Constantia Nek
Encyclopedia
Constantia Nek is a low pass over the Table Mountain
range in Cape Town
, South Africa
, linking Constantia
to Hout Bay
in the west. It is one of three passes connecting Hout Bay to the rest of the city, and, with Ou Kaapse Weg is one of the two passes over the mountain range between the city centre and the Fish Hoek valley.
The summit of the pass is at 212m. Three roads meet at the summit of the pass: Rhodes Drive, heading north towards the city, Constantia Road, heading towards the Constantia and the southern suburbs, and Hout Bay Main Road, heading into the Hout Bay valley. It is the highest point on the Two Oceans Marathon
ultramarathon route.
Many hiking routes start at Constantia Nek. To the south, a path heads over Vlakkenberg towards Constantiaberg
. To the north, the Jeep Track (also called the Bridle Path) ascends to the reservoirs on the "back table" of Table Mountain, and the contour path heads towards Cecilia Park
and Kirstenbosch
. To the west, a path heads into the restricted area of Orange Kloof
.
The pass was called "Clooff Pas" by Jan van Riebeeck
when he crossed it on 23 March 1657.
Constantia Nek Restaurant, situated at the top of the pass, claims to be the oldest in Cape Town.
The mountainside at Constantia Nek is covered in Peninsula Granite Fynbos
, an endangered vegetation type that is endemic to Cape Town
- occurring nowhere else. Another different endangered and endemic vegetation type, Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos
, can be found much further up the mountain slopes.
Table Mountain
Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa, and is featured in the flag of Cape Town and other local government insignia. It is a significant tourist attraction, with many visitors using the cableway or hiking to the top...
range in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, linking Constantia
Constantia, Cape Town
Constantia is an affluent suburb of Cape Town, South Africa, situated about 15 kilometres south of the centre of Cape Town. The Constantia Valley lies to the east of and at the foot of the Constantiaberg mountain. Constantia Nek is a low pass linking to Hout Bay in the west.-History:Constantia is...
to Hout Bay
Hout Bay
Hout Bay is the name of a coastal suburb of Cape Town, South Africa with a mix of neighbourhoods from the very rich to the very poor. It lies in a valley on the Atlantic Seaboard of the Cape Peninsula and is twenty kilometres south of the Central Business District of Cape Town...
in the west. It is one of three passes connecting Hout Bay to the rest of the city, and, with Ou Kaapse Weg is one of the two passes over the mountain range between the city centre and the Fish Hoek valley.
The summit of the pass is at 212m. Three roads meet at the summit of the pass: Rhodes Drive, heading north towards the city, Constantia Road, heading towards the Constantia and the southern suburbs, and Hout Bay Main Road, heading into the Hout Bay valley. It is the highest point on the Two Oceans Marathon
Two Oceans Marathon
The Two Oceans Marathon is a 56 km / 35 mile ultramarathon held annually in Cape Town, South Africa on the Saturday of the Easter weekend. Self-proclaimed as "the world's most beautiful marathon", the race is run against a backdrop of spectacular scenery through the Cape Peninsula.The race...
ultramarathon route.
Many hiking routes start at Constantia Nek. To the south, a path heads over Vlakkenberg towards Constantiaberg
Constantiaberg
Constantiaberg is a large, whalebacked mountain that forms part of the mountainous spine of the Cape Peninsula in Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town, South Africa. It lies about 7 km south of Table Mountain, on the southern side of Constantia Nek. The mountain is 927 m high and was...
. To the north, the Jeep Track (also called the Bridle Path) ascends to the reservoirs on the "back table" of Table Mountain, and the contour path heads towards Cecilia Park
Cecilia Park
Cecilia Park is a stretch of land on the lower eastern slopes of Table Mountain in Cape Town, located just to the south of Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens....
and Kirstenbosch
Kirstenbosch
Kirstenbosch is the name of a famous botanical garden nestled at the foot of Table Mountain in Cape Town....
. To the west, a path heads into the restricted area of Orange Kloof
Orange Kloof
Orange Kloof or Orangekloof is an area of Table Mountain National Park in Cape Town, South Africa.It is located at the northern end of the Hout Bay valley, just to the west of Cecilia Park. It is a conservation area with highly restricted access, vegetated by indigenous Afro-temperate forest and...
.
The pass was called "Clooff Pas" by Jan van Riebeeck
Jan van Riebeeck
Johan Anthoniszoon "Jan" van Riebeeck was a Dutch colonial administrator and founder of Cape Town.-Biography:...
when he crossed it on 23 March 1657.
Constantia Nek Restaurant, situated at the top of the pass, claims to be the oldest in Cape Town.
The mountainside at Constantia Nek is covered in Peninsula Granite Fynbos
Peninsula Granite Fynbos
Peninsula Granite Fynbos is an endangered Fynbos vegetation type which is endemic to the city of Cape Town and occurs nowhere else. It is a unique type of tall, dense and diverse scrubland, scattered with trees...
, an endangered vegetation type that is endemic to Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
- occurring nowhere else. Another different endangered and endemic vegetation type, Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos
Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos
Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos is a unique and endangered vegetation type that is endemic to the Cape Peninsula in Cape Town. This type of Mountain Fynbos occurs on very poor, acidic soils but is incredibly rich in biodiversity with an enormous number of plant species – many of which occur nowhere else...
, can be found much further up the mountain slopes.