Simonsberg Trail #5: Summit Ridge
(Previously called Simonsberg 1: Summit Ridge)
The cache, a small camo-taped tablet pot, is hidden at 561m altitude just before you reach the top of the ridge.
The rocky peak of Simonsberg (564m) which directly overlooks Simon’s Town is the smaller brother of Swartkop (678m and the highest peak in the southern half of Cape Peninsula) from which it is separated by Blockhouse Gap.
Both peaks and connecting ridges provide stunning views in all directions. The approach hike involves approximately 50 minutes steady ascent on an excellent trail and then about 30-40 minutes of easy and enjoyable rock hopping/scrambling up to the summit ridge.
Park at the end of Jan Smuts Drive at S 34 11.964 E 18 26.909 and take the jeep track heading up the hill. Follow this around and up to the right. At S 34 12.042 E 18 26.756 on a sharp left bend turn off to the right at the signpost to start up the Blockhouse Gap Trail (aka the Mule Track). This gradually ascends across the lower slopes of Simonsberg winding and contouring its way up to the gap, passing the first blockhouse shortly before reaching the top of the gap.
At S 34 12.610 E 18 26.763 there is a 3-way signpost indicating Murdoch Valley (an alternative little used descent route), Swartkop and Mule Track. Turn right (north) here following a faint trail to start the ascent and head for the first small cairn at S 34 12.600 E 18 26.742.
From here on follow the often indistinct path but assisted by the regular small cairns (for which you would need a minimum of 100m visibility) along and generally just below the ridge on the Simon’s Town side rock-hopping and mild scrambling as necessary until (after negotiating through a small but thick grove of trees) you reach the first large stone beacon at S 34 12.507 E 18 26.563 (alt. 548m). Pass this to the left (west) and follow the trail/cairns up towards the cache location and highest point of (this part of) the summit ridge.
Naturally you will wish to continue the short distance to the top of the ridge to admire the stunning views. From here you can see the second beacon and location of the Simonsberg 2: High Point cache some 250m to the NW.
The Slingsby Simon’s Town map (ISBN 1-919900-61-6) - not one of the easiest to read due to excessive shading - shows Simonsberg as having 3 high points, two at 564m and the third (a trig beacon) at 548m. From the altitude recorded at this cache, the top of the nearby ridge must be one of the highest points on the peak although it doesn’t have a beacon to mark it.
From here you may either:
a) Return the way you came taking approx 20 minutes to reach the gap and a further 40 minutes or less to reach your parking place.
b) Continue along the ridge to the other two caches, Simonsberg 2: High Point (GC24MJ3) and Simonsberg 3: Harbour Overview (GC24MJ4).