Table Mountain Cape Town: Hike & Cable Car Down

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/8

Duration3h 30m

GroupUp to 20

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Two Ways to the Top of Table Mountain, One Cable Car Down

You choose between a technical scramble (India Venster, 3.5 hours) or a stepped staircase (Platteklip Gorge, 2.5 hours) to reach the summit of Table Mountain, then descend by rotating cable car. National park entry and guide are included; bring water and proper hiking shoes, and expect sustained steep terrain that demands moderate fitness.

3h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Hike Table Mountain and descend

Choose hiking route: India Venster or Platteklip Gorge
Hike steep uphill rocky terrain to summit
Enjoy views from Table Mountain top
Take cable car down if open
Hike down Platteklip Gorge if cable car closed

The Experience

Table Mountain rises 1,086 meters above Cape Town, and you pick how to get there. India Venster is the route for people who want scrambling, uneven rock, and fewer hikers ahead of you—it takes around 3.5 hours and feels less like a staircase and more like a climb. Platteklip Gorge is the other choice: hundreds of big rock steps stacked all the way up, more direct, more crowded, done in about 2.5 hours. Both are steep. Both are rocky. Both require a few hours of uphill work on terrain that does not forgive a wrong step.

The hike itself ends at the summit, where the cable car takes over. You ride down in a rotating cabin—the whole thing turns as it descends, so you see the city from every angle without moving. If weather or maintenance closes the cable car, you walk back down the direct route instead. National park fees are included in the price, so there is no separate ticket to buy at the gate. The guide meets you at the start, confirms which route you chose at booking, and sets the pace. No previous hiking experience is required, but moderate fitness is not optional—this is steep, rocky, sustained uphill work for hours, and the altitude adds to it.

Bring 1.5 liters of water, wear proper hiking shoes, and dress for weather that can change fast on the mountain. The hike runs in most conditions, but if the day turns bad enough to cancel, you get an alternative date or a full refund. Children can come if an adult is with them (minimum age is 8), and the mountain does not care if you are nervous about heights—you will feel them on the way up.

What’s included

Your day includes a guide, national park entry fees, and the cable car descent from the summit.
You choose your route at booking—either India Venster (technical, 3.5 hours) or Platteklip Gorge (direct, 2.5 hours).
Cable car tickets are not included separately; they are part of the package.
Private transport by vehicle can be added for an extra fee.
You are responsible for bringing water (at least 1.5 liters), wearing proper hiking shoes, and dressing for mountain weather.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by The Cape Town Local

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to summit Table Mountain without arranging your own route, timing, or park entry—the guide handles the logistics and pacing, and the cable car means you do not have to descend what you just climbed.