Hiking Table Mountain

There are so many hiking and walking trails close to Cape Town, and thousands of locals, both young and old, use the mountain and all its facilities on a regular basis.

You can try a new trail up to Table Mountain every day, and each one has breath taking views, fields of fynbos and remarkable rock formations.

Table Mountain and the area around the mountain has been managed by the South African National Parks Board and they have created a wilderness area that stretches from the mountain all the way to Cape Point.

Restoration to its former glory

The authorities have gone to great lengths to restore the area to its former glory and together with funding from the European Union they regularly clear alien vegetation, plant indigenous trees like yellowwood, stink wood and Cape Beech and have re-stocked the park with indigenous species like Klipspringer.

Hoerikwaggo Trails

There are overnight trails with stop overs at beautiful stone cottages, A-frame wooden huts and historical dwellings have been created, and the well-informed guides tell vivid stories of the ‘Hoerikwaggo’ - Khoi’san for the "Mountain in the Sea" - and all its colourful inhabitants.

It is important that you take the following precautions before setting out on a hike, as there are many dangers when going on a hike or climb up Table Mountain:

Safety Precautions

• Make sure you have a map of the area, you inform someone of your planned route and you stick to it
• Do not hike alone
• Take at least 2 litres of water with you. Although there are mountain streams they do dry up in the height of summer
• Ensure you have warm clothing, the Cape weather is notorious for its variation
• Do not attempt to reach the top if there is any cloud or mist, the mountain often gets covered in thick cloud later in the day, so start your hike as early as possible.