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Did you know there were tunnels underneath Cape Town's busy streets? Maybe. Did you know you could go on a tour through these old water tunnels? Well, I didn't. As a bit of a history buff I was very interested to find out that tours were being offered through these tunnels built by the Dutch settlers.
Cape Town is known by her indigenous people, the Bushmen, as Camissa meaning 'the place of sweet waters'. It is this water that Jan Van Riebeek needed to form the early Dutch settlement in 1652. The run-off from Platteklip and Silverstroom gorge converges at the foot of Table Mountain and forms the 'Varsche Rivier', which ran down the mountain and discharged into the sea.
The Dutch then built tunnels to channel the water and bring it into the expanding town. This fresh water supply was one of the main reasons the settlers chose Cape Town as a refreshment station, and the tunnel is now one of the oldest catchment tunnels in South Africa.
The 'Below the Surface' tour led by Figure of 8, takes you through these interesting stone tunnels. The tour has been run for the past 9 years and offers a unique and educational adventure around Cape Town. You begin the tour by descending through a cast-iron manhole at the foot of Table Mountain and then head all the way down to the Castle of Good Hope.
The tunnel is extremely clean and well ventilated. Natural lighting adds to the ambiance of the walk and the air is fresh, and there are many interesting opportunities for photographs. The guide will inform you about the history of the tunnel, how it shaped the city of Cape Town in the 1800's and brought both anguish and relief to its rulers and governors. While on the walk you'll notice the various architectural elements and mineral deposits (stalactites). There are no rats in this tunnel, so no need to be too worried.
If you suffer with severe claustrophobia, high blood pressure or weak joints (hips, legs, ankles) the journey is probably not for you. You'll need an average level of fitness to make the trip, and a good gauge is whether or not you can climb three flights of stairs unassisted.
The minimum number of patrons required is 15. Their standard price is R350 per person (at the time of writing in 2013), which includes a shuttle service from the castle to the entrance, headlamp, gumboots (from size 5 and bigger), permissions, permits, a soft drink and light snacks at the exit. The tour is weather dependent and should it be postponed an alternative date will be provided, so there's no worry of a sudden deluge down the tunnel.
For more information you can go to http://fo8.blogspot.com.
