Which routes up Table Mountain are the

best?

It is impossible to say which hiking trail on Table Mountain is the best. There are so many different routes with so much variety in difficulty, type of flora, things to see and views. So the most important questions to ask in order to answer are:

•  ”What sort of walk would you like?”
• “ Are you looking for a tough and challenging day out? Or a gentle  ramble ?”
•  ”Are you more interested in the flora or the views”

Of course even knowing the answers to the above questions the answer will still differ from person to person. However here are some of my favourite Table Mountain hikes.

If someone is looking for a challenge. I would recommend going up the India Venster route on Table Mountain.  This is a scramble route which follows almost directly under the cable car. Not recommended for anyone who is afraid of heights this is a route that can be followed by anyone of reasonable fitness with no climbing experience. The climb itself should take around 2.5 hours. From here one can go straight down Platteklip Gorge or do a full day hike on the mountain coming down above either Kirstenbosch or Camps Bay.

The India Venster route offers a challenging hike up Table Mountain

If, however someone is looking for a gentle ramble. I would recommend a hike in the Silvermine Nature Reserve to the Elephants eye cave. The walk from the car park is around an hour of not too steep up hill. Once at the cave the views are truly magnificent. On the way back you can stroll around the dam, or if you are feeling energetic follow the Silvermine river walk.  

The view from Elephants eye cave, is well worth the hike.

For those interested in the flora of Table Mountain I would definitely recommend any of the hiking trails that begin in Kirstenbosch gardens. This side of Table Mountain is the wettest, and thus has an abundance of plantlife and trees. There are a number of routes from here, the best known of which is Skeleton Gorge.

All of the hikes from Kirstenbosch Gardens offer a fantastic view into the fynbos floral kingdom

Any of the above mentioned hikes have stupendous views. You just cannot escape the beauty of the Cape wherever you climb. If I had to choose a Table Mountain trail which I believe to have the best views,  I would say either the Atlantic circuit above Camps Bay or the cliff path on the main Table area. 

The views from the 12 Apostles are the best in the world

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Is Table Mountain safe in strong winds?

I was very surprised to hear someone state that “Table Mountain is closed today” As a statement it just did not make sense. How can a National Park with free entry and no fences ever be closed? On further investigation I realised that the cable car had closed due to strong winds. Ah hah, that explains it!

The cable car does indeed close when the wind reaches 35km+ speeds. Apparently this is not for safety reasons but for comfort. I can well imagine that one does not feel over safe in a small circular container 1000m above the ground swinging merrily in gale force wind! However, there is absolutely no reason not to hike in strong winds. In fact many areas of the mountain could well be totally sheltered, you just need someone to tell you where to go.

The South East cloud on Table Mountain

Hiking from Kirstenbosch

Gardens up Table Mountain

Kirstenbosch Gardens is a great place to start a Table Mountain Hike. Parking at either the main entrance or top gate you begin your day with a beautiful walk past the manicured lawns and impressive plants.( Entry to the gardens is R37 per adult R10 per under 18) Established in 1913 and the first botanical garden in the world devoted to indigenous flora, Kirstenbosch is truly a remarkable place and well worth a visit.

There are many paths leading in quite a maze around the gardens. However, as with all navigation in Cape Town, Table Mountain offers a fantastic point of reference and as your aim is to climb the mountain simply take the paths that lead you there. The climb is gentle initially but begins to get steeper the closer you get. Eventually you head up out of the gardens proper and towards the contour path. You are now in thick indigenous forest which in the summer provides wonderful shade.

Once on the contour path, there are 2 main routes to take you right to the top.

Nursery Ravine: Nursery Ravine is found closer to the Constantia End of the mountain. It leads from the contour path up a steep, rocky staircase beside the Nursery stream. The path continues steeply and stays beside the stream for most of the way. Even in hottest summer there are several pools of water for dogs or for cooling your face and hands. After about half an hours tough walking you emerge above the tree line. This is a great place to stop for a break.

Taking a break at half way rock. Above the tree line

Looking up Nursery Ravine

The first ladder on Skeleton Gorge

Ridgway Ramblers offer both full and half day hikes beginning in Kirstenbosch gardens.

