GUNUNG · Afrika Selatan

Table Mountain

Table Mountain (Tafelberg / Huriǂoaxa)

Information

Elevation: 1.085 m
Country: Afrika Selatan (ZA)
Location / Range: Table Mountain National Park — Cape Peninsula
Mountain type: Flat-topped sandstone plateau (non-volcanic)
Volcanic?: No (non-volcanic)
Coordinates: -33.9622, 18.4135
Difficulty: Varies by route: Platteklip is steep but non-technical; India Venster is exposed scrambling
Best Season: Year-round; summer (Sep–Apr) is clear; beware strong winds and the 'tablecloth' fog
Permits & Rules: Free access for the main hiking trails in the national park; the cable car is paid; no special permit needed for hiking
Hazards: Rapid weather and fog changes, strong winds, exposure/fall risk on India Venster, dehydration, getting lost when fog rolls in

Description

Table Mountain is the iconic flat-topped mountain rising above Cape Town, South Africa, with its high point at Maclear's Beacon (1,085 m). Its distinctive table shape comes from hard Table Mountain Sandstone capping softer granite and rock beneath, eroded into a flat plateau often draped in the thin cloud locals call the 'tablecloth'. The mountain is the heart of Table Mountain National Park and part of the World Heritage-listed Cape Floral Region, famous for its extraordinarily diverse fynbos. Many visitors ride the rotating cable car, but the mountain also has a network of hiking trails: the direct, steep Platteklip Gorge, the scrambly and exposed India Venster, and the lush Skeleton Gorge from Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Weather can change dramatically, so preparation and route choice matter.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

India Venster

Sulit / scrambling terpapar (rantai & pijakan logam; untuk pendaki berpengalaman)

~3–3,5 jam (naik)

A scenic route from near the Lower Cable Station, about 3.7 km with ~700 m of gain. It requires scrambling on steep rock with chains and metal staples and high exposure over the city, Lion's Head and the Atlantic. Avoid when wet or windy.

Source

Kasteelspoort

Sedang–menantang (tanjakan berbatu mantap, tanpa scrambling terpapar)

~2,5–3 jam (naik)

Climbs from the Camps Bay side (near Theresa Avenue) up the Kasteelspoort valley to the western plateau. A solid rocky path, quieter than Platteklip, best known as the access to the 'Diving Board' — an iconic rock ledge over the cliff edge with the Twelve Apostles and Atlantic behind.

Source

Nursery Ravine

Sedang (curam, sebagian tangga, jalur berhutan teduh)

~2,5–3,5 jam (ke plato)

A shaded, forested route climbing from the Kirstenbosch/Cecilia area up Nursery Ravine to the reservoirs and back-table plateau. Cooler thanks to the canopy, it is often paired with Skeleton Gorge as an up-and-down loop.

Source

Platteklip Gorge

Berat tapi non-teknis (tanjakan berundak curam, tanpa scrambling)

~2–3 jam (naik)

The most popular and most direct route to the top. From Tafelberg Road the path climbs relentlessly up the 'flat rock' (platteklip) gorge toward the upper cable car station. Steep and tiring but needs no technical skill; very sun-exposed, so carry enough water.

Source

Skeleton Gorge

Sedang–menantang (curam, tangga, scramble batuan lewat ngarai berair)

~4–5 jam (ke stasiun atas)

The greenest route, starting in Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens through evergreen forest, creeks and mossy boulders, with ladders and a little scrambling in the gorge. Cooler and shadier, often combined with a plateau traverse to the upper cable station.

Source

Climbing Experiences

Table Mountain can be hiked by several trails of differing character. Platteklip Gorge is the most popular: direct, steep and non-technical, climbing straight to the top from Tafelberg Road in 2–3 hours. India Venster is shorter but a scramble with chains and metal staples and serious exposure — for experienced hikers only. Skeleton Gorge climbs from Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens through damp forest and ladders. Kasteelspoort climbs from the Camps Bay side to the iconic 'Diving Board' rock, Nursery Ravine gives a shaded forested route to the plateau reservoirs, and Kloof Corner is a short trail for sunrise views. The true high point, Maclear's Beacon (1,086 m), lies across the plateau from the upper cable station. The sources below include first-person vlogs of these varied routes plus written trail guides.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.