Platteklip · India Venster · Skeleton Gorge · Lion's Head
Hiking Table Mountain
Every route up Cape Town's mountain, how long and how hard each one is, how to stay safe,
when to go, and the guided hikes worth booking, compared honestly.
Facts checkedRoutes, times and safety advice from the national park and the cableway
Real guest ratingsLive GetYourGuide figures, low review counts included
Refund terms per tourEvery hike here refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead
Secure checkoutBook on GetYourGuide, instant confirmation
Guided hikes
Choose your Table Mountain hike
In the centre, the most-booked summit hike, where the guide picks the route on the day. On the
left, the classic Platteklip Gorge with hotel pickup. On the right, the shaded forest route up Skeleton Gorge
from Kirstenbosch.
The original and most direct route up the front face, on stone steps through the main gorge. Pickup in the City Bowl, water and a snack, then the cableway down.
A local guide picks the best route up on the day, by weather, crowds and your fitness, and sets a pace with regular rests. Pickup is an option at booking.
What's included
A guided hike to the top with a local mountain guide
Up the back of the mountain from Kirstenbosch, through shaded forest and up wooden ladders beside small waterfalls. The coolest way up on a hot summer day.
What's included
A guided hike from Kirstenbosch up Skeleton Gorge
Forest, ladders and the reservoirs on the back table
The first row is the baseline: Platteklip Gorge has no gate or ticket, a built path of stone
steps and plenty of other hikers, so a fit group can do it alone. Each tour below adds something: a guide who
sets the pace and picks the route, transport, a harder or quieter trail, or sunrise on Lion's Head.
No hike here includes the cableway ticket down: buy a one-way ticket on the cableway
website or at the top, and be ready to walk down if wind closes the cableway. Routes from Kirstenbosch start
inside the garden, which has its own entry ticket.
What the tour pages don't tell you
You can hike Platteklip on your own.
Platteklip Gorge, the most direct way up the front of the mountain, is a built path of stone steps
from Tafelberg Road to the top, with no scrambling, ladders or chains, no gate and no ticket. It is steep, but
on a clear morning it is busy with other hikers, and there is a security hut at the bottom.
What decides your day is weather and planning. Cloud can pour over the top in minutes, the wind that
brings it can close the cableway, and the north-facing front is hot by late morning in summer. Start early, in
a group, with water and a warm layer. A guide earns their place on the harder or quieter routes, like India
Venster's scrambles or the long Kasteelspoort, and on the pace and the stories of the fynbos.
1,086 m
the height of Maclear's Beacon, the highest point on
Table Mountain, about 3 km across the plateau from the Upper Cable Station.
The main ways up, how to reach the start, what goes in your pack and the numbers to save.
Platteklip Gorge: about 3 km up from Tafelberg Road, 2 to 3 hours; stone steps, the most direct route.
India Venster: about 3 km from near the Lower Cable Station, 3 to 4 hours; exposed scrambles on staples and chains.
Skeleton Gorge: from Kirstenbosch, 3 to 4 hours; shaded forest and wooden ladders, slippery after rain.
Kasteelspoort: from Camps Bay, a gentler but longer ascent to the Diving Board rock and the back table.
On top: Maclear's Beacon, the highest point, is about 5.5 km return from the Upper Cable Station.
By car or ride-hailing: to Tafelberg Road and the Lower Cable Station, above the City Bowl.
By bus: the hop-on hop-off bus stops at the Lower Cable Station.
Parking: along Tafelberg Road; it fills early on clear weekends.
Kirstenbosch: the start for Skeleton Gorge, on the back of the mountain; enter through the garden.
Guided hikes: several include pickup in the City Bowl or on the Atlantic Seaboard.
Water: at least 2 litres each, more in summer; carry it all from the start.
Layers: a warm top and a rain or wind jacket, even on a hot day; the top is colder and windier.
Sun: a hat and sun cream; the front face gets full sun.
Feet: trainers or walking shoes with good grip.
Phone and snack: a charged phone with the emergency numbers saved, and something to eat.
Table Mountain National Park emergency: 086 110 6417.
Wilderness Search and Rescue: 021 937 0300.
From any mobile: 112.
Before you go: tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.
On the day: hike in a group, stay on busy routes and keep valuables out of sight.
1,086 mMaclear's BeaconThe highest point of Table Mountain.
669 mLion's HeadThe peak next door, a shorter hike.
2012New7WondersConfirmed as a wonder of nature.
2004World HeritagePart of the Cape Floral Region.
2,785Plant typesOn the Cape Peninsula, a 2026 checklist.
158Endemic plantsFound on the peninsula and nowhere else.
Where it starts
Tafelberg Road, below the cliffs
Platteklip Gorge trailhead
Tafelberg Road, Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town
Platteklip Gorge starts on Tafelberg Road, the road that runs along the foot of the front face, a little
east of the Lower Cable Station. There is a security hut at the start of the path. India Venster begins near
the Lower Cable Station itself. Guided hikes either meet you at the trailhead or pick you up from your hotel,
and the tour voucher names the exact spot. If you plan to ride down, the Upper Cable Station is about
1.4 km along the plateau edge from the top of the gorge.