Some of the things to look for

when walking on Table Mountain

Table Mountain is a floral wonder. In a relatively small area almost 1500 plant species have been recorded. There are more species of plant on this small mountain than in the whole of the British isles!! So it is worth keeping your eyes open on a hike and just looking at the plants around your feet. What adds extra fascination is the difference between both the species of plant and the time of flowering in different areas of the mountain.

Last week I hiked along the 12 Apostels from Llandudno to Kasteelspoort,where we descended. Here are just some of the plants we spotted along the way.

The delicate China Flower is common all over the mountain

Although not rare, finding a beautiful Painted Lady is always a treat

The beautiful and elegant Arum Lilly is found close to water

The Comb flower. The Iris family.

The False Slugwort is easy to recognise and commonly found beside paths

The succulant sour fig

The tall Watsonia's are always bright and impressive

6 months before flowering, the King Protea bud is still impressive

  So when next hiking on Table Mountain take the time to look around you and see the splendour and beauty.

Mountain biking in Cape Town

As well as providing some of the most varied and spectacular hiking in the world. Table Mountain also offers some pretty amazing mountain biking. Although there are a few places throughout the peninsula where you can take your bike, the best mountain biking is found in Tokai Forest on the slopes of the Constantiaberg.

To get there take the M3 towards Muizenberg.  Take the Tokai turn off and head towards the mountain. The road takes you straight to the mountain bike parking area. If you have a wild card which is loaded with mountain biking then you do  not pay to enter. If you don’t have a wild card, you need to pay for a R25 permit at the picnic area which you pass before you reach the parking area.

Once in the mountain biking area you have a number of choices. Steep uphills, fun single tracks and some flatter roads to spin a bit abound. One of my favourites is to grind up the dirt road for 5km. Here the road becomes tar for a further 5km and leads to the height of 920m at the top of the Constantiaberg. The tar road is to allow access to the TV mast at the peak. Only official vehicles are allowed up there and are seldom seen. So the only traffic to be aware of are rapidly descending mountain bikes.

The tar road which leads to the TV ariel

The grind up the 5km tar road stretch is tough but the views make it bearable. Above the forestry area now views over Hout Bay on one side and the Southern suburbs on the other are fantastic. Once at the top you can look right over onto the back table and Orange Kloof.

The mast at the top

After the struggle up it takes a short time to whizz down. Once back on the dirt road taking one of the numerous off road tracks is a must. They are well worked out and maintained. Often some corners include the choice between a hazardous jump for the daring or a simpler corner for the less brave. Twists and turns, drop offs, tree roots etc all add to the excitement of these routes which can take hours to explore. 

One of the many single tracks that lead off the main jeep track

Hiking on the 12 Apostles of Table

Mountain

Hiking on Table Mountain on the Camps Bay side offers some of the most spectacular views in the Cape. Anyone who has driven the coast road between Hout Bay and Camps Bay can attest to its beauty, so imagine what it is like from above. To add to the walk is the historical significance of many of the trails. All lead off the Pipe Track which is one of the oldest trails on Table Mountain which was constructed in 1887 to lay the pipelines for the reservoirs on the mountain.

Routes up Table Mountain from the Pipe Track:

 include well known ascents such as Kasteelspoort and Corridor Ravine. Both these paths are steep and Corridor ravine is very loose underfoot. However both are straightforward and suitable for anyone who is moderately fit. Other routes such as Woody buttress and 3 firs involve a little scrambling and have some exposure. Still more are less well known but are among of my favourites. For example Diagonal path and Oudekraal ravine.

Whichever route you choose you will not be disappointed. Views of Lions Head, the Atlantic coastline, Robbin Island and Camps Bay are fantastic. Each time you stop to take a breath the view has changed and is more spectacular.

The view of Lions Head from Oudekraal ravine

Here are a few of the best views from a number hikes this year:

Looking down Oudekraal Ravine

The viewpoint at the top of Kasteelspoort

The diagonal path above Camps Bay

The view from Corridor Ravine

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The Grootkop caves of Table

Mountain

Grootkop is the largest peak on the Back Table above Oudekraal. It is on a wild and lonely part of Table Mountain and is accessible via a number of routes the nearest of which are Oudekraal ravine and Llundudno corner. The path between these 2 routes passes by Grootkop on the Orange Kloof side. Although the path is clear, if the clouds come down it is very easy to lose your bearings.

