Cape Town: Table Mountain National Park (Skeleton Gorge) fire update! [update #4]

update (03 May2024): South African National Parks (SANParks) has released another update on the Skeleton Gorge fire in Table Mountain National Park in Cape Town. According to SANParks, mop-up operations are currently taking place along the slopes of Fernwood Park and Newlands, involving more than 40 firefighters from Table Mountain National Park, NCC Environmental Services, Volunteer Wildfire Services, and Working on Fire.
Conservation rangers of Table Mountain National Park have been deployed to the 1000 steps area above the Kirstenbosch Contour Path, conducting much-needed trail rehabilitation.
The Skeleton Gorge and contour path between Cecilia Forest and Fernwood Park remains closed.

update (02 May 2024): SANParks has announced that the Skeleton Gorge fire in Table Mountain National Park in Cape Town is largely contained. Currently, firefighting efforts continue along the slopes of Fernwood Park and Newlands, involving more than 60 firefighters from Table Mountain National Park, NCC Environmental Services, Volunteer Wildfire Services, and Working on Fire, battling a large flare-up.

update (02 May 2024): According to a new media release by SANParks, the Skeleton Gorge fire in Table Mountain National Park in Cape Town has burnt approximately 283 hectares of veld. Light rain and mist over the past few days have helped contain the fire's spread on the Back Table, but isolated hot spots, smoldering stumps, as well as falling trees and rockfalls, remain a concern. Following an assessment conducted by Table Mountain National Park's conservation and fire management teams, hiking trails along Constantia Nek and Newlands, as well as trails along the Back Table between Camps Bay, Hout Bay, and Orangekloof, have been reopened. However, Skeleton Gorge and the contour path between Fernwood and Cecilia Forest remain closed.
Berg-like wind conditions are currently being experienced in the northern sections ofTable Mountain National Park; therefore, SANParks asks hikers to be very vigilant and move to safe areas if they see or smell smoke while hiking. The priority remains the safety of residents, hikers, and firefighters.

update (02 May 2024): According to a media release by SANParks, the Skeleton Gorge fire in Table Mountain National Park in Cape Town has burnt approximately 220 hectares of veld. Overnight flare-ups have been reported behind Newlands and Kirstenbosch. Light rain this morning has helped contain the fire's spread on the Back Table, but isolated hot spots, as well as falling trees and rockfalls, remain a concern at this stage. 
Therefore, hiking trails between Constantia Nek and Newlands, Maclears Beacon, Back Table, Platteklip Gorge, as well as trails leading to the Back Table between Camps Bay, Hout Bay and Orangekloof, remain closed.

South African National Parks (SANParks) reported several fires inside Table Mountain National Park in Cape Town on 27 April 2024. These fires were caused by lightning strikes in multiple areas, namely Cecilia Forest, Silvermine, and the Cape Of Good Hope (Cape Point) main road. Due to wind changes, overnight flare-ups have now been reported behind Newlands, Fernwood Park and on the slopes of Kirstenbosch, moving towards Orangekloof, as well as towards Maclear ‘s Beacon and the Back Table of Table Mountain National Park, with extensive burning observed in steep and challenging terrain on the slopes of Kirstenbosch and Fernwood. The affected areas are mostly inaccessible, and visibility is poor, posing challenges for ground and aerial crews and making it difficult to carry out water-bombing activities and active fire suppression.

As of today (30 April 2024), the following hiking trails are closed to the public:

• Platteklip Gorge hiking trail
• All hiking trails between Newlands and Constantia Nek
• All trails leading to Maclear’s Beacon and the Back Table
• Trails leading from the area between Camps Bay, Hout Bay, and Orangekloof

After a temporary closure caused by a fire, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden has reopened its doors to the public. However, hikers are advised not to access the garden via Cecelia or Newlands Forest as these areas are still considered unsafe.