Verlatenbosch, Table Mountain

Western Cape · South Africa · Natural site

At dusk, a mournful flute is still said to drift across the slopes of Table Mountain, played by the governor's son who died an outcast in the 'forest of the forsaken'.

Verlatenbosch – 'the forest of the forsaken' – lies on the lower slopes of Table Mountain above Oranjezicht in Cape Town. According to legend, an enemy of the governor gave his son a beautiful flute, knowing full well it had belonged to a leper. The boy fell ill, was banished to a lonely hut on the mountain and played his flute until he died. To this day, hikers tell of mournful flute notes heard at dusk around Verlatenbosch and Platteklip Gorge – a tale first written down in the 1920s.

FAQ

Where is Verlatenbosch, Table Mountain located?

Verlatenbosch, Table Mountain is in Västra Kapprovinsen, South Africa.

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Accounts are drawn from local folklore and visitor reports.