Contour Path Waterfall Hike - Cape Town, South Africa

This August we decided it would be a good time to introduce the kids (4 and 6) to hiking as we frequently go on nice long walks, often with some incline, so the have had a chance to build up some stamina and a passion for being in nature.

I would definitely suggest first getting your children used to walking for longer periods at a mild incline before attempting any sort of hike. A great starting place would be the Majik Forest in the Northern Suburbs, or the Alphen Trail in the Southern Suburbs.

As my husband is an avid hiker he suggested we start with Cecilia Forest and do some of the Contour Path, with the aim of trying to make it to a stunning large waterfall situated at the bottom of the Skeleton Gorge path. He picked this route because it is quite heavily trafficked on beautiful Cape Town days, there is a fair amount of shade, there is not too much heavy incline, and there terrain is varied with a few lovely smaller waterfalls along the way.

From the Cecilia Forest parking lot on Rhodes Drive the path started out wide with a steady uphill section and little shade. Once we got through that first portion of the hike and entered a more wooded section, the kids got really excited! We crossed a lovely stream, posed for pictures under huge trees that seemed to touch the sky, and marveled at some beautiful flowers.

 

We then walked uphill for a short while to where the path opened up to a treeless section with stunning views of the Southern Suburbs below. We stopped here so the kids could catch their breath and sip on some water, and for me to take some family photos. 

Note: I strongly suggest packing lots of small snacks, plenty of water, and taking plenty of short breaks along the way. Hiking with kids really does remind you to stop and just enjoy the sounds, smells and scenery around you.

In the next section of the hike the path became narrower and a bit steeper and we made sure to hold hands and had our kids walk on the left hand side, away from the edge, wherever there was any drop (even a mild one). Instilling caution without causing fear is important to us as parents, and I do strongly suggest that if your children are not yet at the age where they can consistently follow clear instruction or understand the potential dangers associated with hiking, rather wait until they are a little older.

That being said, if they are ready, and if you are cautious, I believe hiking with children can be a wonderfully rewarding experience. One of the many highlights of our hike was when 4 year old Goose asked to pause for a rest, and ended up sitting and staring out at the view for about five minutes before we continued on our way. 

We then reached a sign which read "Welcome to Kirstenbosch" and then another smaller one directing us upward to The Contour Path. 

The next part of the trail was fairly long and flat, which was a nice break from the previous inclines. Here we passed a stunning array of purple, white and pink flowers, had to dodge the occasional trail runner or cyclist, and let a few other hikers (many with their dogs) pass us as we continued on our slow and steady pace, stopping frequently to admire our surroundings. As we got closer to the mountain peak ahead of us, we started to hear the sound of gushing water ahead, and came to a lovely ravine.

  

In this next section of the forest, close to the ravine, the terrain changed dramatically. We were all entranced by the moss covered rocky outcrops,  tiny "fairy waterfalls" trickling in the bush, and beams of light peaking through the trees. It felt as though we were a hundred kilometres from the nearest town.

Just a short walk further along we came to Nursery Ravine, where we met a group of Sanparks patrollers. My husband spoke with them for a while, the kids played in the water, and I took dozens of photographs.

 

After some time, we decided it was to head on, taking a right to continue along the contour path. 

The next section of the trail was the most nerve-wrecking for me as a Mom. There was quite a sheer drop beside the path, and we held our children's hands tightly as we walked along. It was at this point that Bug and Goose started to get a bit of jelly legs too. If it weren't for the sound of the waterfall getting louder with each step, and the excitement bubbling in our bellies, I don't think the kids would have pushed on at this point. 

We continued straight past the sign to turn left and up to Skeleton Gorge, and arrived at the most incredible, gushing waterfall. The kids were shrieking with excitement, and we all knew that this last section of the trail had been worth it! We stopped for a picnic and spent ages playing in the river, the kids hopping from rock to rock until they could touch the waterfall, giggling as the spray hit their cheeks. I was happy I had my Vibrams on so I could walk in the water!

   

On the walk back we decided to take a shorter route, and turned left at the Smuts Pad Rock. We made our way down  fairly steep, shaded path, and then turned right onto a wide gravel path running along the area just above Kirstenbosch Gardens. The flowers were stunning and the kids saw dozens of black lizards sunbathing. 

  

The easier return trail meant that we were all very surprised when we passed right by the Kirstenbosch irrigation dam in such a short space of time.

This hike would have taken most folk 2-2.5 hours, but took us close to 3.5 hours...which flew by!
We had a wonderful time and will be looking for the next kid friendly hike soon.

The icing on the cake was Max finding a painted rock on the final leg of the path which said "Paradise isn't a place, it's a feeling". 

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. I hope that you enjoyed it, and that the idea translates into your own awesome adventure with your kids.

Disclaimer: I am not a hiking or child development expert. Please use caution when hiking, always hike in groups or on busy paths, pay attention to the difficulty level, and stay within your own comfort zone. Most of all, be safe and have fun!

Rotary Blue Train Park - Cape Town, South Africa

The Blue Train Park has been going for over 60 years and is well worth the entrance fee of R28 per person! This small fee gives the kids access to numerous slides, jungle gyms, a bike track, an obstacle course, a mini soccer pitch, picnic spots and a 30m zipline, as well as a ride on the highlight of the park - the little blue train. You can purchase more train rides if you like -  but I would suggest first letting the kids explore the rest of the park. 

