Exploring Table Mountain

Africa, Cape Town, South Africa, Travel, , , , , , 121 Comments

Table Mountain. A landmark that embodies everything about Cape Town. In last weeks post I spent my time hanging off the side of the mountain, but my abseiling adventures represented only a small fraction of the time I spent in Table Mountain National Park. In reality, there were numerous hikes and one lucky cloudless day where the views of the sprawling urban landscape below were truly unparallelled.

There are several different hiking trails winding up through the mountain and each caters for a different type of hiker.

The Platteklip Gorge route is the easiest hike and follows a well formed path. It is easily the most popular route, so for solo travellers nervous about making the hike alone, this is the best bet.

Skeleton Gorge is a bit tougher, but definitely more gorgeous. Hike this one in a small group and watch your step if you are planning to hike back down. The step-like formations on this one look sturdy, but you want to be careful, hikers slipping and falling isn’t unheard of, and on this route, a slip could very easily lead to a broken bone.

India Venster was my favourite trail. Definitely one of the most scenic, and can be quite tough for those of us that aren’t huge fans of the gym (ahem). This one requires scrambling and climbing up rock formations, so unless you are experienced with the route, do not hike this one alone. Also remember to pack a lot of sunscreen and water for this particular route.

Lion’s Head is a mountain not quite as high as Table Mountain, but no less gorgeous. The hiking route to this peak is especially popular at night and on full moons. Full moon Lions Head hikes are common in Cape Town, and it’s best to get in early in the evening, as the slopes can get rather packed as the night goes on.

I didn’t always take my camera when exploring the mountain, as the stories of robberies on tourists occurring on descent are prevalent. So unfortunately I don’t have as many photos of the area as I would have liked. However, there was one amazingly clear day that I just couldn’t resist packing my camera.

I should note that the weather in Cape Town is moderately bipolar and that this effects the views from the top of the mountain significantly. If you have a bit of time, try to climb and explore the mountain on a day with little cloud cover and minimal wind. You can also check the Aerial Cableway website for up to date weather and visibility information.

Photo 2-01-2015 8 43 41 am

The mountain itself is teeming with native flora and fauna. My personal favourite were the many Rock Hyrax’s, or ‘Dassies’ as they are known by locals. Dassies are mammalian, and despite resembling a large guinea pig, genetically, their closest living relative is the enormous African Elephant!

Photo 2-01-2015 8 45 22 am

Climbing a mountain with such unpredictable weather means that sometimes, on even the clearest day, periods of total cloud cover occur. Its amazing how the clouds seem to appear out of nowhere and pass as quickly as they came.

Photo 21-05-2015 10 21 03 am

Photo 21-05-2015 10 21 04 am

Photo 21-05-2015 10 21 05 am

Photo 21-05-2015 10 34 17 am

Photo 21-05-2015 10 21 02 am

Though the hiking can at times be very intense, the absolutely stunning views from the summit are worth each and every aching muscle.

Photo 2-01-2015 10 07 58 am

Photo 2-01-2015 10 25 16 am

Photo 2-01-2015 10 07 33 am

Processed with VSCOcam with f2 preset

There are plenty of ‘must-see’ parts of Cape Town, but the view of the Mother City from the highest peaks has got to be up there with the absolute best.

Photo 2-01-2015 9 30 43 am

THE LOWDOWN

Hostel: Green Elephant Backpackers
Camera: iPhone 5 and GoPro Hero
Budget: R150 ($15) per night for an eight bed dorm
Remember: Sunscreen, at least 2L of water, hiking shoes and a hat
Get There: Catch the number 110 MyCiti Bus to the base of table mountain, or catch a cab or minibus cab to Kirstenbosch gardens depending on which route you choose to take

Posted by

30-something year old Australian backpacker writing her way around the world.

121 thoughts on “Exploring Table Mountain”

  6. Wow the difference between different weather conditions is striking! How long was that cloud cover there for? It looks like you were walking through mist

    Reply

  10. Great shots of my beautiful country! Spent three years of my life in Cape Town studying and it is truly a beautiful city! Nice pics and good information 🙂

    Reply

      3. I’m from Durban actually. Haven’t had a chance to read much more of your blog but definitely will read some more. Good info and good pics 🙂

      4. My grandfather is from Durban! I didn’t make it there on my last trip but I definitely will at some stage 😊
        And thankyou!

      1. Thanks! Yours is beautiful as well! What camera did you use? I use a Canon 600D SLR – a bit big to just carry around, but he goes everywhere with me.

      2. I don’t have a proper camera yet- I only use my little iPhone! I’m planning on investing in a DSLR soon but not quite sure what to get. I’m looking at the Olympus OM-D E-M1 but still not 100% sure!

  18. Totally awesome photos to go with your great descriptions. I’ve read about some of those trails before, but you’ve managed to bring them to life. Lovely photos of you looking so happy, too. 🙂

    Reply

  22. This is absolutely gorgeous ! You inspire me to travel and see the world. To take in and experience all there is this world has to offer. Please keep up the great work !

    Reply

  24. This was a great post! Lovely photos! I plan to use your experience as a reference when I travel there in the future. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

      1. Yes! I will be in Cape Town starting July 4th. So I will be using your tips for Table Mountain. Where will your travels take you during that time? Will you still be in South Africa?

      2. No I’m no longer in SA 😞 I have been blogging retrospectively as I am terrible at writing on the road. How long will you be in SA for?

      3. Oh!! Ok! I thought there might be a chance we could cross paths. I am in SA currently until the 7th of July. I’m in Johannesburg right now for the next two weeks and then I’ll head to Cape Town.

    1. Yay! I love getting comments like that. When you do head to SA be sure to send a link to your posts to me, I’d love to read them!

      Reply

    1. It took me about 2.5 hours on the India Venster route and about 1.5 hours on the Skeleton Gorge route, but I know proficient hikers can do it much more quickly! It certainly was rewarding, the views make it so worthwhile!

      Reply

      1. How was the climb. Was it really steep or was it manageable. Yeah Cape Town seems like a nice place to visit. Definitely on my bucketlist….

      2. It was definitely hard work but by no means impossible! I’m not an incredibly fit person so if I can do it, anyone can!

      4. I’m not in Cape Town anymore (writing retrospectively) but I was there for about 3 weeks, plus another 4 weeks spent along the garden route. Definitely worth spending a bit of extra time on!

      5. Yeah. I’ve seen vids on Cape Town on YouTube from vloggers and it seems like a nice place to visit. Have you been to Johannesburg?

  34. How was the climb. Was the incline really steep or was it manageable. Yeah Cape Town seems like a nice place to visit. Definitely on my bucketlist….Have you tried paragliding there in Cape Town?

    Reply

  43. great post, great photos, you’re very photogenic. if you’re a hiker, come to colorado, US for the rockies. i’d be happy to be your guide 🙂

    Reply

    1. I’ll definitely keep that in mind! I’m potentially visiting the U.S. next year before heading to Colombia so that may work 😊

      Reply

    1. Absolutely! When I go back to Cape Town I will definitely stay with them again. Make sure you are there on a Friday for their homemade pizza night!

      Reply

Leave a Reply to M@HomeCancel reply