The easiest way to find the caves is to follow the path in a Northerly direction. ie towards Oudekraal and the main table. Groot Kop is a clear rounded peak along the way.

A view of Grootkop from the path

The path takes you around the shoulder on the right of the peak. The caves are not at all obvious. In fact if you don’t know they are there you will walk right past them. To get to the caves as you climb the shoulder of the peak look for a very small path that leads across the face of the peak. Follow the path for less than 20metres until you pass a yellow wood in a cleft of rock. Further investigation will reveal that this tree hides one of the larger cave entrances.

The yellow wood hiding the cave entrance

Squeeze past the tree and you find yourself in a sizeable cavern.

Inside the cave it is quite roomy

At the back you can follow tunnels to either the left or the right. The right leads you to a small opening and a way out. The left takes you further into the cave past another smaller entrance. The floor is damp all year around and during the summer can be a great way to get out of the heat of the day.

There are many exits to the cave.

 This a great destination for a days hike. Remember to take a torch so you can explore right to the back and along the tunnels.

The cable car prices went up on the 1st October 2010.

Rates for an adult return are now R180.

An adult one way now costs R90.

Under 18, costs are R90 for a return and R45 one way.

Hiking on Table Mountain in the

 rain

A beautiful rainbow on Table Mountain

Those of us who live in Cape Town have very little faith in the weather forecast. To be fair having a mountain on such a narrow peninsula stuck at the end of Africa forecasting is not easy here. So anyway, whenever we walk on the mountain whatever the forecast has said it is always worth taking a waterproof with you. Murphy’s law clearly states that it will rain if you don’t take a rain jacket on a hike. It is also worth bearing in mind that walking in light rain is really not that bad. In fact it can be very pleasant.

Best of all though is when you see a rainbow. Here is a rainbow we saw whilst walking up Agathas Gulley a few weeks ago. No rain was forecast of course!!

A rainbow over Hout Bay

A steep hiking route onto the back

of Table Mountain

Llundudno corner is a hiking route that takes you up onto the back of Table Mountain above Llundudno. Although a steep route it is relatively easy and takes you onto one of the least walked areas on Table Mountain. From the top you can choose from a number of different options but all lead through an area that allows you to really feel the wilderness and wildness of the mountain at this point. The views are some of the best of Table Mountain and the whole peninsula. This really is one of my favourite walks up Table Mountain.

To get there you take the turning for Suikerbossie restuarant and park on the left before the road takes a steep turn to the left. From here you take the path that is well signed and follows the fence of the housing estate up the hill.

The beginning of the hike is well marked

Follow the path as it climbs quite steeply up past the restaurant and the houses. As the fence disappears the path turns to the right and begins to lead towards Hout Bay. This is the path to Myburghs waterfall. After about 100m on this path you need to take a turn to the left that leads towards the mountain again. Once on this path keep heading towards the mountain. After about 15 minutes you start to climb more steeply onto the shoulder of the mountain. Stop for a moment on the top to savour the views over Hout Bay. They are magnificent.

The shoulder of Llundudno corner

From here the path leads you the base of the mountain itself. This is quite a steep section and staples have been placed to help you haul yourself up the more difficult section. They are not difficult and even those with a fear of heights should manage here.

Climbing the staples at Llundudno corner

The path now levels out and leads you around the Atlantic side of the mountain. The path is clear, and the views the best.

The path around the mountain

Finally the path begins a steep ascent. Here the ground is loose and unstable. Take care. There are more staples to help you up at one point, but a section below here has washed away making it a bit of a scramble to get to the staple. Be careful of knocking rocks onto the people behind you!

The final section is quite steep

Eventually the path evens out. Remain on the path until you meet a junction. Turning right will bring you to another scramble route that rejoins the path at Llundudno corner. Turning left takes you onto the back Table and you can choose from a number of routes all over Table Mountain .

Explore Table Mountain on a guided hike with Ridgway Ramblers

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