Thanks to months of dedicated rehabilitation work by South African National Parks (SANParks), honorary rangers, volunteers, and various organisations, the Silvermine and Tokai areas of the Table Mountain National Park are finally reopened!
Cape Town, South Africa (03 September 2025) – Back in April of this year, the Tokai and Silvermine areas of Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) were ravaged by a devastating fire that affected approximately 2,800 hectares in the area.
Thanks to weeks and months of dedicated rehabilitation work, the South African National Parks (SANParks) was excited to announce the second phase of the reopening of Silvermine Gate 1 and Upper Tokai this week.
This follows the successful reopening of Silvermine Gate 2 and areas of Tokai at the beginning of July after the natural disaster.
Visitors can now enjoy the pristine sights and trails these trails have to offer, including the beautiful Silvermine Dam, the Elephant’s Eye trail, and the Silvermine Riverwalk.
Hikers, Cyclists and Horse Riders to Take Note:
A section of the road from the Silvermine boom gate to the junction of Level 4 and 5 will, however, remain inaccessible to cyclists, as rehabilitation efforts are still ongoing.
The Donkey Trail from Silvermine to Upper Tokai and the Level 1 and 2 Jeep tracks for horseback riders will also remain closed until further notice due to severe rain damage.
A Park in Progress
Maintenance work will continue in certain areas, including the construction of new ablution facilities.
Visitors will be able to make use of the ablution facilities located at the entrance gate and near the western side of the dam until the burnt facilities near the dam parking are reconstructed.
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“Although some trails may seem visually unaffected, access is being restricted in specific areas to ensure user safety and support ecological restoration efforts. Public safety is our top priority.
“Therefore, SANParks urges all trail users to strictly adhere to signage, area closures, and instructions from rangers. Visitors must remain vigilant and stick to designated paths at all times,” says JP Louw, SANParks Head of Communications and Spokesperson.
A huge thank you goes out to the SANParks Honorary Rangers, the Mapula Trust Fund, Tokai MTB, and all the other stakeholders and volunteers for their unwavering support in the rehabilitation efforts across Silvermine and Tokai.
“The Sugarbird Project has also commenced its alien invasive plant clearing initiative in collaboration with various stakeholders and volunteers. We sincerely appreciate everyone involved in this vital rehabilitation work.”
SANParks is conducting Safety Awareness Campaigns to ensure the safe reopening of these areas as it welcomes visitors back.
“SANParks appreciates the public’s patience and cooperation as we work towards safely restoring access to these important areas,” Lous adds.
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