Put your feet on the Table
THE CLASSIC THREE
Platteklip Gorge
Don’t let the name fool you – this climb is anything but plat (flat). Although it’s the safest route to the top of Table Mountain – straight up the northern face – many hikers have run into trouble, usually because of the lack of shade. Hike early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the sun.
The first 300 m section ascends through fynbos along a stream, to a junction with the contour path. Follow the contour path to the left for about 100 m, to where the Platteklip Trail goes up on the right. From here, the zigzag route to the top is clearly visible.
There is no shade for the next 500 m. Don’t rest in the sun – rather push through to the rock face a few hundred metres further. The final section is straight up the gorge, but the cliffs cast a cool shadow. In winter there are usually streams of water running down the rock faces.
Where? The trailhead is on Tafelberg Road, 1,5 km past the Lower Cable Station. Look for a parking area next to the road.
Kasteelspoort
This is the quieter, more handsome cousin of Platteklip, and it gives you access to a lesser-known part of the mountain and awesome views of the Atlantic Seaboard from Camps Bay to Bakoven.
A popular route to the trailhead involves a 3 km stroll along the Pipe Track (see page 37), which is fairly level. If you want to head straight to Kasteelspoort, park in Theresa Avenue in Bakoven and follow the sign up the concrete road. Kasteels itself is steep but fairly simple, with only a few sections of scrambling.
About a kilometre from where you start the climb, there’s a big, flat boulder known as Breakfast Rock where you can have a snack and take photos of Lion’s Head. Follow the path through the gorge to the top, where you have many options: If it’s not too windy, pose for a photo on the Diving Board (pictured above); or go past the dams, through Echo Valley and along Smuts Track to the top of Platteklip Gorge – the track is named after Jan Smuts who regularly hiked up Table Mountain, into his 70s. Or, if you have a permit to enter Orange Kloof on the Back Table, turn right at Woodhead Dam and walk to Constantia Nek via Disa Gorge.
Where? Leave your vehicle at the Glen parking area at the top of Kloof Nek Road if you want to include the Pipe Track. Or park in Theresa Avenue in Bakoven for a shorter route. (This is also
