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Cape Endurance Challenge 2006 Day 1: Arrive Cape Town After arrival at Cape Town international Airport, a quick 25-minute transfer takes us to our Hotel at the Cities V&A Waterfront. The day is left to use as you wish. Go shopping, visit some cultural heritage sights or enjoy the splendour of the Natural Surroundings.
Options are a visit to the famous Robin Island Prison where Nelson Mandela was held, a half-day trip into the townships to get an idea of how the majority of South Africans live, or simply visit the shops, the fantastic aquarium and the festivities of the Waterfront or relax at one the Cape Beaches.
In the evening we will have a safety brief and presentation of the 6 tough days to come before dinner and settling down for the night. The hotel is an ex-prison conversion Day 2: Table Mountain Itinerary:
20 Minute drive to the start of hike.
3-4 hours to ascend 1000m, Lunch at the top, 3-4 hours to descend, 17km
30 minute scenic drive around Mountain passes and along the gorgeous coastline to our camp at Llandudno (has dormitories as well). Attractions: Ascent of the famous Table Mountain; home to many species of animals and birds. This is part of the smallest, yet richest (most species diverse) floral Kingdom in the world. The hike boasts a selection of endless views in every direction once you reach the top of Table Mountain: The city and Robin Island (home to Nelson Mandela for many years), the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean, mountain ranges, ravines, the inland Plains and, if the skies are clear, all the way down to Cape Point. We will reach Maclears Beacon, the highest point on Table Mountain. This is a good tough hike, so don’t forget to stretch your legs before coming out to South Africa. Day 3: Wola Nani and Khayelitsha Itinerary:
Early Start: 8.00 am
Visit to Wola Nani and workshop/factory in Khayelitsha Township. Attractions: Today the group will split. One to visit Wola Nani in the morning then Khayelitsha Township in the afternoon, the other will do the reverse. We return to camp later in the day. The guides will monitor any whale sightings, and if we’re lucky, we will stop off to see these awesome creatures on the way back to camp. Back at camp we’ll enjoy dinner just after sunset.
Day 4: Sandrif, Maalgat, Wine Tasting, Paintings and BaboonsItinerary:Early Start: 8amTransfer: After a two hire hike to the top of little lion’s head from the camp we leave for 4 Hours by road to our riverside camp in the Cedarberg Mountains. Hear we enjoy lunch along the way and unwind in the afternoon sun before enjoying a choice of relaxing afternoon activities around the campfire. Attractions: A short hike of 2 hours takes us to the top of Little Lion’s head. This offers amazing views of the area and gets our muscles moving before the long transfer by road inland. There is a large natural pool at the camp - fantastic to take a cool refreshing swim after soaking up the African sun. After dinner, we are briefed about the next two tough days ahead. Day 5: Wolfberg Cracks and Arch Itinerary:
Early start: 7am
Hike: Tough 17km day. Steep ascent for 2-3 hours to the Wolfberg Cracks. After a scramble, crawl, climb and cave or two we reach the top to enjoy the views. A relatively level hike takes us along the escarpment and to the Wolfberg Arch. Here we have lunch before descending and trekking back to camp in the late afternoon. Attractions: All day is spent on hiking through the Cedarberg Mountain Range with the possibility of stumbling across a troop of curious Cape Baboons
We pass through the Wolfberg Cracks to reach the summit. The cracks
are deeply carved out of the mountain’s edge and create a set of steep shaded gorges and caves ready to explore.
Later we pass under the spectacular Wolfberg Arch; designed over
years by the forces of nature and left for us to enjoy. This hike can take from 8-11 hours. It’s a tough day, but a very unique experience and is always looked back on with excited reflection.
The evening is spent enjoying the healthy aching in our bodies around
a roaring campfire. The skies here are clear and crisp and you would never have seen so many stars before as the crickets sing you to sleep. Day 6: Maltese Cross Itinerary: Early Start: 7am Hike: Full day past the Maltese cross Attractions: After Breakfast we head off on up to the Maltese Cross (a giant natural stone crucifix). This gives us our final chance to enjoy the fauna and flora of the natural surroundings. Watch out for the snakes, scorpions and baboons. We pass the cross after about 2 hours. The rest of the day, is another long trek through remote valleys, and along unworn paths. The remoteness and the echoes of barking baboons add atmosphere to the spectacular surroundings.
Day 7: West Coast TrekItinerary: Early Start: 8amTransfer: 3 hour transfer to the West coastAtlantic trek: We spend the day on a coastal trek, exploring the bays and beaches as we head south and use the cold Atlantic to stay refreshed.Accommodation: Fantastic beach Front Hotel in LangebaanThe evening is spent having our final Gala function. Attractions: Spectacular Coastal beaches. The west Coast has no cliffs but is characterised by long white sandy beaches, secluded bays, rocky outcrops and tidal pools. A good chance of seeing seals and whales. Day 8: Time to go homeHave a relaxing morning. Flight times will dictate the day. If there is time there are numerous activities and half-day trips in which you can partake. A 2 hour transfer to the airport ends the challenge
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