Cape Town Spelunkers

 Cave Exploration in Echo Valley

A few friends wanted to hike up Echo Valley and explore the Kalk Bay caves but as I awoke on Easter Monday, the holiday laziness was still set deep in my bones, especially with the rainy weather we were having and I snuggled deeper into my duvet. However, my peaceful rest was interrupted by my eager friend who said the weather looked like it was clearing and asked if I was still keen to go.

Now you can understand the dilemma I was in, I had a choice to make. On the one hand I could stay in bed with a cup of coffee and read a book which was very tempting or I could drag my lazy bones out of bed and explore something new which was equally as tempting.  Not just ready to surrender the opportunity of seeing and experiencing something new, I decided to get out of bed and into my hiking gear.

We started the hike on Boyes Drive, directly opposite the Kalk Bay harbour and green lighthouse, where the Cape Nature board marks out the start of the Echo Valley hike. There are stone stairs that ascend up to the path and soon we were on our way climbing the peak to reach Dragon’s Cave.  As you are climbing the stairs, take note of the giraffe artfully carved into the stone step.

When we reached the little trickle stream called Weary Willy’s, we split off to the left but not before we had a chance to look out for the Wild Olive trees. Don’t be tempted to pick the velvety almonds though, as they are poisonous.

On the way up we got caught in some drizzle but decided to persevere as it did look like the weather was going to clear, or so we hoped. The ascent up the peak was not too steep and we could comfortably climb to the top of the ledge where we were rewarded with a beautiful view of Echo Valley flowing down towards Kalk Bay, framed by a beautiful rainbow. In the distance we could see the waves crashing onto Seal Island and could not help but launch into a conversation of the infamous False Bay Great White sharks. Unfortunately none were spotted from our ledge far above.

View over Echo Valley

After passing through the arch we were rewarded by another view of Fish Hoek beach before scrabbling up some rocks to reach Dragon’s Cave, our first cave to explore. This cave does not extend too deeply into the mountain and its ceiling is rather low, making it impossible to stand, but you are still amazed at how the forces of nature could create such beauty for us to admire. That is why it breaks your heart when you see the graffiti ignorant people have scrawled across the ancient rock. 

View over Fish Hoek beach

Neil and I huddled inside Dragon's Cave

Our second cave we explored was White Dome Grotto which had more little nooks and crannies to peak into. This cave extended deeper into the mountain and once we reached the spot that got too narrow to allow us to go further, we switched off our torches and sat in silence. Quite a thrilling experience when you start to think that all those little nooks and crannies are resting places for the animals on the mountain. Who knows what one might find lurking in the dark?

Margerie entering White Dome Cave

With this thought in mind, when you enter Boomslang Cave, you surely hope that the cave did not get its name from the poisonous Boomslang snake but if we let fear stop us from exploring, we would never experience such beauty as what was lying ahead of us. The cave is a mere 100 metres in length but it allows one to walk straight through the mountain and pop out by Echo Valley.

Entrance to Boomslang Cave

We felt like true spelunkers, torches and candles in hand, trailing each other and exploring the cave. In the cathedral we discovered bats hanging on the cave walls above us that made us flinch every time they took flight. I would suggest one to take their time through the cave, admiring the rock formations and let your imagination take you back to when the first explorers discovered the caves and imagine what they would have documented.

As we stood in what seemed like a big open hall, I could not help but look up at the cave ceiling in awe and admiration of the geological wonder of cave formation. Starting from a trickle of water filtering through a crack dissolving a little of the rock bit by bit, enlarging the cracks into tubes and then into tunnels and further into large passages and chambers; a process that takes millions of years and the perseverance by nature.

Our candles created a dramatic ambience as we made our way through the cave. Luckily, as soon as one starts to doubt their self that they have taken the wrong passage, there are arrows to direct you in the right direction. The last 10 meters we had to crawl on the sandy cave floor before we popped out on the other end of the mountain back into the sunlight.

View from the top of Echo Valley

As Murphy’s Law would have it, when descending the peak, we got caught in a sudden burst of rain. Still eager to continue our hike and go see the amphitheatre, we momentarily took shelter under some rocks and found it to be as good a time as ever to have our lunch.

The amphitheatre was only a short way away and well worth the extra effort. You feel like you are walking in a Lego Land with all the rocks, each with their own unique shape, scattered among the fynbos. We also saw delicate Ericas decorating the green Cape fynbos with a touch of pink.

Once at the amphitheatre we tried to search for the other caves hidden away among the trees but with no luck. If you do find these caves please explore them with caution as they are only recommended for the experienced cave explorers.

Amphitheatre

We then descended through Spes Bona Forest and walked along a boardwalk constructed to protect the roots of the indigenous trees forming a canopy above us. Along the path we spotted Rooiels, Cape Beech, Milkwoods, and even Podocaropus latifolia, the only Yellowwood that occurs naturally in the Peninsula.

Passing Weary Willy’s stream again, we headed towards Boyes Drive and sadly, the end of our hike. However, we were rewarded one last time for the day by Mother Nature with a second rainbow stretching across the ocean. A beautiful sight to end a great day filled with exploration, good company and fine exercise on Kalk Bay Mountain. It is always the little rewards one receives that make getting out of bed that much more worthwhile.

View over Kalk Bay