Having a mountain in your backyard to serve as your playground is one of the privileges of living in Cape Town. But there is much more to Table Mountain than Platteklip.
Ominious by name, dubious by reputation but breath-taking and perfectly pleasant in reality. Hiking to the top of Devil’s Peak from the Tafelberg Road starting point at the front of face of Table Mountain is challenging enough to get your endorphins going, but far more picturesque than Platteklip.
Dark Gorge shrouded in mystery and arduous, but a 12km trail that will give you plenty of satisfaction….not suitable for anyone with a fear of heights. Or a fear of venturing beyond the well-travelled and more familiar trails.
If you are new to hiking (and sometimes if you aren?t), you might have seen experienced-looking hikers armed with trekking poles. Do not make the same mistake this writer did and think those are just for older folks.
India Venster is a stunning, but treacherous route up Table Mountain. We know the pictures and the views look great, but do not attempt this route if you are not prepared for a challenge that includes scrambling up rocks.
Newlands Ravine, with its starting point in Newlands Forest, offers a challenging zig-zag trail up the back of Table Mountain. It tends to be more quiet than some of the other routes starting in Newlands Forest and the descend has several options, depending on how much time you want to spend hiking.
There is a super simple way to keep your water cool and crisp when hiking in the heat. Yes, it involves freezing your H20, but do not freeze all of it.
Nursey Buttress is a challenging, but extremely rewarding route to the top of Table Mountain. Not recommended for anyone with even a vague fear of heights or anyone who does not have experience with exposed scrambling.
