Hiking Trails
Hiking in Cape Town is a truly rewarding experience with numerous marked paths, all providing splendid views of the surrounds. Table Mountain provides plentiful opportunities for some great hikes within a stones throw of your door step. From easy strolls to challenging climbs, it has it all.
A few things to remember when hiking:
- Never climb alone. Safety is a concern on the mountain and a group is a much less likely target for attacks than a single female. Added to this, should any member of the party have an accident it is vital that there are others around to help.
- Go with someone who knows the route well, or use a map or guidebook with detailed descriptions. Not all the routes and paths are well marked and it is easy to get lost.
- Take plenty of water. Many of the routes are quite exposed and during the summer months it can get extremely hot. There is not always water available along the way.
- Take warm clothes with you. It can often be chilly on the mountain top and the weather can change abruptly from a nice hot day to cold, windy misty condition. If you see the weather changing head down immediately.
- Tell some-one where you are going and stick to this plan. If you get into trouble stay put.
- If you have a cell phone, take it with you. Should you have an accident or get lost you can call mountain rescue who will assist you. 021 948 9900 / 10177.
For those worried about snakes, there are only five species that you need to be concerned about: the Puff Adder, Berg Adder, Cape Cobra, Rinkhals and Boomslang. Although, the chances of encountering a snake while hiking is slim and most will flee rather than attacking you. If some-one is bitten, apply a firm pressure bandage over the bite and seek medical assistance immediately.
Pipetrack
This is an easy walk that follows the pipetrack that contours the slopes above Camps Bay and Bakoven with splendid views over the sea. The walk starts just as you turn off Kloof Nek onto Tafelberg Road before its starts ascending towards the cable car. Park you car in the parking lot here, cross the road, climb a few steps and at the top you’ll see the start of the pipe and the track which you’ll follow. Follow the track for as long as you feel like walking and return the same way. Along the way, you’ll see signs for paths heading up the mountain. Ignore these and carry straight on.
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 3 hours return for the total length of the track
Views: Camps Bay and Atlantic Ocean
Kasteelspoort
If you wish to climb to the top of the mountain from the Camps Bay side, this walk is your best option. It is a moderate climb up but you are rewarded with stunning views of Camps Bay and the turquoise sea below you for most of your way up. Its best to do this walk in the morning as it is quite exposed and gets hot in the afternoon sun.
From the Pipetrack (see above) you will see signs for a path heading up. To avoid walking all the way along the pipetrack to get here, there is access from Rontree estate above Camps Bay. Turn off Camps Bay Drive into Fiskaal Road, which leads into Francolin Ave and eventually into Theresa Ave.
At the highest point of Theresa Ave there is a little side road which leads to a concrete path. You can park your car here and follow this path up which will soon meet the pipetrack and a sign to Kasteelspoort.
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 2 hours from car park to top of mountain
Views: Camps Bay and Atlantic Ocean
Platteklip Gorge
One of the most direct routes and well used paths to the top of the mountain is up Platteklip Gorge. This path heads straight up the mountain via a gorge located roughly at the midpoint in the face of the mountain. The path is clear and well graded with steps zig zagging to the top. It is one of the most popular routes up so don’t expect to be doing it alone; in fact over weekends it can become rather busy.
Be warned that is it very exposed and gets rather hot in summer and can be cold and wet in winter. It is not one of the most exciting walks up the mountain, but certainly it is easy to get to and the path well maintained. Added to this, once you’re at the top, it’s just a short walk to the cable car where you can enjoy refreshments or a lift down in the cable car.
To get to the start, follow Tafelberg Road a short distance past the lower cable car station. You will soon see signs from the road up to the path. You can park you car here and begin the walk up.
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 2½ hours from Tafelberg Road (one way)
Views: City Bowl, Table Bay
Lower to upper Cable Car Stations
This is probably the toughest, yet most spectacular climb up Table Mountain. It does not require ropes but does require a fair bit of scrambling up rocks. The path starts just to the right of the lower Cable Car and heads upwards, where for the good portion of the climb, the cable car looms over your head.
Further up, you start heading around the back of the mountain, and eventually you arrive at the top behind the Cable Car station. The views along this walk are stunning and change from the city bowl and harbour to Camps Bay.
There are signs along the way, warning that the path is dangerous, however if you go with a few people, are not afraid of a bit of scrambling and have a map, this walk comes highly recommended. Catch the Cable Car, or walk down Platteklip Gorge to return to your starting point.
Difficulty: Difficult
Time: 3½ hours from lower to upper cable car station
Views: City Bowl, Table Bay, Mountain face close up, Camps Bay, Lions Head
Rhodes Memorial to Kirstenbosch
This contour path roughly follows the 400m contour along the slopes of Table Mountain with views over the Southern Suburbs, Cape Flats and Stellenbosch mountains in the distance. You can reach the path either from Kirstenbosch Gardens or Rhodes Memorial. At Rhodes Memorial head upwards from the parking lot for about 20 minutes and you’ll reach the path, where you’ll turn left to head towards Kirstenbosch.
The Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens charge an entry from R37 per adult. From the gardens, follow the signs which will point you in the right direction. The path is not completely flat and does ascend and descend slightly, but in general it is a fairly easy walk. For the most part you walk through shade and are often passing through indigenous forest and crossing streams.
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 3 hrs from Kirstenbosch to Rhodes Memorial (one way)
Views: Southern Suburbs, Cape Flats and Stellenbosch mountains
Skeleton Gorge
Skeleton Gorge start in Kirstenbosch Gardens and heads up the mountain. For almost the whole way up you’re walking through forests which are well shaded. The path up is well maintained and the steps are well graded steps, making the climb up a bit easier, although it is still a fairly steep slog up.
The route up does sometimes get a bit slippery, but there are fixed ladders to help you through these trickier parts. A path to the right at the top of Skeleton will take you to Maclear’s Beacon, another one and a half hours walk.
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 2 hrs (up)
Views: Shaded in sections, otherwise City Southern Suburbs, Cape Flats and Stellenbosch Mountains
Maclear’s Beacon
From the upper Cable Car station on Table Mountain, it is about an hours walk to reach Maclear’s Beacon, the highest point on the mountain. A fairly pleasant walk to get there and you will be rewarded with views over the city's Southern Suburbs, Cape Flats and Stellenbosch Mountains.
Lion's Head
This is a fairly straight forward, yet beautiful walk to the top of Lions Head where you are rewarded with 360° views of the City Bowl, Camps Bay, Sea Point, Atlantic Ocean and Table Mountain.
About 600m up the Signal Hill Road from Kloof Nek, you will find a parking lot. Over a chain is dirt track which marks the start of the path. Keep on following this path as it spirals around and eventually leads to the top of Lions Head.
Nearing the top you’ll encounter a series of chain ladders to help you up this steeper section. Once you’re past these it’s a 10 minute walk to the top. This is a great walk to go at sunset but be warned it does get very busy.
Another favourite is to climb up on full moon. If you’re planning to do this, make sure the weather is good, take warm clothes and a good torch and be careful.
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 2½ hrs (up and down)
Views: City Bowl, Camps Bay, Sea Point, Atlantic Ocean, Table Mnt
