Gautengers visiting Cape Town must take care when climbing Table Mountain, as there have been several serious accidents in the last few weeks.
A German tourist fell to his death while climbing Platteklip Gorge. He'd almost reached the top of the pass when he stumbled on the rocks and fell 120m. In December, a tourist from the Netherlands, a 79-year-old woman, suffered heat stroke while climbing up the gorge.
There have been several other incidents in which tourists have fallen and suffered serious injuries.
Wilderness Search and Rescue spokesperson Kevin Tromp said Platteklip Gorge was a busy area for their rescue teams.
While the route was a popular hiking path, it could be precarious if hikers did not take proper precautions.
"It's a simple zigzag footpath, but we've had many cases of rescues where people were not well prepared for a hike like Platteklip Gorge.
"We had one incident where we had to rescue a woman hiking in high heels. Not only are there a few loose rocks in one or two sections of the path, it also gets very hot because there are no trees or shady areas."
Tromp advised people to take the following precautions when walking the trail (or anywhere on the mountain, for that matter):
- Always wear practical shoes, like rubber-soled hiking boots.
- Wear a sun hat and sunblock.
- Carry at least one-and-a-half litres of water per person and some food.
- Take a cellphone along in the case of an emergency.
- Pack along extra wind-proof clothing because the weather can quickly become misty and cold on the mountain. This is Cape Town, where the weather can change to four seasons in one day.
- Always tell a friend when and where you are hiking, and contact them when you are down.
- Stay in groups at all times. It is dangerous to hike alone on the mountain.