位于开普敦桌山东麓的纽兰兹森林(Newlands Forest)是一片与城市无缝衔接的自然原野,目前对所有公众免费开放。这里的海拔高度从基准线的180米左右一直攀升到超过600米的消防瞭望塔,拥有数十条交织分布的徒步路径和历史悠久的水库遗迹。对于想要避开桌山索道拥挤人潮的旅行者来说,这里是本地人最钟爱的私藏氧吧。
如果打算开车前往,直接在导航软件里搜索 M3 高速路旁的 Newlands Forest Parking 即可。这处停车场规模不小,能容纳大约 60 到 80 辆车,但每逢周末早晨八九点钟通常会一位难求。好在停车本身不收门票费,甚至连进森林也不需要购买南非国家公园的 conservation fee 门票,这在开普敦昂贵的景点门票中算是个异类。
森林里没有小卖部或餐厅,唯一的补给点是停车场附近偶尔出没的移动咖啡车。建议出发前在背包里塞上至少 1 升饮用水和一些高热量零食。虽然森林覆盖率极高,大部分时间走在树荫下,但由于南非紫外线极强,即便在树林里穿行也得抹好防晒霜。说真的,山里的天气变幻莫测,山脚下可能还阳光灿烂,爬到一半云雾压下来气温会陡降五六度,带一件防风抓绒衣准没错。
想要看风景的人大多会冲着消防瞭望塔(Fire Lookout)去。这条线路单程爬升约 400 米,坡度在某些路段还是挺考验心肺功能的。走在路上你会发现植被的变化非常明显,从低处的松树林和桉树林,逐渐过渡到受保护的 Afromontane 原生森林。快到顶端时视野豁然开朗,整个郊区和远处的福尔斯湾(False Bay)一览无余,那种视角是坐在车里绝对体验不到的。
如果体力一般或者带着小孩,走等高线路径(Contour Path)是个更明智的选择。这条路基本是在山腰平移,海拔波动很小。你可能会路过一些建于 19 世纪末的石砌引水渠,那是当年开普敦供水系统的老功臣。这条路上常能碰到带着三四只狗一起散步的当地人。不过要留意,虽然人可以免费进,但如果你想带狗,按照南非国家公园管理局的规定,必须事先申请一张有效期一年的狗证或者办理 Wild Card 的相关权限。
还有一个稍显冷门的去处是希尔伍德水库(Hely-Hutchinson Reservoir)周边的旧遗迹。在那附近你会看到一些枯死的古木和茂密的苔藓,空气里满是潮湿的泥土味。清晨六点半左右林子里的光线最好,丁达尔效应让光柱斜射在蕨类植物上,那画面感直接拉满。这里没有什么人工围栏,走路时得留神脚下的树根和湿滑的碎石,踩空了扭伤脚踝可不是闹着玩的。
虽然这片森林看起来很温和,但别忘了它属于桌山国家公园的一部分。最近几年山里偶尔会有治安事件报告,所以不建议一个人在大雾天或者天黑前单独进入深处。最好找三五个伙伴同行。如果实在找不到人,尽量待在主干道上,避开那些草丛比人还高的羊肠小道。遇到岔路口多留意树干上的颜色标记,虽然这里的导向牌不算密集,但顺着人流大的方向走通常不会迷路。
这里的生态恢复工作做了很多年,你会看到一些被剥掉树皮的树干,那是管理部门在清理外来入侵物种。请管好手中的垃圾,哪怕是果皮也不要随地乱扔,因为人工降解在干旱季节会变慢。另外森林里严禁生火,南非的林火隐患极大,一旦起火后果不堪设想。钱的问题也得算清楚,虽然不收门票,但如果你想雇佣本地向导带你走一些深度路线,大约需要支付 400 到 600 兰特不等的费用,这钱花得值,因为他们能帮你认出藏在树叶底下的珍稀昆虫。
纽兰兹森林的主入口对普通游客完全免费,不需要购买门票或支付国家公园保护费。但如果你计划带宠物犬进入,必须持有南非国家公园管理局颁发的有效许可证(My Activity Permit),该证件通常需要年付约 300 兰特左右。
普通运动鞋在干燥天气下勉强可行,但强烈建议穿着抓绒内里的专业登山鞋或防滑越野跑鞋。森林内海拔跨度达数百米,部分小径布满湿滑的苔藓和活动的石块,具有良好抓地力的鞋底能有效降低下山时膝盖的冲击和滑倒风险。
主停车场通常有身穿背心的看车员(Car Guard),虽然他们不是正式警察,但能起到一定的威慑作用。离开车辆时切记不要在座位上放置任何 visible 的财物,如手机、相机包或零钱。停车结束离开时,按照当地习惯给予看车员 5 到 10 兰特的小费即可。
虽然山间溪流看起来清澈见底,但并不建议直接饮用未处理的野外生水。森林内没有设置公共饮水机,建议出发前自行携带至少 1 升瓶装水。如果确实需要长期补给,停车场附近的自动售货机或偶现的咖啡车是唯一的选择。
Frank van den Brink Very nice forest close to Table Mountain. Extensive number of trails, nice paths and very safe. Some waterfalls and streams, nice view,on the mountain and lots of parking space at the start of the walks. Really recommendable.
Roelof Louw Packed with so many different trails one is spoiled for choice! Still the best trail background available! Be on the lookout for porcupines and genets in the early morning hours - always a treat!
DJ HuM Stunning stunning stunnning is an understatement - there's SO much space to explore and run, and grab a coffee (even bring your own cup, so many wasteful folk) n snack. So many beautiful doggos, with so many of their owners who look like them, and so few who pick up after their own doggos poo. I'm sure that's how they drive too. Please try to keep these spaces clean and much less people in the upper paths if you're a special hobbit, like me. There's little to no signal up top, so bring a friend in case anything goes down and the safe parking has lotsa space too.
Liam Bento Beautiful, tranquil and extremely humbling when you consider that these hiking trails exist because barefoot Khoi San and heavy booted Dutch settlers blazed these trails centuries ago by driving cattle over these paths to graze over the mountain, and there I was suffering while wearing extremely comfortable Nike's and shorts that promote testicular ventilation. I'm definitely bred for the life of comfort.
Rick Rohan Starting point for a large number of trails. Actually all of Table mountain is connected so you can basically walk from anywhere to anywhere. This side of the mountain is densely forested. Which is amazing given that the other side is only low fynbos. Going alone is not recommended. The trail markers are almost non-existent, so best to go with someone who knows the path. There is no real danger of if getting lost. You can check google maps satellite view to find a way out if lost. This is one of the most popular hiking points in CT, so finding parking can be a real headache. You can park by the side of M3 and walk.