Top 5 Most Challenging Hikes In Cape Town And Surrounds
Time to hike! The Cape Town hiking scene is thriving, thrilling and like nothing you’ve experienced before. There is no better way to explore all the scenic beauty, landscapes, mountain ranges, fauna and flora, and natural gems the Mother City has to offer than by going on the ultimate hiking adventure.
The Western Cape boasts an extensive and exciting variety of hiking trails, ranging from easy to expert, catering to all fitness and experience levels – This gives everyone the opportunity to join in on the Cape Town hiking fun.
If you’re an adventurous, daring, thrill-seeking hiker eager to take on some of the most challenging hikes in Cape Town – We’ve got you covered!
Here are the top 5 most challenging hikes in Cape Town and surrounds.
#1 Skeleton Gorge | Table Mountain
- Difficulty: High | Extremely challenging
- Fitness: Moderate – High
- Route Distance: +/- 3km (one way)
- Start Point: Lower Aerial Cableway Station | Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
- End Point: Upper Aerial Cableway Station | Maclear’s Beacon
- Average Time: Approximately 2 – 4 hours one way (depending on fitness)
- Elevation gain: 3,000 feet
- Pet-friendly: No
- Child-friendly: No
With a name like Skeleton Gorge, it’s a given that this Cape Town hiking trail isn’t going to be a cakewalk. Not even in the slightest. Despite its unique name striking fear into even the most avid hikers, the Skeleton Gorge hiking trail is long, steep, challenging, relentless, and commands a high level of fitness to conquer its summit.
However, despite all its challenges, the Skeleton Gorge hike is one of the most thrilling and adrenalin-inducing hiking trails in Cape Town. Its spectacular sweep-you-off-your-feet views – which you will be lucky enough to enjoy throughout your hike – along with a chance to take a dip in one of the most surreal reservoirs on earth, not only makes the Skeleton Gorge Table Mountain hiking trail one of the most exciting hikes in Cape Town, but more than worth the effort and hard hiking graft it takes to reach the top.
Photo credit: Flickr: Graeme Churchard
The hike starts in Cape Town’s stunning Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, which will cost R210 to enter (Standard Adult Fee | Click here to view the Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden’s Entry Fee for other individuals).
The Skeleton Gorge trail begins by taking you up Table Mountain’s Eastern slopes, which receive the most rainfall throughout the Cape Peninsula and therefore boast an extremely lush and diverse indigenous mountain forest landscape. It’s amazing forest-like start, picturesque scenery, and rich terrain has not only made Skeleton Gorge one of the most exhilarating trails, but one of the top hikes for avid nature enthusiasts from around the world.
As you’re surrounded by indigenous forests and shaded tress, the first half of your Skeleton Gorge hike will almost feel like you’ve escaped to some wildly untamed, yet equally magnificent and enchanting, far away jungle.
As its name suggests, you’ll spend the first hour or so of your hike scrambling up a gorge that follows a rocky stream with wooden ladders that will assist you with extra steep rock faces. This means you will need to do some intense climbing, serious rock scrambling, as well as overcome several rockfalls while making your ascent.
**Note: Footing and gripping can be extremely challenging during certain parts of your hike – It is crucial to wear proper hiking shoes and take extra precaution (depending on the hiking conditions and terrain).
Once you’ve cleared the forest, the terrain will become less steep in sections, and you’ll eventually be greeted with a sweeping view of the southern suburbs of Cape Town as well as the beautifully vibrant False Bay coastline before finishing off your climb / ascent with a series of upwards zig zags.
Once at the top, you have a choice to make! You can either opt to continue straight on your path, leading you directly to the Hely-Hutchinson Reservoir, or you can decide to head right onto Smuts Track – Its entirely up to you! However, we highly recommend making a detour and going to the reservoir – thanks to the Cape fynbos (indigenous South African plants) growing underwater, the Hely-Hutchinson Reservoir boasts an otherworldly reddish color and is a truly breathtaking spot and sight to see.
**Note: While its wildly tempting, you are not allowed to swim in the Hely-Hutchinson Reservoir.
After your visit / stop at the reservoir, rejoin Smuts Track, which will take you to the peak of Maclear’s Beacon, the highest point on Table Mountain. Take a moment to admire and soak in the unreal panoramic view – There is nothing quite like it! Once you’ve taken it all in, continue on the path for a short distance until you reach the Upper Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Station.
