Swartkop Trail #11: South Beacon
The cache is located at 609m altitude near the large beacon at the south end of the Swartkop summit ridge some 350-400 metres from Swartkop summit (at 678m).
It can either be done as part of the spectacular Swartkop Ridge walk (with its 5 super MnCo caches) running all the way from Swartkop to Smitswinkel or as a one-off from the summit. It is well worth the 15 minutes walk across the summit to the cache even if not continuing further as there are some stunning
viewpoints along the way and also at the cache location. If you do decide to continue, allow a good 4 hours to get to Smitswinkel Forestry Station at the end of the trail (near the entrance to Cape Point).
This description assumes a start from the Simon's Town end.
Park at the end of Jan Smuts Drive at S34 11.964 E18 26.909 and take the jeep track heading up the hill. Follow this around and up to the right.
At S34 12.042 E18 26.756 on a sharp left bend turn off to the right at the signpost to start up the Blockhouse Gap Trail (also known as The Mule Track). This gradually ascends across the lower slopes of Simonsberg winding and contouring its way up towards the gap.
At S34 12.585 E18° 26.792 pass the junction to the first blockhouse - location of the Blockhouse Gap: Blockhouse 1 cache (GC1T6FH) – and continue on the path heading over the saddle.
At S34 12.621 E18 26.738 leave the nek path - which continues on past Blockhouse Gap: Blockhouse 2 Cache (GC2C2T3) - and turn left (south) onto the trail leading up Swartkop.
Passing the Swartkop Short Stop (GC22RWX) and Froggy Farm Traverse (GC22RX7) caches en route, follow the rocky trail up to the summit, the location of the great Swartkop 360 cache (GCTXJV).
From the summit, continue along the trail to the south beacon and cache location some 10-15m beyond at a flat rocky outcrop and stunning viewpoint overlooking False Bay and the ridge route south.
The cache, a small cylindrical camo-container is hidden under the flat rock slab just off the trail.