Table Mountain: Ain't no mountain high enough

Table Mountain opens doors to four unique Hoerikwaggo hiking trails with help of disadvantaged youth

Table Mountain National Park has opened the People's Trail, the first of the four Hoerikwaggo Trails that will take visitors up Table Mountain and enables them to spend the nights on Table Mountain. 

The People's Trail is a two-night hiking trail, in the first place designed to give disadvantaged youth the opportunity to explore Table Mountain, which was called Hoerikwaggo or Sea Mountain by the peninsula's indigenous population. 

"It is the first time Table Mountain National Park offers overnight," said Environmental and Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk.  

The People's Trail is part of Kids in the Park, a R22 million project that aims to take thousands of youngsters and 300 teachers from 150 schools to 15 national parks across the country.

Apart from taking young people up Table Mountain the People's Trail aims to create jobs for those of disadvantaged backgrounds. One of the trainee guides is  Lindela Mjenxane (23), raised in a shack in the township of Philippi.  

(source: Cape Times / 17 July 2005)