Certain sections of Table Mountain have been reopened to the public after a fire broke out on April 18 in the Rhodes Memorial area. After an investigation, it was alleged that the fire had been started intentionally.
This blaze spread rapidly across the mountain to consume the Rhodes Memorial Restaurant and Tea Garden while reaching the University of Cape Town.
Even though certain parts of Newlands Forest was reopened to the public merely a week after the fire, several areas remain closed for rehabilitation work, News24 reports.
“The rehabilitation work started immediately after the fire, with attention given to both restoring access as well as the natural elements. Now, three months after the fire, fynbos recovery is showing great progress and mountain lovers can once again look forward to their favourite hikes and to see the wonders of fynbos,” said Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) manager Frans van Rooyen.
He added that Rhodes Memorial Estate, Game Camp and Deer Park is to remain closed until further notice because of the dangerous trees that needs to be chopped.
Meanwhile, the areas that suffered damage have been reopened in a phased approach.
“Teams have been hard at work implementing rehabilitation plans to allow for the reopening of certain areas, and we request users and visitors to these areas to continue exercising patience and allow the rehabilitation work to proceed without any obstructions,” Van Rooyen said.
“We plead for more patience and ask that users assist us by remaining out of the closed areas while Mother Nature heals herself,” Van Rooyen concluded.
Picture: Supplied