Start: Platteklip Gorge, Tafelberg Road
Also: India Venster, by the Lower Cable Station
Back of the mountain: Skeleton Gorge, Kirstenbosch
Brad was a great guide, very informative, and knew lots about the environment and Table Mountain. We had plenty of stops to catch our breath and take photos. Hell of a walk but worth every minute.
★★★★★
The hike up Platteklip Gorge was at a good pace and we had time up top to walk around a bit to the different viewpoints and stop at the gift shop before taking the cable car down.
★★★★★
I am so glad I took a guide! He not only made us feel safe, he helped, he motivated, he pushed and he celebrated with us.
★★★★★
Beautiful hike, lovely scenery. Tough going for a couple in their 60s but well worth the effort.
★★★★★
Tahir knew an incredible amount about the plants, the history of South Africa, the best routes, and what else to do in Cape Town. We highly recommend this tour to everyone.
★★★★★
We had an awesome hike with Donovan following the Platteklip Gorge to the top of Table Mountain. We began the hike at 6:00 am which avoided the heat and started the steady incline.
★★★★★
Had such a great hike with Dohann on the India Venster trail! Dohann is super friendly and knowledgeable. The route is amazing with beautiful views over the city as well as the coast.
★★★★★
Celeste was very knowledgeable about the local flora and fauna. Hike was pretty strenuous but the sense of achievement at the top was enormous. A great way to spend a morning on the mountain!
★★★★★
This was a great hike and is accessible to those with a reasonable fitness level. The hike moved at a steady pace with plenty of breaks to ensure everyone could participate to the best of their ability.
Not hiking this time?
Ride up instead
For the non-hikers in your group, or for the day after the hike when your legs need a rest, the
most-reviewed Table Mountain ticket is the cableway itself, paired with a day on the hop-on hop-off bus.
Table Mountain Cableway & Hop-On Hop-Off Bus
★ 4.6 · 3,517 reviews · GetYourGuide
For the non-hikers in your group, or for a rest day after the hike: a return cableway ticket plus a day on the hop-on hop-off bus, which stops at the Lower Cable Station. Three bus routes, commentary in many languages. Full refund if you cancel up to 24 hours ahead.
Table Mountain rises straight out of Cape Town, a wall of sandstone with a flat top about 3 km
long. Its highest point, Maclear's Beacon, stands at 1,086 m. Since 2012 it has been one of the New7Wonders of
Nature, the only one in a city, and it sits inside Table Mountain National Park, part of the Cape Floral Region
World Heritage Site. You can ride to the top in a few minutes, but the hike is how most Capetonians know it.
Platteklip Gorge, the classic way up
Platteklip Gorge is the great cleft in the middle of the front face, and the route through it is the most
direct and least technical way to the top. From Tafelberg Road the path climbs about 3 km and roughly 650 to
700 m, almost all of it on stone steps built to stop erosion. The national park describes it as not difficult
to negotiate at any point, but steep, and that is the honest summary. Most people take 2 to 3 hours to reach the
top; the cableway's own estimate of 1.5 to 2 hours is for fit hikers. There are no ladders, chains or
scrambles, which is why it is also the route to walk down if the cableway is closed.
Stone steps most of the way: steep, but no scrambling on Platteklip.
The other routes up
India Venster starts near the Lower Cable Station and climbs roughly beneath the cables. It is the hardest of
the standard routes: narrow ledges and short scrambles, one section fitted with metal staples and chains. It
is not for anyone uneasy with heights, never a route to walk down, and a place where a guide makes a real
difference. On the back of the mountain, Skeleton Gorge climbs from Kirstenbosch through shaded forest, with
wooden ladders beside small waterfalls; it is cool on a summer day and slippery after rain. From Camps Bay,
Kasteelspoort climbs more gently past the Diving Board rock, then crosses the back table, a long and quiet day.
The honest small print: you do not need a guide for Platteklip Gorge. You need a group,
an early start, water, a warm layer and an eye on the weather. A guided hike is worth it if you are hiking
alone, want someone to set the pace and pick the route, or want a harder or quieter trail. Most guided hikes do
not include the cableway ticket down, so check the listing.
Safe, with good preparation
The mountain is in the middle of a city, but it is still a mountain. The weather on top can be colder and
windier than in town, and the tablecloth cloud can drop visibility to a few metres. The park's advice is simple:
hike in a group, start early in daylight, tell someone your route, stay on the busy main paths, and carry
water, food, a warm and a waterproof layer and a charged phone. Rangers and volunteer patrols cover the popular
routes, and there is a security hut at the bottom of Platteklip. Save the park's emergency number, 086 110 6417,
and Wilderness Search and Rescue, 021 937 0300, before you set off.
