CAPE TOWN HIKING: FROM TABLE MOUNTAIN TO CAPE POINT
Visitors to Cape Town have long marvelled at the sight of Table Mountain looming over the city but that’s just the start of it. Starting at the famous flat-top, a chain of craggy mountains runs down the entire length of the Cape Peninsula, ending only at Cape Point where the Indian and Atlantic oceans collide in an icy embrace. The Cape Town hiking routes allow you to explore the best of the Cape Peninsula.
Hiking trails criss-cross the peninsula and include the most iconic destinations: Table Mountain of course, but also Lion’s Head, Cape Point and – beyond Cape Town – the Cape Winelands and Whale Route. Different kinds of hikes too: half-day and full-day hiking; easy, moderate or challenging hikes; and walks focussed on wildlife or bird watching.
Do you need a guide? It depends on how much you want to see and learn. Some Cape Town hiking routes are easy to find and experience without a guide but others are not, and a guided hike includes all the details – food, extra water, and the equipment needed if there is a problem. Transport is included for smaller groups of hikers or you can meet your guide at the start of the trail. And with a guide to show you the way, not only can you safely access wilder, less visited areas of the mountain chain but you will come away with a far better understanding of the landscape and its history.
The Fynbos Guy is Dominic Chadbon, a registered mountain hiking guide and nature guide. He is licensed to conduct day and overnight hikes on Table Mountain and throughout the Western Cape, including Cape Point, Hermanus and the Whale Coast, the Cape Winelands and the Cederberg mountains. His work ranges from half-day nature rambles to multi-day camping adventures. Besides the mountain environment, Dominic also leads bird-watching trips for both casual birders and serious ones.
CAPE TOWN GUIDED HIKING – WHERE CAN I GO & WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT?
Table Mountain Half-Day Hiking
If you want the classic views from the Table Top and a cable car descent then there are two choices: a straight-forward walk up a giant staircase – Platteklip Gorge – or a more adventurous route – India Venster – that is steeper in parts and requires a bit of ‘scrambling’. This is using your upper body strength to clamber up and over big boulders (but not climbing). Both routes summit at the same place near the cable car and the views are magnificent. Platteklip Gorge takes between 2.5 and 3.5 hours; India Venster about 4 hours – add on another hour for the time at the top and the cable car down. Both routes face north: start early to beat the heat.
Table Mountain Full-Day Hiking
Table Mountain is bigger than you think: move away from the Table Top and a new world of forests, lakes and waterfalls opens up. Full-day hikes are usually set in areas away from the cable car area but you certainly won’t miss out on anything: you’ll enjoy a picnic lunch – perhaps on a white-sand beach – plus wonderful fynbos vegetation and massive views that most people don’t get to see. We’ll have to walk down but it’ll be an easier way than going up. Expect between 7 and 9 hours for the day.
Lions Head
One of the most popular hiking destination in Cape Town, Lion’s Head is a great package. It has especially good flora, a broad sweep of history in front of it, and the views are staggering all the way up to the top. It’s a walk up and down, easy to start with but the last section is steep and you’ll need to use your hands for balance and helping yourself up over boulders. You don’t need to go to the top for stunning views. It’s a shorter walk than up Table Mountain – a round trip is about 3 to 4 hours – and a good alternative when the cable car is closed. A popular sunset hike too, especially in summer.
GOOD HOPE RESERVE & CAPE POINT
There is a short, hour-long trail between Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope (the two headlands at the very end of the peninsula) but the best hiking in the Good Hope Reserve is on either of the coastlines. The Atlantic coast has the Shipwreck Trail, easy walking along wild, storm-tossed beaches with animals to spot and rare plants to find – from 3 to 5 hours. The Indian Ocean coast is home to what must be the world’s most scenic day hike, taking in mountains and beaches and – in season – chances to see whales while hiking. There’s the big 8-hour hike to Cape Point itself or you can finish after lunch at the impossibly beautiful Buffels Bay – bring your swimming costume.
CAPE WINELANDS
Combine fine food and wine with some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the Western Cape: Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are famous for their wine and both have easy access to mountain reserves with a wide range of trails. Half-day hikes out here tend to take the better part of the morning while the full-day hikes are what they say: you’ll be hiking for 8 hours or more. The trails aren’t as steep as going up and down Table Mountain but the scale is bigger – and so are the views.
WHALE COAST
If you’re hoping to see whales during season then you’re probably looking at visiting Hermanus or Betty’s Bay, an hour’s drive or so from Cape Town. They are indeed great for whale spotting but you’ll also find the area has excellent mountain reserves complete with hiking trails. Fernkloof Reserve in Hermanus is especially good and offers half and full-day hikes; the Kogelberg Biosphere sits near Betty’s Bay and has the same offering, putting you at the heart of the Cape’s floral diversity and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
