Experience Table Mountain for Father’s Day

Do something different with dad this Father’s Day, Sunday, June 19, in the form of an exhilarating bike ride or hike on Table Mountain.

Friends of Table Mountain – the local community, the South African Police Service, Metro Police, SA National Parks, and other role players of the Table Mountain Forum – will be on the mountain for three hours on Sunday morning from 0900–1200 hours to demonstrate the need for individuals and organizations to work together to make the mountain a safe place for all users, whether they be walking, hiking, running, or cycling.

The recently-founded Table Mountain Forum has introduced a series of these Safe Mountain Days in order to increase awareness around the safety plan for Table Mountain and to encourage the public to play their part in efforts to reduce the incidence of crime on the mountain.

Hikers and cyclists may enter the mountain through any access point along the Peninsula and are welcome to join the Table Mountain Forum team on their trip to Rhodes Memorial and back by meeting at the Table Mountain National Park Visitor Centre (off Kloofnek) at 0900 hours. The event is scheduled to take place no matter the weather conditions.

The incidence of crime in the Table Mountain National Park, particularly near Rhodes Memorial, has a huge impact on tourism to the city as it adds to the negative perception of a crime-ridden and dangerous Cape Town. Not only is this damaging to international tourism but also to domestic tourism as it creates fear among locals and drives them away from this beautiful natural resource.

Mariëtte du Toit-Helmbold urges Capetonians to participate: “We all love Table Mountain, and we would all like to make use of the mountain without feeling as if we have to keep looking over our shoulder all the time. Now is your chance! Join mountain safety organizations and other mountain users on Sunday to show your support and help curb crime on one of our city’s most beloved and iconic attractions.”

Cape Town Tourism always advises locals and tourists to follow the following safety tips on the mountain:

• Do not hike alone; four is the ideal number

• Inform someone of your route and what time you are expected back

• Stick to well-used paths

• Be vigilant at all times

• Do not attract attention by openly displaying cash, cameras, or other valuables

• If you are confronted by a criminal, do not resist as this might incite a mugger to violence

• Take a fully-charged cell phone and program these emergency numbers in before your hike:

Emergencies from a mobile – 112
South African Police Service emergencies from a mobile – 021 10111
Cape Town Emergency Services – 021 480 7700

For more information about the Safe Mountain Day, contact Marc Truss on 082 560 0684 or Melanie Kuhn on 021 483 5445.