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 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.
