Cape Town: Table Mountain National Park (Skeleton Gorge) fire update
South African National Parks (SANParks) reported several fires inside Table Mountain National Park in Cape Town on 27 April 2024. These fires were caused by lightning strikes in multiple areas, namely Cecilia Forest, Silvermine, and the Cape Of Good Hope (Cape Point) main road. Due to wind changes, overnight flare-ups have now been reported behind Newlands, Fernwood Park and on the slopes of Kirstenbosch, moving towards Orangekloof, as well as towards Maclear ‘s Beacon and the Back Table of Table Mountain National Park, with extensive burning observed in steep and challenging terrain on the slopes of Kirstenbosch and Fernwood. The affected areas are mostly inaccessible, and visibility is poor, posing challenges for ground and aerial crews and making it difficult to carry out water-bombing activities and active fire suppression.
As of today (30 April 2024), the following hiking trails are closed to the public:
- Platteklip Gorge hiking trail
- All hiking trails between Newlands and Constantia Nek
- All trails leading to Maclear’s Beacon and the Back Table
- Trails leading from the area between Camps Bay, Hout Bay, and Orangekloof
After a temporary closure caused by a fire, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden has reopened its doors to the public. However, hikers are advised not to access the garden via Cecelia or Newlands Forest as these areas are still considered unsafe.
