Hike to the Tranquility Cracks – FULL HIKING GUIDE

There is a series of secret caverns and caves inside the Table Mountain National Park called the Tranquility Cracks, which a lot of people go in search of, but never find.

Here is a FULL HIKING GUIDE on how to hike to this hidden gem on top of the mountain.

There are a few routes to the cracks, but the easiest and safest would be via Corridor Ravine.

The Tranquility Cracks are situated at the top of Slangolie Buttress, but despite their location DO NOT HIKE UP SLANGOLIE RAVINE! This route has been officially closed by SANPARKS due to recent rockfalls which have deemed it extremely unsafe.

There are signs at the top and bottom entrances to Slangolie Ravine warning not to go further, so just don’t do it.

Hiking up Corridor Ravine is the route that Carlinn and I took both times we’ve been up there and to get down, we’ve taken Woody Ravine, which I’d only recommend if you’re an experienced hiker in Cape Town as it’s only just recently been reopened after the 2009 rockfalls.

You could hike up Woody Ravine too, but only if you’ve got legs made of steel and are up for the super steep and direct route to the top. The rockfall left quite a few challenging and technical sections for hikers both going up and down.

HOW TO HIKE TO THE TRANQUILITY CRACKS VIA CORRIDOR RAVINE

Getting there via Corridor Ravine is a great hike because it takes you past some epic viewpoints from the Pipe Track and then when you get to Corridor itself, the coastal road has such a different look to it.

To get started, make your way to the Theresa Avenue Entrance to the Pipe Track. If you are going in a large group, please go in as few cars as possible to give the residents a break from the daily parking and traffic struggle outside their houses.

Head up the jeep track until it eventually joins up with the Pipe Track and you head onto some single track.

There is a really well marked and clear path most of the way along the Pipe Track, but when you get to the Milkwood Forest just after the entrance to Slangolie Ravine, keep an eye out for the correct path.

I say this because it is very easy to follow a path that looks like it goes right in the middle of the climb up through the forest. Make sure you go left over here as that is NOT the correct way.

Once you’re out of the forest, there is a great little rest spot to catch your breath inside a cave before moving on. Take that break, you’ll need it for the climb up Corridor Ravine which is just around the corner in the next ravine.

As you hike around the mountain, be cautious as there are a few area’s where the path is very narrow and one slip of a foot could land you tumbling down the mountain!

Hiking up Corridor Ravine itself can take a while because of it’s steep gradient. Take a few breaks along the way in the shaded areas in the middle.

When you get to the top, you’ll need to take a left at the Cairn because the Tranquility Cracks were on your left as you were hiking up.

Make your way along the path towards the big rock structure at the top right.

When you get to the top of this path, keep a look out for the path that ventures off to the left. It’s a hidden path, so if you get to this point where you can see Lions Head, you’ve gone slightly too far. Take a few steps back!

As you head along this very narrow and grown over path, keep an eye out for the path heading into some thick bushes. You can either go up here or follow along for a less grown over route.

THERE ARE LOADS OF SNAKES, so be extra careful where you walk because nobody wants to call an emergency helicopter after being bitten by a Cape Cobra or a Puff Adder!

In case of an EMERGENCY, here is the phone number to call for a helicopter rescue – 0861267267.

Once inside the cracks, there are loads of areas to explore both inside and above at the top.

Getting back down again is part of the fun, so I’d recommend heading back to the main path again and then heading to Kasteelspoort as the route down.

As mentioned above, Woody Ravine is not entirely safe so rather head down Kasteelspoort which has some EPIC views of Lions Head half way down.

IMPORTANT REMINDER TO ALL HIKERS

• Take all your rubbish with you
• Watch out for loose rocks that could cause injury
• Do NOT write on the walls or damage the cracks. If you do, you’re an idiot and deserve to fall off the mountain.
• Have fun and tag @thelawry in your Instagram photos!