggered a flush of fynbos vegetation regrowth, which plays a vital role in the Cape Floral Kingdom. These newly germinated plants are extremely sensitive to human and dog traffic, and unrestricted access could severely impact this delicate rejuvenation process.
No comments:
Post a Comment