Information on Simonsberg, Stellenbosch

Trail Info
1

Hi everyone I am new to hiking. I only started about a year ago, and it was (and still is) so that I can do some geocaching.

I did Simonsberg with some other students last year, and I was interested to see that the trail or even mention of the berg does not appear in a single book, and in terms of online, only Alltrails has evidence of it even existing. This is despite there being evidence on the mountain itself of there being climbers as far back as 1905!!

Simonsberg is one of the most beautiful hikes I’ve come across, even just reading in books, because it is a completely isolated peak allowing 360 view down in all directions (Paarl, Northern suburbs, Cape Town, Cape Point, Stellenbosch, Franschoek). I cannot believe nobody mentions it anywhere.

I know that the reserve is not CapeNature and I think it is private, but surely that doesn’t mean that it should be left off the lists?

Is there anywhere where one can get more information on the trails and where they start? My only lead is looking at Google Earth Satelite view, Alltrails, geocache descriptions, and maps like OpenTopoMap, which doesn’t have all the trails (all these are quite limited). The main one I know starts at Tokara Farm, and Kanonkop Farm has a private trail up Kanonkop for Full Moon hikes, but I don’t know where to find the other trails.

2

Only the lower slopes of Simonsberg is privately owned. The mountain is Cape Nature.

Because the access is over private property, CN do not issue permits themselves.

The easiest is via Tokara. You can just arrive at the security gate, BUT you need to choose a clear weather day. Even high clouds above the mountain could be sufficient reason for security to turn you away.

1 Like
3

thanks! Ive done tokara once before. funny enough there were lots of cloluds that day.

4

All depends on the personnel on duty.
Shortly after the epic rescue incident in July 2022 they where very strict. Might be better now.

5

Well hiking in July around Cape Town is just looking for trouble. It’s our wettest month!