Table Mountain Walks

Bound for Borneo!

March 3, 2010 – 12:00 pm

Well not yet but next month I am heading for Borneo for a 2 week holiday to explore this unique island paradise.   For anyone wanting to book hikes during this period (21 April to 8 May) dont worry Kim will be available to guide you.  She will also assist with email enquiries  as I will be away from the internet for I think up to four or five days at a time.  I am really looking forward to this trip.  For the last three years I have headed  for South America which was great but it will be interesting to see part of another continent with different culture and scenery. My plan is first to climb Mount Kinabalu which I think is around 4000 metres.  I am also going to  attempt the via ferrata on the mountain which is similar to the one they have in the Dolomites but not ...

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Well done Tony and Bernard!

February 7, 2010 – 10:59 am

Most people find hiking up Table Mountain a challenge but if you happen to be blind then it is hard to imagine just how more difficult it must be.  On 22 January Tony accompanied by his helper hiked not only to the top of Table Mountain but did the longer and more difficult route to navigate  - Skeleton Gorge.  This route has a number of ladders and also a scrambling section which requires a level of agility and coordination.  Quite how he managed with no obvious difficulty I do not know.  Listening to guidance from Wendy and maybe confused by some from me he defied my expectations and completed the hike to the cableway in 4hrs and 45 mins, a very respectable time for anyone!  Tony also windsurfs and sails and travels extensively.  He is surely an inspiration and especially one to those thinking of tackling this route. On February 4th ...

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Children hiking up Table Mountain

January 12, 2010 – 4:17 pm

Over the years I have hiked with many children up Table Mountain but the question is at what age should children attempt this?  As a general guide line I say about 9 years old.  I have walked with a couple of children a little younger than this but you are really asking a lot of them and if they dont enjoy it you may put them off hiking forever. Platteklip Gorge is the shortest route and a safe one up the front of Table Mountain.  Skeleton Gorge is more fun for children because of the rock scrambling and ladders but time and distance wise it is twice as long so for younger children with less stamina it might not be suitable. I have seen tourists but more often locals hauling children barely able to walk up the mountain.  I consider this foolish and not fair on the children who have no choice ...

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Trip Advisor Rating

December 13, 2009 – 5:07 pm

Having only been posted a couple of months ago Table Mountain Walks is currently rated number 6 on Things to do in Cape Town.  Thanks to some generous clients who kindly took the time to write a review, we have climbed up the ladder from nowhere to the top ten.  Many thanks to those folk who contributed.  If you are interested in having a look check out the Trip Advisor website and look under Cape Town and then under the heading I mentioned. I actually use this website myself before planning a trip and find it very useful.  I also now and again look at questions on the travel forum and answer those that I can.  I do recommend it for both accommodation, tours and if you have specific questions. If  you do making booking for a walk up Table Mountain with us and if you do enjoy it and hopefully have ...

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Better weather on Table Mountain

November 17, 2009 – 3:47 pm

Well last week was one of the wettest ever recorded in November and Table Mountain was not spared.  However the unseasonal rain brought the waterfalls on the mountain back to life giving us some spectacular sights not expected at this time of year. Those who walked with me on 9th November had a great view of Cecilia Waterfall and also a couple of not so easy crossings across fast flowing streams.  I managed to get some got shots which I hope to post on the site shortly in the new gallery section. On a few ocassions after very heavy rain Skeleton Gorge may not be passable.  This seldom happens but one needs to know when to anticipate this as getting half way up and having to turn back may be somewhat disheartening!  Otherwise there are only advantages to the rainfall so long as you see the results rather than experience it for ...

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Beware of bogus guides!

October 27, 2009 – 5:33 pm

Just a warning for anyone who is booking a guided walk up Table Mountain.  There are unfortunately guides presently operating who are not qualified to guide on Table Mountain and not registered with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism that is a requirement by law. As you the client are paying your hard earned money for this service make sure for your own safety that your guide is properly qualified and registered.  You can do this by contacting the registrar at -   registrar@pgwc.gov.za Unfortunately it is also the case that non specialised operators are using cultural guides to lead hikes on Table Mountain.  This from your point of view is not acceptable and also not safe.  At the moment there is in my opinion a total lack of control of guides on Table Mountain and it is turning into a bit of a free for all.  So make sure you ...

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Hiking at Cape Point

October 6, 2009 – 12:30 pm

Last Friday (2 October) we had a most enjoyable day of hiking in the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve (also know as Cape Point).  Two American clients and I headed to the reserve early in the morning and were almost the second people to enter the control gate.  Great  - Cape Point to ourselves! We first made our way upwards to the lighthouse in blustery conditions admiring the ocean views and rough seas.  No whales obliged with an appearance but one's thoughts do drift back to past times and the voyages of Diaz and da Gama as they rounded this world renowned promontory. Returning to the car park we next headed off to the Cape of Good Hope and along the amazing cliff path with specacular views of surf and sea and the dramatic Dias beach.   We were lucky to spot a lone dassie who was soon startled by a ...

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A wet week in Cape Town

September 7, 2009 – 6:53 pm

Hopefully if you are coming to Cape Town and want to walk Table Mountain you will be able to schedule for later this week (7th - 13th September).  The next few days we are looking at wet and windy weather although the forecasters have been know on occasion to get it wrong!  September is often a strange month when one expects the weather to improve but if last year was anything to go by I think it was one of the wettest months on record. Last week there were only three decent hiking days and this week its looking much the same.  So that's why you need to plan at least five days in the city so as to be sure to get lucky on at least one of those days.  Of course those hardy folk may be inclined to go whatever but Table Mountain in these  conditions is a most ...

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Website undergoing some changes

August 18, 2009 – 9:12 am

Change is often a good thing so please bear with us while the website is being redesigned. We are not planning anything too radical,  just some new pictures and some changes to the layout.  The site is still fully functional so you can still make a booking or enquiry.  If you have any suggestions please email me  - client input is always appreciated!

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Remember when booking ……..

August 11, 2009 – 12:11 pm

When booking a walk bear in mind that at any time of year the weather in Cape Town is changeable.  Therefore we recommend that you book your walk on the first or second day of your stay.  It may then be possible to reschedule if the weather is unfavourable on the day of your original booking.  If you book your hike on the last day you wont have another option.  Of course if you have booked other tours it might not be possible to change things around but then again it might particularly if it is a scheduled tour. Of course the above advice is particularly applicable in winter but even in summer our weather is variable and the wind is more of a factor.  Along with the south east wind, which blows strongly in the summer months, is the Table Cloth - the cloud cover on Table Mountain.  While this ...

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