**Skeleton Gorge hidden gems & cool spots:
- Breakfast Rock
- The ‘beach’ at the reddish Hely-Hutchinson reservoir
- Streams, mountain Fynbos (which forms part of the Cape Floral Kingdom) & interesting rock formations
Click here to find out everything you need to know about the Skeleton Gorge Table Mountain hiking trail.
#2 Suicide Gorge | Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve
- Difficulty: High | Extremely challenging
- Fitness: High
- Start Point: Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve
- End Point: Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve
- Average time to the top: Approximately 9 hours (depending on fitness level)
- Approximate route distance: +/- 17km circular route
Did you know Suicide Gorge is regarded as one of South Africa’s most thrilling and adrenalin-inducing hiking trails?
If you’re the ultimate hiking adrenalin junkie, going on a thrilling Suicide Gorge hike in the incredible Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve is the perfect adventure for you.
Aptly named for its death-defying jumps from cliffs that range between 3 and 20 meters, Suicide Gorge definitely lives up to its hype. Deemed the ultimate (as well as the most daring, challenging, and hair-raising) bucket-list hikes in the Western Cape, especially among avid and expert hiking enthusiasts, the renowned Suicide Gorge is solely reserved for the brave, down-right adventurous, and blissfully fearless. Hiking Suicide Gorge should ONLY be attempted by highly experienced, resilient, hardy, and vastly skilled hikers – No exceptions!
Often described as more of a daring combination of kloofing and swimming than a hike, the demanding trail involves extremely daunting leaps off cliffs into deep pools, intense climbing, serious rock scrambling, and challenging swims through mountain streams and canyons surrounded by waterfalls.
Most of Suicide Gorge’s trail involves compulsory leaps and jumps which are between 7 – 8 meters, with the highest jump being a pulse-racing 14 meters high. As certain (or rather most) leaps down waterfalls cannot be avoided when hiking and scaling Suicide Gorge, it is important that you are not in the least bit afraid of heights and that you are willing to swim in ice cold water when needed.
Remember, once you’re in, you’re in, that’s it! The only way to get out of this section of the Riviersonderend Mountains is through several gravity-defying jumps and grueling scrambles. Considering the vastly challenging and formidable nature of this wildly intense Cape Town hiking trail, any and all hikers eager to conquer Suicide Gorge MUST be extremely fit, highly experienced & skilled, great under pressure & able to deal with intense situations, be in good health, and possess a bold, brave, thrill-seeking, and adventurous spirit ready to take on any challenge. Especially one as demanding and daunting as summiting Suicide Gorge.
Click here to find out everything you need to know about the Suicide Gorge hiking trail.
#3 India Venster Hiking Trail | Table Mountain
- Difficulty: High
- Fitness level required: Moderate – high
- Start point: Lower Aerial Cableway Station
- End point: Upper Aerial Cableway Station
- Approximate route distance: +/- 2.9km
- Average time to the top: Approximately 2 – 4 hours one way (depending on fitness level)
- Elevation gain: 747 meters
- Child-friendly: No
- Pet-friendly: No
India Venster is not only one of Table Mountain’s most popular hiking trails, but one of its most challenging too.
The difficulty of the India Venster Table Mountain hike boils down to its grueling and daring rock scrambles. While you don’t scramble all the way to the summit, a substantial portion of the hike demands serious scrambling over rock faces and intense climbing.
While rock scrambling is deemed a real adrenalin rush for adventure enthusiasts and experienced thrill-seeking hikers, it can also be incredibly tiring and tricky to navigate. Scrambling over sheer rock faces is not to be underestimated. Hikers require a top-notch fitness level and great upper body strength (overall strength and power is also essential) to successfully scramble and climb their way to the summit.
In addition to the challenging rock scrambles and climbs, the route includes several daunting ledges and daring cliffs. You will be required to wedge your way onto the ledges and up the cliffs without any hesitation or doubt. As India Venster has a steep elevation gain of 747 meters, it is not the right Table Mountain hiking trail for those with a fear of heights.
Due to its daunting and demanding nature, India Venster should ONLY be attempted by highly experienced, resilient, hardy, and vastly skilled hikers – No exceptions!
