Strive

Table Mountain without the cable car: picking your route up

Platteklip, Skeleton Gorge or India Venster? A plain guide to the popular ways up, and the mountain sense that matters more than the route.

, 3 minute read

Table Mountain with cloud pouring over its flat top

Walking up Table Mountain is one of those things every Capetonian means to do and every visitor should. It's a real mountain hike, though, not a stroll, and the mountain catches people out every year. Choosing a route that suits your fitness and experience is the first decision. Respecting the weather is the second.

The main routes

Platteklip Gorge

The most popular and most direct route, straight up the front face from Tafelberg Road. It's essentially a long, steep staircase of rock steps through a gorge, with very little shade. It's not technical, and the path is clear, but it's relentless. Fit hikers do it in under two hours; many people take longer, and that's fine.

Good for: first-timers with decent fitness. Start early in summer, because the face gets full sun.

Skeleton Gorge

Starts in Kirstenbosch and climbs the back of the mountain through forest and along a stream, with wooden ladders and some scrambling over boulders. It's shady and beautiful, but slippery when wet and best avoided after heavy rain. You come out on the back table, a long walk from the cable car, so plan the full day.

Good for: hikers who want shade and variety, and who don't mind a longer outing.

India Venster

A scrambling route up the front near the cable car, with sections where you climb using your hands and stand above real drops. It's spectacular and popular with experienced hikers, but it is not a beginner's route, and people get hurt on it.

Good for: confident scramblers who've done it with someone who knows the way, in dry weather.

There are many other routes, from the gentler paths up from Constantia Nek to the longer climbs on the Twelve Apostles side. A local hiking club or guide can point you at the right one.

The weather changes fast

That famous "tablecloth" of cloud rolling over the top looks lovely from town. On the mountain it means you can lose all visibility in minutes, and the temperature drops sharply. The south-easter wind in summer can be strong enough to close the cable car, so never rely on it to get down. Plan to be able to walk down the way you came.

  • Check the forecast and look at the mountain before you leave.
  • If the cloud comes in while you're up there and you're not sure of the way, wait or turn back along a route you know.
  • Start early and give yourself plenty of daylight.

What to take

  • At least two litres of water per person, more in summer. There's no reliable water on most routes.
  • A warm layer and a windbreaker, even on a hot day.
  • Sunscreen, a hat and snacks.
  • A charged phone, with the park's emergency number saved before you go. SANParks lists it on its website.
  • Proper shoes with grip. The rock gets polished smooth on busy routes.

Go with people

Hike in a group where possible, tell someone your route and when you expect to be back, and keep valuables out of sight. Busy routes like Platteklip on a weekend morning feel very safe; quiet routes at odd hours are where people run into trouble.