Walking up Table Mountain, Cape Town – A Caution
February 3, 2013 by Helen
Filed under Travel information
To climb or not to climb. That is the question. After being there and looking at the terrain of Table Mountain, this active senior knows the only answer for me is…take the cable car/tram. (Officially its name is Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Co.)
It is my opinion that most travel reviews do not point out what a strenuous and potentially dangerous option hiking Table Mountain is. Almost as an afterthought many articles about tourism in South Africa say something like “It is also possible to walk up to the top.” Unless one is in very good physical condition, is used to hiking in rocky, mountainous terrain and has come equipped with proper footware, clothing for quickly changing weather conditions and drinking water… use the cable car. No matter what age you are, I can not stress it enough. Do your research before attempting.
Look at the photo carefully. The first part of the climb is quite doable for families and seniors who are physically fit. One starts out on a long, gradual (but steep for me!) incline over grassy terrain interspersed with large boulders. Then one comes to a little barrier and a sign cautioning one to seriously consider whether to continue or return to the cable station level (that’s my wording, not the sign’s).
Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa
After this the topography quickly changes to rock pillars, steep inclines and narrow ledges. Wind conditions that change rapidly would be a concern. So would cloud cover that rapidly, perhaps unexpectedly, moves in. And I definitely would not want to be caught on the trail when darkness sets in. Locals told us that tourists have had to be rescued from the trail – sometimes from a fall, sometimes because of weather, sometimes because they underestimated how long the trek would take and darkness set in.
Having said all that, if you are physically fit and experienced in such climbs (like the majority of South Africans we met seemed to be) , the trail up Table Mountain did look quite spectacular when we viewed it from the comfort of the cable car.
Yes, there is a trail but do your research.
Just one person’s opinion.
Aerial Cableway, Cape Town
