Platteklip Gorge

Know before you go

• The most direct route up Table Mountain — well-marked with signage.
• The gorge receives no afternoon shade in summer.
• Cable car descent available at the top if your legs are done.

If you need help

Highest incident rate on Table Mountain for heatstroke and exhaustion. Hikers consistently underestimate the unrelenting gradient. No flat sections — it is steep from start to summit.

Emergency exit

None. Once past the halfway mark, it is often faster and safer to push to the top than to descend.

The cableway closes in high wind and for annual maintenance — sometimes at short notice while you are on the mountain. When it is not running, the descent is on foot: Platteklip Gorge is the standard route down, about 2 hours from the upper station. Check that time against sunset before you commit to the summit. If dark is going to catch you on the mountain, call Wilderness Search and Rescue on 021 937 0300 before it does, not after.

Cell reception

Spotty. Drops halfway up.

Start point

Parking: Park on Tafelberg Road past the cableway. Limited spaces — fills early on weekends.

Elevation profile

Best time of year

Avoid December to March — the gorge becomes a heat trap with no shade.

Tell someone where you are going

Share your plan with a friend or family member before you set off.