Click here to find out everything you need to know about the India Venster hiking trail.
#4 Nursery Ravine | Table Mountain
- Difficulty: High | Moderate
- Fitness level required: Moderate – high level of fitness required
- Start point: Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens | Cecilia Forest (a little further along Rhodes Drive)
- End point: Upper Cableway Station
- Average time to the top: Approximately 3 – 4 hours (depending on your fitness and experience level)
- Approximate route distance: +/- 3km
Photo credit: Flickr: mallix
While Nursery Ravine is regarded as one of Table Mountain’s most beautiful hiking trails, it is also one of its most challenging routes and is not to be underestimated. The Nursery Ravine trail is located on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, directly above Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
Photo credit: Flickr: Vaughn
Much like Skeleton Gorge, the Nursery Ravine hiking trail boasts two starting points. You can either choose to start your hike from Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens (you will need to pay an entry fee) or from Cecilia Forest, located a little further along Rhodes Drive, along the contour path. If you choose to start your hike from Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, you can get directions at the entrance point, guiding you to the start of your hike.
Click here to find out everything you need to know about the Nursery Ravine Table Mountain hiking trail.
#5 Devil’s Peak | Table Mountain
- Difficulty: High
- Fitness: Moderate – high level of fitness required
- Start point: Tafelberg Road / Rhodes Memorial / Newlands Forest
- End point: Tafelberg Road / Rhodes Memorial / Newlands Forest
- Average time to the top: Approximately 3 – 4 hours (depending on your fitness & experience level)
- Approximate route distance: +/- 5km
- Child-friendly: No
- Pet-friendly: Yes. However, Table Mountain National Park is under the jurisdiction of SANParks. This requires that dog-walkers have a Level 1 My Activity Permit (R305 per year).
There are three main routes heading up to the top of Devil’s Peak:
- Tafelberg Road Route on the city side: This is considered the easiest route and is best suited to beginners and less experienced hikers. It is a well-marked route which starts at the end of Tafelberg road about 2 km passed the lower cable station.
- The Mowbray Ridge route which starts at Rhodes Memorial: This route is considered a more challenging ascent to its counterparts.
- Newlands Ravine from Newlands Forest: Challenging route, but well shaded from the blazing sun.
While its name may strike fear into even the bravest of souls, the infamous Devil’s Peak Table Mountain hike is undoubtedly one of Cape Town’s top hiking trails for avid, experienced, and thrill-seeking hikers from around the world. As its regarded as one of Table Mountain’s more grueling and challenging hiking trails, it should only be attempted by fit and highly experienced hikers.
Click here to find out everything you need to know about the Devil’s Peak Table Mountain hiking trail.
#6 Tranquility Cracks Hiking Trail | Table Mountain
- Difficulty: Moderate level of difficulty
- Fitness level required: Moderate level of fitness required
- Start point: Start at the Pipe Track above Camps Bay | The start point can either be accessed from the Theresa avenue trail in Camps Bay or the one at the base of Tafelberg Road.
- End Point: Tranquillity Cracks | Top of Table Mountain
- Average time to the top: 2 – 3 hours (one way)
- Elevation gain: 2624 feet
- Need to know: SANParks does not recommend attempting this trail in cloudy or misty weather, as it becomes more difficult to find your way in such conditions. When embarking on your Tranquillity Cracks Table Mountain hiking adventure DO NOT HIKE UP SLANGOLIE RAVINE! The route has been officially closed by SANPARKS due to rockfalls which have deemed it extremely unsafe.
#7 Kasteelpoort Hiking Trail | Table Mountain
- Difficulty: Moderate – high level of difficulty
- Fitness level required: Moderate – high level of fitness required
- Start point: Top of Theresa Avenue, Camps Bay / Top of Kloof Nek Road
- End point: Top of Table Mountain / The Woodhead and Helly-Hutchinson Reservoirs
- Average time to the top: Approximately 3 – 4 hours (depending on your fitness & experience level)
- Child-friendly: This trail is not recommended for children or novice hikers, as rock-scrambling can be quite challenging at certain points.
- Pet-friendly: No
Click here to find out everything you need to know about the Kasteelpoort Table Mountain hiking trail.
