About Dams on Table Mountain

There are five dams on top of the table top, accessible via a number of hikes up the mountain. The dams - The Woodhead, Hely-Hutchinson, De Villiers, Alexandria and Victoria - are all on the mountain’s back table, the first of which was built as early as 1890, as the demand for water in the city increased.

Did you know? The water in the dams is untreated and no swimming is allowed.

Up until the 1880s all who lived in Cape Town were dependent on one stream of water (Disa River) that flowed off the mountain. With the increased demand for water engineers of the city built a tunnel through the Twelve Apostles that allowed them to catch water from the Disa River and transport it via a huge duct, known today as the ‘pipe track’, right to a central repository - the Molteno Reservoir, just above De Waal Park in Oranjezicht.

But the city’s demands easily outstripped the supply from this viaduct and reservoir and before long engineers had to come up with another plan. And so they dammed the Disa River.

Woodhead Reservoir, Table Mountain’s first dam, was a lot of hard work involving a series of porters who literally carried all the building materials for the dam walls up Kasteelpoort Ravine, aided a little later, as the lunacy of the venture became clear, by a steam-driven cable car.

Hely-Hutchinson soon followed as, despite Woodhead Dam’s completion in 1897, demand still outstripped supply. It’s a particularly well-known dam because of the pretty white, sandy beach on its eastern shoreline (reached via Skeleton Gorge).

At more-or-less the same time, the southern suburbs headed up the mountain to build their own dams close to the overseer’s cottage - Victoria, Alexandra and De Villiers, completed by 1907.

The pretty dams contribute only 5% of the city’s water. Most of Cape Town’s water comes from the Steenbras, Berg River and Theewaterskloof dams, east of the city.

Best way up to explore the dams: starting at Constantia Nek along the Bridal path to the top.

Need to Know

WhereThe Five Dams atop Table Mountain, on Table Mountain, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

WhenBest during daylight hours.

OvernightStay in Cape Town Accommodation, Western Cape

Disclaimer

Please note, business details can change. While we endeavour to ensure all information provided by the service provider is correct at the time of publication, we do not assume any liability caused by errors or changes, such as price, cost, time, and location. Please check with the provider that the activity/business is still offered as described, before making any travel plans.

Feedback?

If this is your attraction, you can let us know if anything on this page is outdated or contains inaccuracies, by email. We regret, we do not have any other information, please contact the provider if you have questions.

In the vicinity

Hotels & other accommodation options in Cape Town

Things to do in the area

Accommodation convenient to Dams on Table Mountain

FIND / South Africa Accommodation / Western Cape Accommodation / Cape Town Accommodation

Cape Town as a destination

Want to stay overnight?

Dates

When would you like to stay?
Choose dates

Number of Guests

Why book with SA-Venues.com
  • Your card is safe with us; strictest card verification in the industry and we don't store card numbers.
  • No airy fairy service fees; you save!
  • We care. Service with integrity.
  • Multiple payment methods:
    credit card, SID instant EFT, bank transfer.
  • All Constantia property owners / managers are verified (our experience protects you from online fraud).
  • Secure your booking
Our Payment Protection Guarantee only applies if your deposit payment is made via SA-Venues.com
South Africa. Explore. Experience. Stay

SA-Venues.com® has been assisting travellers with their South Africa travel plans since 1999, and is the largest, independent online travel guide for South Africa available in both English and German.