In collaboration with the Friends of Table Mountain (FoTM) and SANParks, the Table Mountain region of SANParks Honorary Rangers has made significant strides towards rehabilitating the footpaths within Table Mountain National Park.
This project has addressed the degradation of 17 heavily used trails, resulting in the restoration of 20 kilometres of pathways.
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The maintenance and restoration of footpaths are essential for ensuring visitor safety and preserving the park’s integrity, but it requires substantial resources and labour.
Megan Taplin, TMNP manager, expressed appreciation for the support received from the Table Mountain region of SANParks Honorary Rangers and the Friends of Table Mountain group, emphasising the remarkable achievements of the project.
‘It is important to highlight that Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) has about 800 kilometres of trails, and these are some of the most impacted trails in all of SANParks. We appreciate the support from the Table Mountain Region of SANParks Honorary Rangers and the Friends of Table Mountain group, who initiated this project of trail maintenance,’ she said.
Taplin added that SANParks is committed to maintaining this partnership and providing ongoing support where needed.
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The collaboration has yielded remarkable results, with Toby Adams, a SANParks honorary ranger, overseeing the path rehabilitation project. The initial allocation of R10 000 from the SHR’s annual budget for pathway maintenance was supplemented by a significant fundraising effort led by FoTM Chairman Andy Davies, resulting in a total of R300 000 raised for the project. Additional support came from the generous donation by the Mark Scheinberg family, earmarked specifically for footpath upgrades.
The Trail Apostles, a team of three exceptional young professional path-builders, were crucial to the success of the project. Under the close supervision of Toby Adams, they worked tirelessly, dedicating 2 300 man-hours to rebuilding and maintaining the pathways. The combined efforts of FoTM, SHR Toby Adams, other SHRs, FoTM members and the public were instrumental in providing support, including equipment transportation and materials procurement.
Andy Davies, Chairman of FoTM, expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support from various user groups, highlighting the importance of caring for Table Mountain as a safe and world-class park for both locals and tourists. The tangible results achieved through teamwork have transformed overgrown and eroded trails – a testament to SANParks’ increased trail maintenance budget.
‘As Capetonians, we are incredibly blessed to have this beautiful mountain in the middle of our city, and it is imperative that we take care of it. Our vision is that TMNP is a safe, world-class park that both Capetonians and tourists can enjoy,’ he said.
The project has garnered widespread praise from mountain user groups and stands as a shining example of the power of collaboration and perseverance. The success of the initiative has also led to long-term employment opportunities for the Trail Apostles as more trails are added to the list for upgrades.
Anyone can become involved in this restoration effort by notifying SANParks Honorary Rangers of trails and pathways that require attention and making a donation via EFT using the following banking details and the reference ‘Trails Upgrade’:
- Bank: Nedbank
- Branch: Die Heuwel, Emalahleni
- Branch code: 158550
- Account Name: SANParks Honorary Rangers
- Account Number: 1585 392 448
For more information, please contact SHR Toby Adams at [email protected] or FoTM Andy Davies at [email protected].
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Picture: SANParks – Table Mountain National Park / Facebook (Photograph taken by Andy Davies)