From Table Mountain all the way to Cape Point, the Table Mountain National Park covers the entire Hoerikwaggo Trail.

The Table Mountain National Park is managed by SANParks and was originally known as the Cape Peninsula National Park. This large and protected area was proclaimed the Table Mountain National Park in 1998 - for the conservation and preservation of the Table Mountain areas’ and the flora and fauna that resides there, especially the fynbos. Fynbos is an indigenous ‘shrub-like’ plant which is protected in these areas.

Table Mountain is a huge tourist attraction – many tourists come to Cape Town to see this ‘flat topped’ Mountain. Most tourists either climb to the top (on the ‘Hoerikwaggo Trail’) or catch a ride on the Cable car, either way Table Mountain is a huge tourist attraction. This mountain is part of the Table Mountain National Park and is the most distinctive feature of this National Park.

The Table Mountain National Park is divided into three main areas; The Table Mountain section, The Silvermine and Tokai section and the Cape Point section. These areas make up the main parts of Table Mountain National Park and visiting any of these places requires an entrance fee. These entrance fees are used to maintain the parks/areas and to help continue with this preservation and conservation project. The Table Mountain National Park covers the area of the Hoerikwaggo Trail - which starts at Table Mountain and ends at Cape Point. The total area, approximately 25 000 hectares, of the park is continuous and is only separated by the developed and urban areas e.g.: residential areas. The Table Mountain National Park area includes; Table Mountain, Signal Hill, Lions Head, Silvermine, Constantiaberg, Cape Point, Kommetjie, Noordhoek, Simonstown and other fantastic areas. The Table Mountain National Park jurisdiction also includes 1000km2 of the seas and the coastlines!

The first area that this National Park and Hoerikwaggo Trail covers is the Table Mountain Section, included in this area is; Signal Hill, Lions Head, Table Mountain, Orange Kloof (a highly protected area which is visited on our Hoerikwaggo Trail), Devil’s Peak, the Twelve Apostles… The second section is the Silvermine and Tokai Section, which runs across the Peninsula to False Bay. Areas in this section are; Tokai, Constantia, Kalk Bay Mountains and Steenberg Peak. This section includes the Tokai State Forest and the Silvermine Nature Reserve. The last section (and our final stop on the Hoerikwaggo Trail) is the Cape Point section – stretching from Simontown and Scarborough to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope.

The Table Mountain National Park covers an area of approximately 60km which is surrounded by beaches, valleys and forests. The park is constantly been restructured and developed to include more areas. This National Park also includes many coastal marine areas around Boulders Beach and the Cape of Good Hope … There are a wide variety of animals found within the borders of the national park, including; ostriches, antelopes, baboons, buck, zebra, dassies, porcupines, mongooses….

The Table Mountain National Park aims to preserve these protected areas and maintain the flora and fauna of the regions - SANParks works hard at cutting out alien vegetation and protecting the indigenous animals from danger. As SANParks grows with sponsorship, conservation fees and support they are able to expand their areas of conservation and reach their long-term goals.... Visiting and Hiking the Hoerikwaggo Trail is one way to help support SANParks and their preservation and conservation project – The Table Mountain National Park.

The Table Mountain and Hoerikwaggo area attracts tourists yearly for many reasons, you can hike, walk, climb, picnic and discover adventures throughout this National Park… from climbing Table Mountain to walking along Boulders beach with the penguins… or even relaxing at Silvermine – you are guaranteed to fall in love with nature in the Table Mountain National Park.

The Table Mountain National Park and SANParks goal is to be recognized as the world’s premier urban National Park by 2010.