[imagesource:wagontrail|image:facebook/karolinehanks/friendsoftablemountain]
Cape Town’s Table Mountain National Park has experienced damage to various areas of the park thanks to the significant flooding and heavy rainfall from the last month.
South African National Parks (SANParks) confirmed that the park’s infrastructure and natural vegetation had taken a knock, leading to dangerous conditions for hikers and trail runners.
While the Park’s manager, Ms Megan Taplin, is grateful for the much-needed rain that replenished the dams and nourished the park’s natural vegetation, the damage has been extensive, reported Cape Town ETC:
“We are grateful for the rain that is filling up dams. The natural vegetation thrives beautifully during the rainy season, but this year the park has been severely affected by the floods, causing a lot of infrastructure damage, especially to the hiking trails and posing danger to park users due to landslides, road verge erosion and sinkholes,” Taplin said.
As a result, caution is advised for those hikers and runners keen to get back onto the mountains, with advice to even fully avoid the areas with persistent slippery, wet and muddy conditions to prevent accidents and the need for rescue:
Take note of the affected areas before you tie your shoelaces:
- Newlands Forest: Eroded trails and fallen trees and branches.
- Tokai: The level 5 cycling trail in Upper Tokai is closed due to landslides, boulders and debris on the road. The area is currently inaccessible for cyclists and vehicles.
- Rhodes Memorial: The tar road has been uplifted, fallen trees are obstructing the way and a significant amount of debris is present. The road is closed until further notice.
- Schusterskraal Boardwalk (Scarborough): Closed for repairs due to erosion beneath the boardwalk.
- Tafelberg Jeep Track: Landslide and rockfall on the tar road.
- Constantia Nek hiking trail: Landslide leading to the dam area.
- Deer Park: Sinkhole and a fallen tree.
- Camps Bay Pipe Track: Landslides discovered.
- Ouwa Pad in Silvermine: Closed.
- Admirals Waterfall hiking trail in Simonstown: A landslide occurred off the trail.
- Silvermine East Management Track: Road verge erosion identified.
As damage reports emerge daily, the scope of areas affected changes all the time – so be sure to contact SANParks to check if you are unsure. Per Friends of Table Mountain on Facebook, Brendon Wainwright shared some images of Pipe Track looking a bit banged up:
“The pipe track on several places are washing away and many collapsed pathways. Too many to geotag but before and after the water filtration building onwards is bad”
Assessments are still reportedly underway to determine the full extent of the damage and regular updates are being provided to alert park users of dangerous areas that should be avoided until further notice.
Stay sure-footed out there, folks.
[source:capetownetc]
