The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC) is again celebrating International “Take a Hike Day”. This time it is scheduled over three days to accommodate the possible impact of adverse weather conditions.
“Starting Wednesday 16 and ending Friday 18 November, we are appealing to everyone to take a hike up the mountain and spend some quality time on the various trails. While you are doing this, we invite you to collect the rubbish which has been left behind by some irreverent individuals which tarnish the image of our New7Wonder of Nature site,” says Wahida Parker, Managing Director of the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company.
“Take a Hike Day”, she explains, is an international event. When TMACC hosted the event in 2021, 310 hikers participated, collecting 28.5kg of trash and litter. This is the third time that the company will host a “Take A Hike Day” event.
“Colloquially, the day’s name might encourage people to ‘go away’. We have refashioned it to be a call to action and to serve as a reminder of how fortunate we are to be surrounded by so much natural beauty. With this blessing comes the responsibility to care for and maintain the site in a pristine condition and ultimately preserve it for future generations.”

“This initiative talks to the values which underpin our organisation, namely working collaboratively because it is our shared responsibility to preserve this heritage site for future generations. We as custodians take it upon ourselves to leave this incredibly beautiful yet vulnerable space better than we found it. And ultimately, we believe in doing the right thing not because we must but because we want to,” says Parker.
The mountain clean-up is set to take place from 7.30am to 3pm and will begin at Platterklip Gorge hiking trail, which leads to the top of Table Mountain, where you will be able to discard your trash at the Twelve Apostles Terrace.
Everyone who takes part will receive a light snack pack, some water and a bin bag at the start of Platterklip Gorge, and they will be issued a free ticket down.
You are free to choose any of the other trails too. The last cable car will depart at 5pm.
“We encourage everyone who shares our commitment to avail themselves on the day,” says Parker.
When planning their hike, hikers should take into consideration factors such as the bad weather. The weather can change very quickly, no matter the season of the year. One of the best things to do is check the weather the day before and the morning of your hike to make sure it’s safe.
The details:
- Date: 16, 17, and 18 November
- Start location: Platterklip Gorge hiking trail
- Time: 7.30am to 3pm
Some extra tips from Wahida Parker
- Check-in and check-out; tell somebody where you are going and how long you expect to be.
- Stick to the route you have researched and planned to hike.
- Every party should have a leader. The larger the group, the greater the need for one.
- Keep together and travel at the pace of the slowest. Do not split up and go in different directions.
- Do not wear jewellery or take other non-vital valuables with you.
- Watch the weather and time, turn back in case of threatening bad weather.
- Know what to do in an emergency.
- Save the relevant emergency numbers on your phone.
- Download the Trigger app – it could help locate you in the event of a mishap.
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Picture: Unsplash