Woodhead dam and tunnel
The Woodhead Tunnel is a 640-meter construction that was built between 1888 and 1891 through the mountain between Orange Kloof and Slangholie Ravine in 1888 and 1891. It was used to divert the Disa Stream which is a tributary of the Hout Bay River, to provide water for the  Molteno reservoir.
The tunnel is derelict, the entrance can still be seen in Orange Kloof and the public can access it.
By 1870 the growth of the city of Cape Town made it necessary to build a reservoir on Table Mountain for water supply to the city. An engineer from Scotland Thomas Stewart was employed to design and oversee the project.
Woodhead dam was constructed on the top of the mountain in 1897 for more water supply in Cape Town. A cableway was constructed to take men and materials to the construction site. The dam was constructed between 1894 and 1897. All supplies and materials were carried up Kasteelspoort by long lines of porters trailing up the ravine, many years before the cableway was built
Later four other dams were built in the area. The Hely-Hutchinson Dam and reservoir upstream of the Woodhead Reservoir were built by 1904. By 1903 the Alexandra Dam and Victoria Dam were built on the Disa Stream. In 1907 the De Villiers dam was built downstream of these two. However, the 5 dams only supply less than one percent of Cape Town’s water
There are several hikes up to the dam, you can however hike to this dam by the back routes which are less busy. You can wind your way up from Constantia Nek via Nursery Ravine or Skeleton Gorge. The trails are well signposted. See other trails
The Woodhead Tunnel which was built between 1888 and 1891, extends from Table Mountain to Disa and is 700m long.
Its main purpose was once to bring water from the Disa River to the Molteno Reservoir in Oranjezight. Now, it is left abandoned for exploring.
Important numbers to have when visiting Table Mountain National Park venues
- Emergencies:021 480 7700
- Medical emergencies from a cellphone:112
- Table Mountain National Park:Â 021 957 4700/ 0861 106 417
- Wilderness Search and Rescue:Â 021 948 9900
- CITY Mountains, caves and other features, Rivers and Dams, Walks, Hikes and Trails