When to go
Cape Town has dry summers and wet winters. Spring, from September to November, brings the fynbos into flower;
autumn, from March to May, often has the calmest weather of the year. Summer is dry but hot on the north-facing
front, and the strong south-easter wind brings the tablecloth and stops the cableway on some days. In winter,
rain makes the rock slippery and the days short. Whatever the month, go early on a clear, calm morning.
Golden hour on the upper slopes, with pincushion proteas in flower.
On the top
At the Upper Cable Station there is a cafe, a restaurant, a shop and short walks along the edge: the Dassie
walk, the Agama walk with its all-round views, and the Klipspringer walk to the top of Platteklip Gorge. Look
for dassies, the rock hyraxes that bask on the boulders. Maclear's Beacon is about 5.5 km return across the
plateau, around two hours. Plan 1 to 2 hours on the top, or most of a morning if you walk to the beacon.
A dassie on the top, with the city bowl and Robben Island below.
Straight answers to what hikers ask most about Table Mountain.
How long does it take to hike up Table Mountain?
Most people take 2 to 3 hours to reach the top by Platteklip Gorge, the most direct route; fit hikers do it in about 1.5 to 2 hours. Skeleton Gorge from Kirstenbosch and India Venster take about 3 to 4 hours up. Walking down Platteklip takes 1.5 to 2 hours, or you ride the cableway down in a few minutes. Every route timed in how long the hike takes.
Is it possible to hike Table Mountain without a guide?
Yes. Platteklip Gorge starts on Tafelberg Road with no gate or ticket, and it is a built path of stone steps with no scrambling. It is busy, so you are rarely alone. Go in a group, start early and check the weather. A guide is worth it on the quieter routes, India Venster above all, and if you want someone to set the pace.
Is Table Mountain a hard climb?
It is a hike, not a climb, but a steep one: Platteklip Gorge gains about 650 to 700 m in under 3 km, almost all on stone steps. Anyone with average fitness can do it at their own pace. India Venster is the hard one, with exposed scrambles on metal staples and chains. More in how hard and how safe it is.
What is the easiest hike up Table Mountain?
Platteklip Gorge: the most direct and least technical route, on stone steps all the way, with no ladders or chains. It is steep rather than tricky. Skeleton Gorge is longer and has wooden ladders but is shaded by forest; Kasteelspoort climbs more gently from Camps Bay but is much longer.
What is the best Table Mountain hike?
For a first time, Platteklip Gorge up and the cableway down. For shade and waterfalls on a hot day, Skeleton Gorge from Kirstenbosch. For quiet trails and the Diving Board rock, Kasteelspoort. For a thrill with a guide, India Venster. Every route side by side in the routes compared.
Is hiking up Table Mountain safe?
Yes, with good preparation. Hike in a group (the park suggests four or more), start early in daylight, stay on the busy main routes, tell someone your plan and carry water, a warm layer and a charged phone. Rangers and volunteer patrols cover the popular trails. Save the park emergency number, 086 110 6417, before you set off.
Is it better to hike Table Mountain or Lion's Head?
They are different days out. Lion's Head (669 m) is shorter, 2 to 3 hours return, with a spiral path, a few chains near the top and the best sunrise and sunset views of the city. Table Mountain is higher, longer and steeper, with the cableway to ride down. Compared in Table Mountain or Lion's Head.
What is the best time to do Table Mountain?
Early morning, in spring (September to November) or autumn (March to May), on a clear, calm day. Summer is dry but hot on the north-facing front and windy; winter brings rain and slippery rock. Start by 7 or 8 am to beat the heat and the afternoon wind. Month by month in the best time to hike.
How much does it cost to go up Table Mountain?
Hiking up Platteklip Gorge needs no ticket: there is no gate on the trail. The cableway sells one-way and return tickets, so many hikers walk up and buy a one-way ride down; fares change with the season, so check the cableway website. A guided hike is a paid tour, and most exclude the cableway. More in the top and the cableway.
Is Table Mountain a 7 wonder of the world?
It is one of the New7Wonders of Nature, confirmed in 2012 after a global vote, alongside the Amazon, Ha Long Bay, Iguazu Falls, Jeju Island, Komodo and the Puerto Princesa Underground River. It is the only one in a city. It is not on the ancient Seven Wonders list or the New7Wonders of the World, which are separate lists.
What animal is on top of Table Mountain?
The dassie, or rock hyrax: a small furry animal often seen basking on the rocks near the Upper Cable Station, and a distant relative of the elephant. You may also see lizards, klipspringer antelope and birds of prey. Do not feed any animal on the mountain.
How long should I spend at Table Mountain?
Plan 1 to 2 hours on the top if you ride the cableway, for the short walks and the views. Allow half a day if you hike up and ride down, and add about 2 hours for the walk to Maclear's Beacon, the highest point.
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Early start, stone steps, the whole Cape below.
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Classic route
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