Table Mountain Walk (Platteklip Gorge) — 2–3 hrs One-Way, Local Guide & Snacks

Cape Town•challenging

Difficulty

challenging

Duration

2–3 hours (one-way)

Fitness Level

Good cardiovascular fitness and strong legs; comfortable with sustained uphill hiking and short scrambling sections

Overview

Climb Table Mountain via Platteklip Gorge with a local guide and snacks included. This 2–3 hour one-way route is steep, exposed and immensely rewarding—expect 600–700 m of elevation gain and sweeping views of Cape Town from a quartzite summit.

Table Mountain Walk (Platteklip Gorge) — 2–3 hrs One-Way, Local Guide & Snacks

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Select participants and date

Date

Thu, Nov 6

Travelers

The city slips away beneath you the way a map folds: streets compress into a toy grid and the harbor becomes a pinprick. You start before most tourists wake, moving through fynbos-scented air as Cape Town’s low cloud— the famous "tablecloth"—spills and retreats across the summit. The route most guides use is Platteklip Gorge, a direct, unrelenting ascent of exposed sandstone steps that forces a steady, breath-measured rhythm. Local guides lead the way, offering route history, geology tips and steady encouragement, and the promise of snacks at the top is small comfort against the burn in your thighs—but it’s an earned one.

Adventure Tips

Start before the tablecloth arrives

Begin early—clouds and wind can roll in by late morning and spoil summit views; earlier means cooler, clearer conditions.

Bring 2+ liters of water

The ascent is steep and exposed; carry enough water and sip frequently to avoid cramping and fatigue.

Wear grippy, broken-in footwear

Stone slabs and steps are uneven and can be slippery when wet—sturdy trail shoes with good tread are a must.

Plan your descent ahead

This tour excludes cable car tickets—if you want a one-way hike with cable descent, book the cable car separately and check operating hours.

Local Insights

Wildlife

Rock hyrax (dassie)
Cape sugarbird

History

Table Mountain is a geologic landmark of quartzitic sandstone hundreds of millions of years old and has long been an important site for indigenous Khoikhoi communities and later sailors navigating the Cape.

Conservation

The mountain’s fynbos biome is fire-adapted but fragile—stay on trails, pack out trash, and avoid disturbing plant life to protect this UNESCO-important environment.