What I really like is that the variety of play areas meant that my fiery fearless Goose as well as my more cautious Bug were equally able to enjoy the outing. It's pleasant for parents too as it is enclosed, you can bring your own picnic along and you have a great view of the mountains and ocean!

It was a bit of a squeeze for me as a 1.8m tall adult to get into train, but seeing the expression on my kids faces as the train chugged noisily around the perimeter of the park, and hearing them shriek with excitement as the train passed through a small tunnel, made the squeeze very much worth it! 

Note: you may need to remind smaller children to stay seated and keep their arms inside the train, so parental supervision is a must. 

There is a 30m zipline which Goose (4) must have done 10 times - if your kids do want to use the zipline please ensure that an adult helps them to get set up and that they are old enough to follow the instructions to hold the handles in the right place and sit appropriately to avoid any accidents from taking place. 

I really enjoyed watching the kids play, and knowing that the only other people in the park were those who had also paid their entrance fees. Because you can bring along your own food this also makes for a nice, affordable kids birthday party venue (have a look at their website for more info).  

I didn't see a toilet, which is the only downfall if you are planning to spend quite some time here, but there are facilities a short walk from the park in the Mouille Point play area...more on that in an upcoming post.

I hope you enjoyed this post!

Noordehoek Farm Village, Noordehoek Common, and Long Beach Day Outing - Cape Town, South Africa

Noordehoek in Cape Town is a wonderful place to visit with young kids! 

There is so much exploring possible in the area that I've had to cherry pick what to include in this post. We prefer morning outings so that Bug and Goose can still squeeze in an afternoon nap on the way home.

On our most recent adventure to the area we started at Noordehoek Farm Village. With its stunning setting and numerous stores and restaurants there are several options for either a sit down or take away breakfast. My husband and I shared a mouth watering a breakfast pizza, and the kids devoured the nutella pancakes from Cafe Roux. While we waited for our orders the kids played in the huge secure play area.

If you do a similar trip, before you leave the village I highly recommend stopping for a takeaway coffee from The Village Roast. The delicious aroma fills your nose the moment you walk in, and the coffee tastes even better than it smells! 

A two minute drive or short walk from The Farm Village lies Noordehoek Common and within moments of stepping onto the lush green grass you feel transported far from any city. You can picnic just about anywhere and the locals have set up some ingenious swings which will entertain the kids for ages - our favorite is pictured above. Goose (4) shrieked and laughed as she swung out over the ravine, calling for us to push her higher and higher!

This is a great place for the whole family to explore, with little paths and bridges crossing the ravine, ample trees and flowers, horses, large fields to run in, and the sound of insects humming away in the background.

Locals have also added hidden fairy doors to some of the trees which really captivated the imagination of Bug (6). Members of Cape Town Rocks also occasionally hide painted rocks in the area, so keep an eye out as these are always such a treat to find and either re-hide or take home as a keepsake!

Our next stop was long beach. As you get to the bottom of the boardwalk you will see a stunning lagoon shallow enough to walk across at low tide. Tip: do watch the tide as it can be tricky getting down to the beach when it is high. We came somewhat ill-prepared not having costumes in the car for the kids (it was winter after all) but fortunately had some towels and a change of clothes in the car. The kids had a wonderful time splashing in the  water!

Another great spot for swimming and splashing about is a little rock pool just over the rocks to the right of the beach. The sea itself was a bit wild and the waves were huge, so we felt much saver with the kids in the rock pool. 

Aside from the petrol and breakfast, this was a very cost effective, fun time out. We will definitely be back soon!

 

Majik Forest, Northern Suburbs - Cape Town, South Africa

 

Majik Forest is located in Cape Town's Northern Suburbs and makes for an excellent outing with the kids! Perfect for a family photo shoot, bike ride, picnic, walk or just to explore, one can easily spend a few hours here. 

There are two entrances, both have limited parking space, but don't worry too much as there is a shopping center with more parking a short walk from the upper parking area if the lots are full when you arrive.

What makes Majik Forest an awesome place to go is that there is a great deal of variety in terrain and access is free. 

Close to the upper entrance is a beautiful dam with lots of bird life. My kids loved sitting on the benches next to the dam watching the ducks taking off and causing ripples in the otherwise still water.

A little further down the path lies a huge, well maintained playground with well shaded picnic benches.

Look carefully and you will find a little bridge which takes you into the forest. 

Tip for parents of young kids: bring along plenty of snacks and water. That way if your kids do get a bit tired of walking (or running and exploring in my children's case) you can find a great spot to stop just about anywhere so everyone can catch their breath. That being said, the paths are easy to walk on, with very little incline - Goose, my 4 year old, managed perfectly well and I wasn't asked once to pick her up.

Our highlight was finding a quiet spot alongside the river and stopping there for some food. The kids saw tadpoles, a number of different birds, stunning flowers, plants and mushrooms. Bug called it fairy land!

To top it off, members of #CapeTownRocks frequently hide beautiful painted rocks in the forest, so keep your eyes peeled for one of these which you can either take home with you, or re-hide.