Cape Town is renowned for its natural beauty, its endless beaches and its magnificent mountains. Most keen hikers who visit this South African city enjoy making the most of the numerous excellent hiking trails all over the region. Plenty of inexperienced hikers are also inspired to lace up a pair of hiking boots and take to the hills and mountains. Table Mountain is possibly the most popular mountain for tourists as it is such an iconic landmark and it looks friendly and welcoming, gazing benevolently over the city.
However, if you are not a regular hiker and decide on impulse to go and explore the mountain or indeed any of the trails in the Cape, it is important to remember that getting lost or landing up in a distressing situation can and does happen to many ramblers and climbers in Cape Town each year. Dont be fooled into imagining it wont happen to you! The mist can roll in out of a seemingly blue sky. Rain can arrive unexpectedly. A wrong path can mean you end up lost, cold and alone after dark. Snakes and spiders are plentiful and many of them can inflict deadly bites.
This article is not meant to put you off, but rather to encourage you to take sensible...