Table Mountain
Table Mountain
The Table Mountain is an iconic symbol of Cape Town, towering over 1,086 metres above sea level. Table Mountain is more than just a backdrop, it is the city’s heart and soul. Its famous flat top, natural beauty, and unsurpassed views of land and sea, the mountain is recognized as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature and it has attracted millions of visitors from around the world.
This mountain is also a popular destination for hikers, adventure seekers or photographers as there is something for everyone to do. The mountain has different hiking trails to the top of Table Mountain, but it is also possible to take the scenic car for a slower way to get to the top.
The Table Mountain is thought to be one of the oldest mountains in the world and is the only landform in the world that has a constellation named after it (the Mons Mensae, in case you were wondering). It also hosts the Cape Floral Kingdom which is the richest on earth.
Hiking to the top of Table Mountain
Important Information to know
Length – 2.9 kilometers
Duration – More than 2 hours to go up
Height difference – 650 meters
Difficult – Medium
There are four different official hiking trails that will take you to the top of Table Mountain, each of these trails has a different level of difficulty.
Note: Not all these hikes will take you to the upper cable way. Table Mountain’s flat top is vast, so in some cases you will have to add several kilometers onto your hike if you want to ride the cable car down.
Platteklip Gorge
- Distance: 1.8 miles (2.9 kilometres) to the upper cable car station OR 2.5 miles (4 kilometres) to the top of the gorge and back
- Elevation gain: 699 metres
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Time needed: 1.5-2 hours to the cable car, 3 hours return
- Starting point: along Tafelberg Road, a 20-minute walk from the cable car station
- Ends at the cable station? Yes
Plattekip Gorge is the most popular route up Table Mountain, it is a well-marked trail that starts close to the cable car station. The path ascends in a series of zigzags and stairs, making for a fairly intense but straightforward hike.
If you want to hike one way and take the cable car down, this is probably the best route as the official trail ends at the top of the gorge, just 700 metres away from the upper cable car station. It is pretty exposed to the sun, though, so make sure to wear sunscreen and bring plenty of water if you are hiking during the summer.
Skeleton Gorge
- Distance: 4 miles/6.5 kilometres return
- Elevation gain: 611 metres
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Time needed: 3 hours
- Starting point: Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
- Ends near the cable car? No
The Skeleton Gorge Hike is incredibly picturesque right from the outset. It actually begins in the gorgeous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. These Gardens are about 15-minute drive from the CBD. Hiking this route up Table Mountain means you will need to pay the Kirstenbosch entry fee, which is R23O for foreigners and R100 for locals.
To find the trailhead, follow the signage for the Skeleton Gorge trailhead and head into the forest. You won’t see much while you are under the cover of the trees, but as you get higher up you will have gorgeous views over the city and False Bay.
The initial ascent is pretty steep, and you will encounter some ladders along the way. The route ends at the Hely Hutchinson Reservoir, where there is even a small white sand beach you can relax on. If you want to take a cable car back down the mountain, it is another 4.7 kilometers away. Hiking back down to Kirstenbosch and grabbing some food is recommended.
Kasteelspoort
- Distance: 3.9 miles/6.3 kilometres return
- Elevation gain: 576 metres
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Time needed: 2.5 hours
- Starting point: Theresa Avenue, Camps Bay
- Ends near the cable car? No
The Kasteelspoort route is similar to Platteklip Gorge in difficulty, it is much less crowded and the views are better too, gaze out at Camps Bay, Clifton and Lion’s Head as you climb the mountain. The ascent for this hike starts off gradually with wooden steps and rocky paths before becoming more challenging with steep inclines and a little bit of scrambling.
When you get to the top, you can see remnants of the old cable way, the hike is also famed for the diving board which is a granite rock that juts right out over Camps Bay below. It is another 2-hour hike out in the open to the cable way.
The Guided Option– It is highly recommended to go with a guide who knows Table Mountain like the back of their hand. There is no need to worry about getting lost. Your guide will also help you find the Diving Board, which can be a bit tricky to locate on your own, and take some incredible photos. Then, the group will head across the top of the mountain and ride the cable car down for the full Table Mountain Experience.
