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
