Hike up Table Mountain by Platteklip Gorge
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
Platteklip Gorge is the most direct way up Table Mountain, about 3 km of steady climbing from Tafelberg Road to the Upper Cableway Station high above Cape Town. South African National Parks puts it at an hour for the very fit and three hours for the less fit, and Lion's Head nearby is a shorter climb with a little scrambling.
ModerateUnder £100 / $130An afternoonOutdoorsWith othersSouth Africa
How to start
- Read Table Mountain National Park's hiking page and choose between Platteklip Gorge and the gentler routes it lists.
- Go in daylight in a group of four or more, and tell someone your route and when you expect to be back, as the park advises.
- Carry plenty of water, a hat, sunscreen and a warm windproof layer, and leave time to walk down in case the cableway shuts.
Where to go
- Table Mountain National Park (SANParks): hikes, walks and trails
- SANParks safety tips for Table Mountain hikers (May 2025)
We opened these links on 1 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. The hard part of a day out is the timing: the right season, tickets and getting there. The plan watches the calendar for you.
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