Hole in the Wall (and caveman's overhang) Trail

About Hole in the Wall (and caveman's overhang) Trail

Start: Constantia Nek or Cecilia forest
Finish: Constantia Nek
Duration: 8 km, around 6 hours
Fitness: moderate
Our tip: great to do with children as there is plenty of shade and it is not too taxing, but watch out for the odd hole or crevice into which they might easily fall

Despite having the same name as the famous hike on the Wild Coast up near Coffee Bay, this wonderful hike takes place on the back of Table Mountain (known as the Back Table). In similar vein though, it involves a hole in the rock.

Head up from Constantia Nek or Cecilia Forest to the top of the concrete road and on past the Overseers Cottage (accommodation for the Hoerikwagga Trail). The path to the left of this, across from the tap will take you along a sand path, alongside De Villiers Reservoir (it is a very pretty reservoir).

At the end of the reservoir, don't take the path down to the dam wall (left) but turn off the main path to follow a smaller path, behind a large rock, that continues straight ahead. It takes you along the ridge above Orange Kloof.

This path leads to both Bushman's Overhang and the Hole in the Wall.

The path climbs now through a rocky section and then later dips through a series of ferns and boulders. Shortly after this the path splits. Take the right path, which leads directly to the hole in the rock (you will see it, it is fairly obvious – akin to a doorway, but fairly small – you will need to scramble through it).

Once you are through the hole you head into a further section of forest and then up to the top of the ridge where a not very well defined path takes you along the top, giving you great views of the Victoria reservoir and the back of Table Mountain. This is where you need to watch your step.

As you reach the wall of rock ahead of you, the path junctions. The right descends into the forest and back to the concrete road (jeep track), whilst the left takes you to Caveman's Overhang. The choice is yours, depending on how tired your party is at this stage. However, you need a permit to do the Caveman's Overhang as it passes through part of Orange Kloof.