Originally built for the Resident Engineer the MCSA Table Mountain Hut has a story to tell. He oversaw the construction of the Woodhead and Hely-Hutchinson Reservoirs. These sit on the lower table. Now, imagine standing before this stone and corrugated iron cottage. It sits at 760m altitude.
In 1904 the dams were done. The hut was to be demolished. The Mountain Club of South Africa MCSA approached the Cape Town City Council. They negotiated a lease agreement. The nominal rental was one pound per annum. Later, it was dropped. It wasn’t cost-effective for the council to collect it.
The MCSA Table Mountain Hut is arguably the Cape Town Section’s proudest facility. MCSA members have visited it for over a century. It is easily accessible. Many routes lead here. The hut offers peace. Spend a night on the mountain in the middle of the city. It also provides shelter when out walking.
The MCSA-CT uses the MCSA Table Mountain Hut. But it is in the Table Mountain National Park. South African National Parks manages it.
The hut is near Kasteelspoort. It’s only 12 minutes away. The Woodhead Reservoir and Waterworks Museum are also close. Nearby, find the SANParks People’s Trail Hut. The Scout Hut and the Cape Province Mountain Club Hut are there too.
The MCSA Table Mountain Hut has a capacity of 12. There are two rooms. The Cape Town Section owns it. You need to pre-book and prepay for overnight visits. No permit is required.
You’re on the ‘Back Table’ of Table Mountain. This places you about 380m east of the top of Kasteelspoort. Drive time is only 10 minutes from Cape Town. This depends on the access route. Walk-in time is 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Again, this depends on your route.
Activities around the MCSA Table Mountain Hut include walking and rock climbing. Many also enjoy overnighting in the hut.
The Scout Hut on Table Mountain is another option. It provides unique mountain-top accommodation for 18 Scouts. They can overnight in a historic stone hut. It sits near the dams on the Back Table.
Hiking access is easy from Kirstenbosch, Constantia Nek, Kloof Nek or Camps Bay. Overnighting on Table Mountain is only allowed in a few mountain huts. SCOUTS South Africa Association maintains one of these huts. It is heavily used. It’s usually fully booked at weekends and during school holidays.
The hut has comfortable bunks for 18 people. 12 are in the main area. 6 are in a separate room. A separate kitchen area offers counters and shelves. There is a sink with running water. A large fireplace includes grids for cooking. Carry your own firewood or charcoal. You are not allowed to collect wood in the Table Mountain National Park. The hut has a bathroom. It includes a toilet and basin. A shower offers cold water.
The Jeep Track from Constantia Nek leads to the Woodhead Reservoir. Hike across the dam wall. Carry on to the Scout Hut under two or three large pine trees.
Skeleton or Nursery Ravine from Kirstenbosch reaches the Back Table at Hely-Hutchison Reservoir. Take the concrete road past this dam to Woodhead. Cross the dam wall. Find the hut under the nearby pine trees.
Kasteelspoort from Camps Bay or Kloof Nek Corner is another route. From Kloof Nek, follow the Pipe Track along the contour. Find the Kasteelspoort turnoff. At the top of Kasteelspoort follow the raised path. It was once an old railway track. You will see the hut off to your left.
The area around the Scout Hut has a rich history. Five stone reservoirs were built here between 1887 and 1907. The hut itself was an overseer’s hut. It was used during the construction of the nearby Woodhead Reservoir and Hely Hutchison Reservoir.
About 500m from the hut, a Waterworks Museum tells about the dams. Nearby are the quarries used to build the dams. An old railway track runs from there to the top of Kasteelspoort. Here, you can still see the remains of the top of the old Camps Bay ropeway.
The MCSA Table Mountain Hut area is known as the Back Table. In the evening, the hut has amazing sunset views. The Back Table is rich in fynbos. These include gladioli, proteas, and restios.
From the hut, you can hike to Maclears Beacon. You can also hike to the top cable station via the Valley of Isolation. Hike Southwards to Grootkop. This is the largest of the Twelve Apostles.