The 11 Canyon Hikes in Cape Town That Earn Their Price

1.Table Mountain: Platteklip Gorge Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 48 reviews · 3 hours · from $93Our pick

Climb Table Mountain by the direct Platteklip Gorge route with a small group and an English-speaking guide such as Lynette, Nick, or Barry. Allow 2 to 3 hours for the strenuous ascent, then take the cableway down for views of Cape Town, Lion’s Head, Robben Island, and Devil’s Peak.

“Paula was fantastic, she really took pace into consideration and was very knowlegeable about the trail and the nature surrounding the trail”

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2.Platteklip Gorge Half-Day Hike on Table Mountain

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 37 reviews · from $80Top rated

You’ll climb Table Mountain by the direct Platteklip Gorge route with an experienced guide, capped at 10 people. Expect a steady, busy path, Cape Town and Table Bay views, central hotel pickup, water, and a snack. The cableway ride down costs extra.

“Well organised, collected direct from our hotel at the time agreed. Clear communication upfront.”

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3.Skeleton Gorge and Kirstenbosch Gardens Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 32 reviews · 3h 30m · from $93

Meet your English-speaking guide at Kirstenbosch and climb Skeleton Gorge through fynbos, shaded forest, ladders, and rocky stream beds. Guides such as Dohan, Tahir, Kieron, and Emily are praised for their plant, geology, and history knowledge. Allow 3.5 hours, or longer if your route is tailored.

“Un guide au top ! Compétent, calme et passionné par la nature. Il connaît chaque plante, chaque virage de Skeleton Gorge. Une vraie référence pour découvrir Table Mountain autrement.”

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4.3-Hour Table Mountain Hike via Platteklip Gorge

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 26 reviews · 4 hours · from $112

Climb Table Mountain’s original Platteklip Gorge route with an English-speaking guide and up to nine others. Expect steep stone steps, a rapid ascent, Cape Town and Table Bay views, and time at the summit. The cable car ride down costs extra and depends on weather and operation.

“No one showed up for this. I was standing alone in the dark on a quiet road. Tried contacting company by messaging and phoning and no response. Eventually after waiting 15min set off by myself. What a scam. Will expect a full refund, but suggest others steer clear.”

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5.Table Mountain Half Day Hike: Platteklip Gorge

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · from $95

Meet your guide at 6:30 am for a four-hour climb up Platteklip Gorge, Table Mountain’s fastest route. A group of 10 or fewer follows a steep zigzag trail with stops for photos, plants, wildlife, and local history. At the summit, explore the tabletop before taking the cable car down at your own cost.

“Fatima was an amazing guide. The hike was a little more difficult than we expected but she went at our pace with needed breaks. The view was spectacular and information she provided about the mountain was great.”

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6.Hiking Table Mountain at sunrise Platteklip Gorge Morning Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · from $92

Join guide Patrick or another registered hiking guide before dawn for a demanding Platteklip Gorge climb. You’ll follow the contour path, tackle steep rock steps, and reach Table Mountain for sunrise views. Headlamp, first aid, photos, and video are included, but the cable-car descent costs extra.

“Patrick was a fantastic guide, very patient and incredibly knowledgable about the wildlife and history of the area. I would recommend him to anyone interested in climbing Table Mountain. The hike itself is challenging (of course), we climbed up Read more”

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7.Skeleton Gorge Hike to Table Mountain Summit

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 5 hours · from $112

Join Dominic, Chai, or another local guide for a strenuous 5-hour climb from Kirstenbosch through Skeleton Gorge. Expect ladders, rocky sections, forest, fynbos, the historic dams, Maclear’s Beacon, and a long walk across Table Mountain to the upper cable station.

“This was one of the best hikes I have ever had! Dominic is very knowledgeable and he was super patient with me as I had to stop and take so many photos! What an absolutely beautiful hike. This is Cape Town at its best with definitely the best guide. I highly recommend the hike and Dominic!”

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8.Table Mountain: Skeleton Gorge Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 6 reviews · 5 hours · from $99

You’ll climb Skeleton Gorge from Kirstenbosch with a professional guide, using ladders and forest paths to reach Hely Hutchinson Dam. Allow 4 to 5 hours for about 8.4 km and 800 m of ascent, with time for a swim, snacks, views, and a technical descent through Nursery Ravine.

“Excellent visit with Tahir, who explained a lot of interesting details about the surroundings and made our experience even more memorable. The views are absolutely stunning. We really enjoyed the hike and highly recommend it !”

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9.Hiking Table Mountain sunrise via Platteklip Gorge Morning Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $90

Join guide Patrick or a registered local hiking guide for a small-group sunrise climb up Table Mountain’s steep Platteklip Gorge. You’ll gain 650 meters in under 3 kilometers, use a provided headlamp, reach the summit in about 3.5 hours, and ride the cable car down at your own cost.

“Esperienza bellissima. Appena arrivati Patrick ci ha consigliato un diverso percorso decisamente più divertente e panoramico di quello che avevamo scelto un po' alla cieca! È stato poi molto interessante perché ci ha raccontato tantissiRead more”

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10.Skeleton Gorge Hike up Table Mountain

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $79Best value

Start at Kirstenbosch with a local guide, then climb Skeleton Gorge through Afromontane forest, six wooden ladders, and rocky streambeds. Cross the Back Table, reach Maclear’s Beacon at 1,086 metres, and descend by cable car. Guide Justin is noted for his strong knowledge of Cape flora and fauna.

“Die Route wurde jedenfalls an diesem Tag kaum begangen so dass wir die Tour fast alleine für uns genießen konnten. Justin, unser Guide, hat uns mit seinem überragenden Wissen die einzigartige Vielfalt der Flora und Fauna der Tafelberg RRead more”

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11.Skeleton Gorge Hike on Table Mountain

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $108

Start in Kirstenbosch with a professional guide such as Cliff, climb Skeleton Gorge by ladders and forest paths, cross the tabletop to Maclear’s Beacon, and finish near the cableway with sweeping Cape Town views. Plan for 6.5km, 900m of ascent, and about 4.5 hours.

“I hiked up Skeleton Gorge with two friends as we really wanted to tick a hike up Table Mountain off our bucket list!”

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