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Western Cape
Western Cape

Western Cape

The Western Cape has more hiking trails listed on SA Hikes than any other region, and more variety. Table Mountain National Park alone offers routes from short plateau walks to the multi-day Hoerikwaggo Trail. The Cederberg Wilderness, Swartberg, Outeniqua and Langeberg ranges all carry substantial trail networks, and the Garden Route links coastal and forest walking between them. Season matters more here than in most regions — summer on Table Mountain brings wind and heat; the Cederberg is walkable year-round but summer water sources are scarce.

For a landscape and planning overview, see Discover Western Cape. For the reserves that contain these routes, see Western Cape Reserves.

The Western Cape holds more UNESCO-listed conservation areas than any other South African province. Table Mountain National Park, the Cape Floral Region Protected Areas World Heritage Site and the Garden Route National Park form the backbone of a reserve system that also includes De Hoop, the Cederberg Wilderness, Bontebok National Park and the reserves of the Agulhas plain. SA Hikes lists 32 Western Cape reserves, covering their landscapes, ecology, access and the hiking options within each.

For the hiking trails themselves, see Western Cape Hikes. For a regional overview, see Discover Western Cape.