India Venster
- Distance: 2.6 miles/4.3 kilometres
- Elevation gain: 722 metres
- Difficulty: Hard
- Time needed: 3 hours
- Starting point: Lower cable car station on Tafelberg Road
- Ends near the cable car? Yes
India Venster offers truly incredible hike of the Table Mountain hikes. The official trail ends just 700 metres from the Upper Cableway, so it is suitable for a one-way hike.
India Venster and Platteklip Gorge start and end in pretty much the same place, but India Venster is more extreme. The views are amazing, though and there are some truly excellent viewpoints. However, there is a steep ascent and sections where you have to jump over the cracks. The hike requires you to be in pretty good shape, experienced hikers should be fine.
Best Things to do at The Top of Table Mountain
Grab a beer from the café
The café at the top of the mountain has beers, wines, spirits, and food, so you can reward yourself for all of your hard work.
Explore
Table Mountain delivers the best views of Cape Town, you can see for miles in every direction. Take time to do a little loop around the top and admire the views of every angle. Also, there are lots of information boards around that tell you more about the mountain, its geology, and all of its flora and fauna.
Hike to Maclear’s Beacon
Maclear’s Beacon is the highest point on Table Mountain and you can walk there from the upper cableway station. This is a really easy walk with an elevation gain of just 150 metres. It is a 5.4 kilometers return along boardwalks and footpaths. There are a couple of boulders along the way, but noting major.
The beacon is a big pile of rocks, and you can climb to the top for the ultimate view and photo.
Guided Walks
This is a good way to explore the top of Table Mountain, the free guided walks leave every hour, on the hour, from 9 am until 3 om every day from the terrace just below the cape.
The staff will show you around while teaching you more about the mountain landscape and the cableway itself.
When is the best time to visit Table Mountain?
The best time to go to Table Mountain depends a lot on your preferences and what you intend to do there. During the summer months (December to February), the weather is much better, but there is much more crowds.
If you are a more adventurous type and plan to hike to the top of Table Mountain, it is best to go during the cooler months (April to September), so you don’t have to sweet all the way. This is because the climb to Table Mountain can be brutal. If you want less crowds, the best time to go is between April to June as this is outside peak season.
How To Get to the Top of Table Mountain
There are two ways to summit Table Mountain, by cable car or on foot. Also, you can choose to hike to the top and descend by cable car. Each rotating cable car offers incredible views of the city, and takes only five minutes to reach the summit.
Hiking Table Mountain is a wonderful way to explore the indigenous fynbos, spot wildlife such as rock hyrax, and enjoy spectacular views. However, you do need to be reasonably fit to hike one of the more scenic Table Mountain routes.
Alternatively, the easiest and quickest route to the top is via Platteklip Gorge, which leads hikers through a ravine on the face of the mountain. This route takes around one-and-a-half to two hours to complete and is the most popular. At the summit, there is an opportunity to explore the mountain top along three easy trails boasting 360- degree views of the city, Atlantic Seaboard and the mountain chain stretching across the Cape Peninsula.
How To Get to Table Mountain
Reaching the Table Mountain is easily accessed if you are staying in the centre of Cape Town. The Centre Business District is located just below the mountain, so you can choose to use a bush, car, taxi or bicycle.
Cape Town’s MyCiti Bus System is an affordable, reliable option transporting passengers to the lower Cableway Station. There are two routes to choose from – one that runs from the V&A Waterfront and the other from city center.
Another great alternative is the City Sightseeing Red Bus, which offers a hip-on, hop-off services. To get to Table Mountain, you will need to take the Red City Tour – a circular, 90-minute route that starts at the Two Oceans Aquarium and passes by various sites including Long Street and the Bo-Kaap. Also, there are plenty of taxi services, including Uber that will take you directly to the Cableway station, or you can choose to cycle there from your hotel. There are many bike rental companies in the city, such as Bicycle Hire and iRide Africa, that offer both road and mountain bicycles at a daily rate.
