South Africa – 5 Iconic Hikes on Table Mountain For Nature Lovers

April 8, 2019 Haritakurdu 0 Posts, Travels,

Table Mountain is Cape Town’s most recognizable and iconic landmark due to the flat table-like plateau on top. It has the highest elevation in Cape Town which is 1085 m above sea-level. Table Mountain National Park has more than a dozen hiking trails with ranging difficulties and a great diversity of indigenous plants.

On the lower slopes, you will generally hike through the lush jungle, encountering small but stunning waterfalls en-route. The terrain becomes rocky and steeper as you ascend higher, offering spectacular views of the city and the Atlantic Ocean.

Here are five iconic hiking trails in Table Mountain National Park.

Platteklip Gorge

Platteklip Gorge is probably the most direct and easiest route to the summit. It is also one of the quickest trails, taking 2-3 hours to complete. This route is often regarded as mainstream since it consists of well-constructed stone steps all along. The majority of the trail is through a ravine which doesn’t offer great views until you almost reach the cable car station at the top.

The first 1.5 kilometres of the trail has a flat-like inclination, while the second half becomes challenging due to the increased height of the stone steps. While hiking, you should keep in mind that the summit can be windy and cold even during summer, so remember to pack clothes accordingly.

Skeleton Gorge

Skeleton Gorge is one of the most popular routes on the eastern side of Table Mountain. This intermediate-level hike is 8.4 km-long, taking approximately 3 hours one way. Starting off at the famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, the route follows a lush and forested ravine before opening on to shrub-covered slopes. It ends up at Hely-Hutchinson Reservoir- one of the five reservoirs on top of Table Mountain that used to be a major source of water supply in the 20th century.

Here, you can either relax by the refreshingly freezing water or take another route to the summit. The trail can be challenging at times due to many water streams running down, which make the rocks wet and slippery. Proper hiking shoes are a must as a precaution for the slippery parts.

Woodstock Cave

Table Mountain National park is not only famous with stunning views but also with a high number of caves to explore. One of the largest caves and the most popular one is the Woodstock Cave. It is in the form of a crack 50 m wide and 4 m high halfway up Devil’s Peak at an elevation of 628 m.

The most preferred hiking route starts off near the Table Mountain Cable-Car Station. It consists of zig-zags and takes approximately an hour to complete. Once at the cave entrance, you will get to see the breathtaking views of Cape Town city, Lion’s Head and Table-Bay view to the north of the city centre.

Packing food and drinks for a picnic is highly recommended.

Pipe Track- Tranquility Cracks

The tranquillity cracks are a series of narrow slits and passageways near the top of Table Mountain. The combination of unique rock formations and the views of Camps Bay and Lion’s Head will take your breath away. The trail is approximately 9 km long and takes 4 hours to complete.

The easiest way to reach here is to start off at the Bakoven Beach near Camps Bay and hike up the Pipe Track. This trail is made of zig-zags that get steeper as you ascend higher. When climbing, you must make sure to hike with groups as it’s easy to get lost among the cracks.

India Venster

This is one of the most challenging hikes in Cape Town, often regarded as dangerous even. Similar to Pipe Track, this hike also takes 4 hours to complete. The starting point is 50 meters to the right of the cable car station. The first half is rather easy with moderate inclination. The second half gets very steep involves lots of scrambling along narrow ledges.

While it offers spectacular views, it might be challenging for people with a fear of heights. The path is filled with yellow footprints and blue dots, so make sure to follow them to avoid getting lost. Also, look out for local fauna such as dassies and indigenous snakes that occur from time to time.

Table Mountain is probably the most iconic landmark in South Africa and is a very excellent opportunity for nature lovers to explore. The five hikes listed above are only the tip of the iceberg. However, there are many long and short hikes with varying difficulties and a rich flora & fauna for tourists to explore.

They all have one thing in common: offering the best views of Mother City and reminding us how small we are compared to the gigantic creations of nature.

Booking.com

This article contains links to Affiliates which Fat Starfish receive a percentage of sales with no additional costs to you. Help us maintain this website by buying from our links. Thank you for your support!

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are the author’s and in no way reflect the views and/or opinions of Fat Starfish.