The Prince of Cape Peninsula hikes, the Swartkop Traverse across the summit of Swartkop above Simonstown is the prize jewel in the crown of Cape Town hikes.

This 11 km full-day hike starts from the Swartkop Hike Parking Area near Smitswinkel Bay and follows the steep, scrambly trail up onto a high ridgeline overlooking Cape Point, False Bay and Hangklip in the distance. Once on top the path undulates up and down with a last steep, but short little section all the way to the summit of Swartkop, overlooking Simonstown, where we take a well-deserved lunch-break enjoying the magnificent views on a clear day. From there the footpath continues all the way down into Simonstown through magnificent fynbos, including fields of the rare Serruria Hirsuta, which flowers in Spring. The hike ends in Simonstown.

DURATION - 6 to 7.5 hours
DIFFICULTY LEVEL - Strenuous exposed, steep, scrambly uphill, moderate once on top, steep downhill
DISTANCE- 11 km
ELEVATION GAIN - 850 m up, 850 m down
LOCATION - Simonstown, South Africa

This hike is part of the - NIMBLE - series of medium-length adventurous GROUP HIKES. It can also be booked as a PRIVATE GUIDED HIKE on a date and time that suits your itinerary.