The following are the hiking and walking groups affiliated to the Cape Town and False Bay branches of U3A.  (Tygerberg and Somerset West branches also have hiking and walking groups which are not listed here.) A member of any U3A branch is welcome to hike with any group subject to there being space available (some groups are full). Some groups start at a fixed time every week and others vary according to the route. Most groups go out every week.  

A visitor or new to Cape Town?   See www.mountain-meanders.com for background information on the Cape Mountains, routes, safety, grading and much more.

• Mondays 

  • Mountain Mondays - reasonably energetic hiking.  Laura Knight,  083 401 2166  laura.knight@telkomsa.net   Every Monday at 08h00/08h30

• Tuesdays/09h00

  • Flying Tortoises - 3 to 4 hour easy walks. Inga Page 072 796 8590  ingapage27@gmail.com     Every Tuesday at 08h/09h00. Varied walks between Signal Hill and Cape Point. From flat trails to some scrambling to reach peaks 3-4 hours

  • Peninsula Mountain Wanderers - for the reasonably fit.  Annie Oliveira, 082 781 1809 , ollieo@global.co.za or John French 082 468 8921  jafenergy@gmail.com   Every Tuesday  09h00. Hikes on smaller paths often with scrambling and a cardio workout ±4,5 hours

• Wednesdays

  • Fynbos Rambles -  Nature Walks. Easy walks exploring the flora of the Cape. Lidia Fornasari , lidforna@gmail.com  or  083 721 7228    or Claire McCarthy, 021 789 1334, kandcmccarthy@telkomsa.net, Every 09h15 for 09h30. Peninsula walks in various levels of steepness and pace in search of our fynbos flowers

  • Happy Hikers - The hikes are generally 8 kms in length and almost always include some uphill . Paul Taylor, 084 261 8410, ptaylor@polka.co.za or Gordon Shephard,  082 469 3757,  gshephard@mweb.co.za 09h00 most weeks

  • Hiking for the moderately fit early birds - requires a reasonable level of fitness - and a liking for an early start!  John and Gail Hallett, tel  021 671 3384  or  072 462 6050[J]  or 083 655 8388[G]. E-mail to  hallettjg@gmail.com 

• Thursdays

  • Gentle Gradients  - Mostly flattish walks, usually around 2 hours, covering beautiful trails around the Peninsula .  Hilary Harper, 083 298 6985, h2services@telkomsa.net 09h00, Easy walks in the Peninsula ± 2 hours

• Fridays

  •  Friday Amblers  -  Moderate hikes of between 3-4 hours for those who enjoy hiking on the mountain at a relaxed and social pace.  Reasonable  fitness required.  New members welcome.  Alan Watkins – alanw@lantic.net   065 578 3842 

  •  Mountain Meanders - moderate to more strenuous walks, typically 3-5 hours. Allen Lang  allenlang001@gmail.com  tel 021 689 5030                                              

  • Songololo Stompers - moderate walks - dogs very welcome. 3.5 to 4 hours. Ann Saunders 082 849 3289  annsaunders@mwebbiz.co.za  or  Jenny Aling 083 227 6408  jennyaling@tiscali.co.za , o8h30/09h00, Generally easy to moderate, dog friendly walks 3,5-4 hours                        

  • Slowly Up The Hills Walking Group - 2 to 3 hours. Dogs very welcome. Hilary Harper,  083 298 6985, h2services@telkomsa.net .  Every Friday at 09h00. Note: If you are unsure of your walking ability, this is a good group to start with. 

  •  Wacky Walkers - mostly 3 - 4 hour moderate hikes in the southern Peninsula with a monthly hike in Cape Point reserve. Gordon Shephard, 0824693757 gshephard@mweb.co.za ; Neil Ransome, 0824209465  ndransome@gmail.com  

  • Saturday

    • Mature Mermaids Hilary Harper 083 298 6985 h2services@telkomsa.net Every 10:00, Ladies only! A walk on Muizenberg beach followed by an optional frolic in the waves.

Standard of hikes and walks:  Each group has a typical range of difficulty with lots of overlap i.e. there are not hard and fast boundaries between the different groups.  It is important that your ability is a reasonable match to that of the group - for your enjoyment and that of the group.  If in doubt, start by trying an easier walk and then "graduate" to the more difficult. Many participants hike with more than one group - that is quite OK. 

 If you don't find the combination of day of the week and walk difficulty that suits you, feel free to start a new group!  It is a simple and easy process and any of the convenors will help you get going. The groups provide good companionship and safety.  There have been no incidents in the course of 1000's of meets in the past 10 years. Note that there is a demand for places in some groups with an expectation that you will walk regularly.  Those who come out infrequently may find they are dropped from the respective mailing list. 

 Programme: The current programme for each group is sent out by either WhatsApp or email.  Some groups issue a programme a few weeks in advance, but many work on a week-by-week basis enabling the route to be tailored to the weather. Want to check the weather yourself? Windguru and Windfinder are useful sites. 

Location: Walks tend to be mainly on Table Mountain and the Peninsula (Steenberg, Simonstown, Cape Point, etc) but Cape country routes are also done by some groups. Many groups share transport, especially for walks that are further afield, so generally it is better to call and confirm attendance. (Some groups do not require this - check with the relevant leader.) 

Details of other Greater Cape Town U3A Hiking Groups have been added and Blaauwberg hikers are now listed above (Saturdays) whilst hikers of U3A Helderberg have their own website at https://sites.google.com/site/u3ahelderberg/activities/hiking

Membership of U3A and Cost: It is a requirement that all participants are members of U3A, although visitors (local and international) are welcome. . Annual subscription for the various U3A branches differ, but is typically R40 to R100 pa.  Prior to joining a group or walking as a visitor, the group leader will require that you complete an appropriate indemnity form.  U3A walking course costs vary. Some charge R3 or R5 per meet, others have an annual fee, and others have no charge. 

 Sharing of travel costs: If obtaining a lift, it is a requirement that you contribute to the travel costs unless the members of the group alternate cars and agree to waive costs.  

 Indemnity: By my participation in any activities held under the auspices of the  University of the Third Age (U3A), or sanctioned by U3A, I indemnify and absolve the U3A and individual members from any liability of any nature whatsoever and howsoever caused to me which may arise from any injury, illness, damage, loss, mishap, accident, or other occurrence. I acknowledge that I am aware of the risks to which I might be exposed as a result of such participation and voluntarily accept such risks.