“Why Is the Water Dirty?”: Limpopo Hiker Shows Surprising Dam on Top of Table Mountain

• A Limpopo gentleman living in Cape Town shared a viral TikTok video revealing the hidden Woodhead Dam at the top of Table Mountain that most tourists never get to see
• The hiker questioned why the dam water appeared red and black in colour, sparking educational discussions
• South Africans were amazed by the discovery, with many asking for directions and thanking the content creator for teaching them something new

A young entrepreneur from Limpopo who runs hiking tours in Cape Town has gone viral after sharing a surprising discovery that most Table Mountain visitors never see.

TikTok user @mmegentanganedzeni, who works with Rivhona Tours, taking tourists around the Mother City, posted a video on 15 September 2025 showing the Woodhead Dam located at the top of the famous mountain.

The video, which has attracted over 38,000 views, shows the hiker exploring the dam while explaining his excitement about finally seeing it in person. In the clip, he mentions reading about the dams in books but never taking the time to visit them himself. What caught his attention most was the unusual colour of the water, which appeared red and black rather than the clear blue he expected.

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The young man shared his amazement at finding the dam, describing it as a blessing to see with his own eyes. However, he was puzzled by the water's dark appearance and asked his followers to explain why it looked so dirty. The video's caption read:

"Most people who hike up Table Mountain don't get to see this. Enjoy watching.🤗"

Mzansi reacts to the Table Mountain discovery

The video sparked many reactions from South Africans who were equally surprised by the discovery. Many viewers thanked the hiker for the educational content.

@user2333737451339 asked:

"Please show us how to get there from the cable car station."

@MxoNo'Ndaba gushed:

"Thank you for teaching us about something, cause it was gonna take us years to notice."

@LuyandaM wrote:

"Damn 🙆🏻‍♂️ I didn't know that."

@Penny shared:

"We were there in July & didn't see any😳"

@nixwest enquired:

"When are you starting your hiking club???"

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@burtwilliams1972 explained:

"The water is not dirty. That is tannins. Tannins in water are natural, organic compounds from decaying plant matter that cause an aesthetically unpleasant yellow or brown colour..."

Why Table Mountain dam water looks dirty

According to experts at Water World, the dark colour the hiker saw in the water is caused by tannins. These are natural substances released when plants and leaves break down. As they soak into the soil, they flow into rivers and dams, turning the water yellow, brown, or even reddish. Many people think it’s dirt, but it’s actually just nature at work.

On places like Table Mountain, where there’s a lot of fynbos and other vegetation, tannins often end up in the water. While the water might look strange and even taste a bit bitter or earthy, it’s completely safe to drink and not harmful to your health.

View the TikTok clip below:

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3 Other stories about Cape Town

• Briefly News recently reported on a woman who found viral fruit-shaped desserts in Cape Town, but the price she paid for trying them all left viewers stunned.
• A TikToker shared her favourite "free activities" in Cape Town, but locals quickly pointed out the hidden costs that made her recommendations quite expensive.
• A Cape Town woman revealed her 2011 rent price, and the comparison to today's rates had Mzansi expressing serious frustration about the city's affordability crisis.

Source: Briefly News