What an Adventure -
walking the "Tunnels" under the Cape Town Castle!
walking the "Tunnels" under the Cape Town Castle!
The Friends of the SA Museum - Iziko organised another super outing - my kind of adventure. A few hours walking with a most professional leader through the Tunnels that run under the Cape Town Castle and under most of the streets in the downtown Cape Town area with the water running out into the sea in the old Harbour. It was a perfect day and some 18 of us received a well organised briefing and handed in our Indemnity forms, donned our hard hats supplied and with the arrival of a qualified professional Rescue Medic walked past the castle Moat to a stormwater drain (see pic) and descended a ladder into the labyrinth of tunnels that run under our city. I did not know what to expect? Cool & cold sloshing through a foot of water running down the mountain through the old sewerage tunnels or hot and humid with all funny "goggas" rats & porcupines, spiders, frogs, crabs, cockroaches and fighting through spider webs? Going down the manhole cover was fun and we soon got accustomed to the dark in the tunnel. It was possible to walk upright. With torches we proceeded to follow our leader Matt Weisse from goodhopeadventures who had done an early morning recce to see that all was in order. As he predicted it was excellent and although 4 degrees lower than ground level we could walk in T shirts.
The water must have been about 6" deep and not too slippery and an easy slow walk being briefed on the construction from initial Jan van R times to the closing into a tunnel by the Brits after the 1830's. Really solid and well constructed. Plenty of sewer pipes along the way and we soon came to the junction with the Kaizergracht tunnel running up to the old District Six.
There was cabling in the tunnel for lighting put in for movies being "shot" here - specifically "Fear Factor" - a TV series. We walked to where we would have been under Strand street and could hear the motor cars on the road directly above us and the trains in the Cape Town station. It was all so very clean and the flowing water pristine - Brian Kirsch commented that it is hard to believe we have these millions of gallons of fresh water running out to sea! It was indeed a wonderful experience that I can recommend to anybody nutty enough to want to go down a manhole cover into the bowels of the earth and splish splash through a running stream. A thrilling experience and adventure!
A Tunnel Adventure
ReplyDeleteWalk the underground River in the belly of the Mother City.
Parts of the Canals and Rivers date back to 1652 when they used to supply the Company Gardens and the passing ships with fresh water. Later these rivers flowing through the city became pleasant walkways shaded by oaks, with bridges going over them also known as the Gentleman’s walk.
Bring your own torches and water shoes to go splish splashing through a running stream. There are no Rats nor Ghosts and you don’t have to be afraid of the dark.
This 90 minute adventure is suitable for Kids seven years and older, under 12 year olds need to be accompanied by a guardian.
For more info please e-mail mattweisse@mweb.co.za or call 0824824006 Please book 2 weeks in advance.
In, above and below Cape Town
ReplyDeleteThe Hilarious Heritage Hunt
Conquer impenetrable fortresses!
Explore mystical woods!
Taste sweet waters!
Walk secret tunnels!
Enter terrifying prisons!
Discover forgotten history!
Find the clues which will lead you to the hidden secrets of Cape Town…
…finally celebrate the price giving surrounded by old cannons!
Introduction
The Hilarious History Hunt is an adventurous fun event to explore some of the plenty historical sites of Cape Town has to offer. We say some, because if we would send you on a quest for all the secrets of the most beautiful city in the world, you might be on the road for two weeks at least. Cape Town has a rich history of over 350 years. To conquer this whole day urban adventure, 4-person teams will have to navigate their way throughout the city by finding certain clues, engaging in various tasks that present physical, intellectual, and humorous challenges, combining logic and instinct, accessing the Internet, and even employing assistance of strangers. The best three teams to complete the required points will be awarded with prizes. On request a professional photographer or a camera crew will capture the hunt.
Participants tools (max 28)
Car, camera, cell phone, city map, note pad, pencil.
Dress code
Outdoor (suitable to seasonal weather condition), solid shoes.
Requirements
Physical fitness, signed indemnity form, no children under the age of 8.
A brief description
There are 2 destinations in the morning and Lunch is at the 3rd Venue with a magnificent view.
Every destination has a certain time period and you can make time for tea/coffee/refreshments between the destinations. The 4th venue is after Lunch in the afternoon and the 5th destination is your final where you have to compete in games of skill.
The Hunt
08h00 Meeting at Fort Wynyard
Briefing
Handing out task/question sheet and clue to first destination
Content clue in envelope: ...................