What an incredible hike today! Our destination was the Elephant's Eye cave high up on Constantiaberg, and we set out from Silvermine dam in ideally cool conditions of 11͒C. A steady upward climb took us into the mist sweeping in from the south east as we reached the ridge leading along the edge of the mountain on the way to the cave. Yesterday's very welcome rain was evident from the washed away paths that had become instant streams, and a rivulet tumbling across our path and plunging off the cliff face as a quite impressive waterfall.
New growth was all around, bursting forth seemingly within a day of real rain, and many beautiful Erica specimens dotted the mountain, some incredibly tiny and well worth bending down for a closer look. Rock pools had formed in every available place and we were privileged to watch a prinia bathing and fluffing its feathers close to the path. The usual pied crows were in attendance, although things weren't quite going their way as a sparrowhawk continually divebombed them, no doubt to distract them from an easy meal. A jackal buzzard soared effortlessly overhead as we toiled below, earthbound and wingless.
The walk is close on 8km with an ascent of 300m and so gave the legs a good workout. Some chose to wait at the firewatcher's hut on a little hillock, but I was definitely going to the cave, having never been there and pretty fit now compared to a year ago! The extra climb was strenuous but manageable, and I seem to have lost my fear of heights after climbing Lion's Head last week, so all was good and it was an interesting place to visit. The cave doesn't go very far into the mountain and appears to exist through the constant falling down of large chunks of rock from the roof. I chose to sit outside for my coffee! The views are spectacular and well worth the effort of getting there.
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| Climb every mountain... |
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| Ford every stream... |
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| Looking down on hilltop hut with False Bay in background |
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| Cave mouth |
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| The lengths I go to when taking photos! |
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| Got the t-shirt! |
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