Table Mountain Walks

Cape Town - come here to hike!

February 2, 2012 – 4:03 pm

There are so many attractions in Cape Town that most people only have time for one day of hiking and even then usually just half a day.  The average length of stay in just 3-4 days - not enough!  Those lucky enough to have an extended visit will have the opportunity to explore much more of what Cape Town has to offer from a hiking perspective. The best locations to hike other than Table Mountain  are Silvermine Nature Reserve and Cape Point (the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. ) Having said this limited shaded walks are on offer in Silvermine and none in Cape Point.  Therefore rather stay with shorter walks and start early in the morning at this time of year.  In winter this doesnt apply but still precautions like hats and suncream are vital. You may prefer to do two walks up Table Mountain.  Then perhaps choose  one from ...

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Perfect Patagonia!

December 18, 2011 – 5:38 pm

I have now been back for three weeks - can hardly believe it.  I spent two weeks exploring this remote area of Argentinia and Chile.  First I headed for El Calafate and El Chalten and did the magnificent hike to Mount Fitzroy.  Climbing to the summit was not an option as this is one of the most technical climbs there is and looking at the vertical rock face left me in no doubt. Next I made a long bus journey to Puerto Natales, the gateway to hiking the world famous Torres del Paine National Park.    Here lies the well know 'W'.  The French Valley, Gray's glacier and the magnificent 'towers' themselves are the highlights of this  3-4 day trail.  The perfect panormas with snow covered peaks are breathtaking.  So to are the strong winds and biting cold - and this is summer!  However there was no rain, clear skies and ...

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What to take with you when hiking in Cape Town

October 6, 2011 – 10:20 am

Experienced hikers will already know the answer to this one but those who have not hiked before may be uncertain.  Of course much is to do with clothing and this depends on the time of year of your visit.  However conditions on Table Mountain vary so much at any time that you have to go prepared and also it helps to know the weather forecast for that day. Jeans are out as they are usually to tight fitting and certainly not good in hot condtions.  I have even know people to take them off! If it happens to rain jeans are not quick drying and uncomfortable.  Loose fitting clothing and layers are the best policy.  You dont need to buy expensive gear but you do need a sturdy pair of walking shoes (boots are not essential) and decent thicker socks.   Shorts or long pants - cant tell you for sure ...

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Book your walk early in your stay

August 31, 2011 – 4:13 pm

Some advise   - book your walk up Table Mountain at the beginning of your stay in Cape Town.  If the weather doesnt cooperate you hopefully will have an alternative day to go.  This I know isnt always the case for everyone and there is so much to do and see but it definitely works for some.  Especially in the wetter winter months but also sometimes in summer because of high winds hikes have to be postponed or cancelled.  This is disappointing but if you can reschedule then all is not lost and we go another day. Kasteelspoort is proving to be a very popular route and of course the dramatic photo on the rock is atttracting those wanting to impress their friends - or frighten their mothers! The three valleys en route to the Front Table make this a very varied route and there is another surprise photo for those who ...

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Cape Town experiences heat wave - as it was in China!

July 12, 2011 – 9:00 am

Just got back from China 10 days ago.  Very different and interesting but perhaps a little warm for hiking at times.  I did 6 days of hiking different sections the Great Wall.  Parts of it, the less frequented areas  are by far the best to hike while on the restored sections one feels like one of the many hundreds tourists who visit the Great Wall everyday.  It is certainly worth the effort and time to make sure you go to areas that are not overrun by the masses and those sections that are not rebuilt take one through some interesting countryside with great scenery and views depending on the visibility. I also visited Yangshue with its amazing karst topography. This area is a definite if you are planning a trip to China.  Exploring on bike is the best option and the steep climb up Moon Mountain on foot well worth the ...

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To China to hike the Great Wall

June 3, 2011 – 4:33 pm

Winter is definitely now upon us and it is holiday time for many people in the hospitality industry in the Cape. My chosen destination for this trip is China, with a week  hiking along  part of the Great Wall.  I am sure it will be a tremendous experience and I really look forward to it.  The culture will be very different and of course the scenery. I will spend a couple of days in Beijing - that will be enough to see the highlights.  I have also planned to do a day of biking around the hutongs (old sections of the city) and  suspect this will be the most interesting for me. You see the city as it was before modernisation and get a feel for life as it was. After Beijing I travel overland to Hong Kong with some interesting stops along the way, the Terracotta Warriors probably the  most famous.  ...

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Table Mountain - one of the New Sevens Wonders?

April 24, 2011 – 5:17 pm

Voting continues and later this year the winners will be announced.  Will Table Mountain be in the top seven?  I really dont know but surely it has to be in with a good chance.  Reading a review on Trip Advisor of their cableway experience the writer comments how little there is to be seen at the top - other than the view of course!  To those who cableway up and take a short stroll on the concrete paths this might seem to be the case.  However nothing could be further from the truth. The more adventurous will discover the delights of flora and fauna on Table Mountain.  Those really wanting to explore away from the crowds must head for the Back Table before ascending to the front flat plateau.  Here you encounter only a few fellow hikers  and sometimes none at all!  The fynbos is lush and more varied. rock formations ...

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Hot hiking on Table Mountain

March 18, 2011 – 5:14 pm

What will the weather be like on top of Table Mountain?  This is perhaps the most asked question but all I can reply is that I dont know!  The weather on the mountain is very variable at any time of year.  Many days in summer (as it has been recently) the temperatures are in the high 20s making it imperative to start early in the morning.  However even in summer the cloud and cold south east wind can make it preferable to have a warmer layer to put on like a fleece and sometimes also a wind/rain proof jacket. Best advise I can give is to come prepared.  In winter warmer clothing is a must with a decent rain jacket and gloves and hat also.  In summer often just a T shirt suffices but you cant count on these conditions so have at least one warmer layer to put on. Starting early ...

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Hike Table Mountain from west to east

January 22, 2011 – 5:17 pm

You may if you wish deviate from the routes specified on the website or ask for suggestions if you would like not a full day walk but something in between.  For example a good combination is to hike up Kasteelspoort on the western side of Table Mountain, cross the Back Table exploring Ash Valley and then head down on the eastern side, either Nursery Ravine or the easier descent through Cecilia Forest.  You will pass over the dam wall of Woodhead Reservoir and if you wish pay a visit to the Waterworks museum, which houses the old steam engine used to transport goods across the mountain in the late 1800s. This route might suit people who have already been on the Front Table and are looking to explore the quieter Back Table. Alternatively another 'add on' is to extend to Maclear's Beacon while hiking from the top of Kasteelspoort to the ...

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Hiking in Cape Town at Christmas

December 9, 2010 – 12:34 pm

One associates sun and heat with Cape Town during the festive season.  Does this make hiking up Table Mountain undesirable if not impossible - not at all!  However it does mean that it is imperative to start early on most days and perhaps to choose your route wisely. Platteklip Gorge offers very little shade unless you are a very early bird.  If the south easter is calm and therefore not functioning as the air con, it can be like a furnace in the middle of the day.  You are ill advised to hike this route after 8.00a.m. on most days.  Kasteelspoort on the Camps Bay side is a little more forgiving with shade provided by the mountain itself until 8.00a.m. to 8.30a.m.  This still means a start time of 7.00a.m. the best time to set off - if not a little earlier. Skeleton Gorge is one of the few routes with forest ...

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