Silvermine is an important conservation area filled with secluded picnic areas…

The Silvermine Nature Reserve is also part of the Table Mountain National Park and covers the terrain from Kalk Bay all the way to Constantiaberg. This area also contains a river, Silvermine River, which flows all the way from the Silvermine reserve to Clovelly … and this area is now an important conservation reserve. The Silvermine Nature Reserve works very hard at protecting the indigenous fynbos of the area and boasts spectacular results!

Some say this reserve was named after the Silvermine River that flows through it and others believe it was named after Simon van der Stel who between 1675 and 1685 used this area to search for silver.

Silvermine has a host of activities ranging from walking, bird-watching and relaxing to picnicking and hiking. There are even some mountain bike routes to enjoy in this conservation area. There is also about 100 or more caves that are found in this Table Mountain National Park, these sandstone cave systems and rock climbing routes attract hiking clubs from near and far.

The Silvermine area is practically clear from all alien vegetation allowing for the indigenous and endemic plants to flourish, especially the fynbos. The Silvermine Nature Reserve has even built boardwalks over the roots of some of the trees to protect them. There are ancient trees scattered in this area such as; Cape Beech, Milkwoods and Yellowwoods to name a few… Animals can be found in the Silvermine area too such as; antelopes, gazelles, steppe lynxes, porcupines and genets.

The main entrance is on the ‘ou kaapse weg’ road and entering the Silvermine Nature Reserve requires a small entrance fee which contributes to the conservation of this protected area. This area is ringed around by a gravel road and is an undiscovered magical place…

In 2001 Silvermine Reserve was in the news as the park officials refused to replant the invasive alien plants and vegetation that had burnt down in a previous fire. Fires frequent this area especially in the hot and dry summers that occur in Cape Town which is always accompanied by strong winds. In 1898 the Silvermine reservoir (on the north side) was built to help supply water to Cape Town…