Table Mountain PLATTEKLIP GORGE Private Hike

Tour Pricing

📌 Note: Rates scale dynamically based on the total number of participants in your party. Please ensure you select the correct transport preference (Self-Drive vs. Transport Included) at checkout to match your itinerary needs.

Essential Details

🚨 NOTICE: Please be advised that the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway will be closed for its annual scheduled maintenance from 27 July till 9 August 2026.
To ensure our guests have an enjoyable experience without the physical strain of a strenuous hike back down the steep face of Table Mountain, we will be adjusting our itinerary. During these dates, we will exclusively offer guided hikes up Lion’s Head only.

Experience Overview

Take on the challenging yet deeply rewarding climb up Table Mountain via the historic Platteklip Gorge. This is quite a strenuous hike up the mountain's front face, offering spectacular views overlooking the City Centre, Table Bay, and Robben Island. Hiking Platteklip Gorge is arguably the best way to earn and truly appreciate the views from the summit.

We begin by winding our way up the mountain's central gorge, pausing regularly to take in the amazing scenery. As we ascend, you'll observe beautiful and unique Fynbos vegetation along the way. The trail is a steep climb up the front face of the mountain, primarily consisting of a series of large, natural rock steps that zig-zag up a prominent ravine or gorge. The lower sections offer expansive, breath-taking views of Cape Town, the City Bowl, Table Bay, and Devil's Peak. As you climb higher into the gorge, the imposing sheer cliffs of Table Mountain sandstone dramatically close in, providing shade and a sense of grandeur, though restricting the wide panoramic views until you reach the summit.

Once we reach the top, we'll spend time ambling across the magnificent plateau, soaking up the breathtaking summit views. For a comfortable finish, we descend using the Cableway.

To avoid the intense heat, please note that there is limited shade on the route during the climb, so we typically prefer to start the hike earlier in the morning.

Inclusions & Exclusions

• ✅ What’s Included: Round-trip transport if transported option was paid for (hotel pickup & drop off), a fully qualified professional mountain guide, a basic trail snack (1x chocolate bar) and baseline refreshments (1x 500ml bottle of water) per person.
• ❎ What’s Excluded: Round-trip transport if self-drive option was chosen (hotel pickup & drop off), cableway ticket (for the descent), extra snacks & refreshments, all items of a personal nature.

What to Wear & Bring

• Footwear: Proper walking or hiking shoes with excellent grip are essential. Smooth-soled shoes or sandals are highly dangerous on the steep granite paths.
• Clothing: Comfortable, flexible athletic clothing. Always bring a warm jacket, windbreaker, or rain shell, as the weather at the peak can change rapidly and drop in temperature, even in the summer.
• Sun Protection: High-SPF sunblock and a hat are crucial due to sun exposure along the ridge.
• Supplies: It is advised to pack extra snacks and supplementary water (at least 2–3 liters per person) to stay energized and hydrated.

Sun Exposure & Optimal Start Times

• The Platteklip Gorge route receives direct sunlight most of the day.
• It is best hiked early in the morning in the hot summer months to avoid the heat.

Descent & Weather Contingency

• Descent: The hike finishes at the summit, just minutes from the Upper Cable Car Station. We will take the cable car down (at your own expense) after reaching the top.
• Weather Warning: Please be advised that if the cable car closes due to adverse weather conditions (e.g. strong winds), you would be required to hike back down again. Please account for additional time in your schedule in case this happens.

📌 Please be advised that Cape Xtreme reserves the right to change/shift the hike to an alternative hike or route in the event of unfavourable and/or poor weather. The safety of guests and guides is our number one priority. Should there be any changes related to the above, you will be notified as soon as possible - sometimes only the day before your trip after final weather checks, or in rare occasions, the day of your trip in case of unforeseen weather changes overnight.

Safety Rules & Participant Requirements

Platteklip Gorge is the fastest route up Table Mountain, but it is steep and requires preparation.

• Difficulty: Moderate (strenuous). The trail is extremely well-defined, but it is entirely a staircase, which can strain calves and knees.
• Physical Fitness Profile: A moderate to strenuous difficulty rating requires an average to good fit physical level. It is a constant, steep uphill climb with very few flat sections to catch your breath. You should have reasonable cardiovascular fitness and be able to climb several flights of stairs comfortably.
• Terrain: Platteklip Gorge is relentlessly steep, non-technical ascent up Table Mountain's front face. Often described as nature’s stair-master, it features a meticulously defined, stone-stepped path. You will navigate endless natural rock steps and steep zig-zag switchbacks without requiring any climbing or scrambling.
• Minimum Age: Participants must be at least 10-12 years old.
  The recommended absolute minimum age for hiking up Platteklip Gorge is 10 to 12 years old. While physically possible for younger active children, the relentless, steep terrain, high sun exposure, and lack of bail-out/turn-around points make it unsuitable for small children.
• Indemnity Waivers: All participants must sign on-site safety waivers/indemnity form to partake in the hike. Guests under 18 years old require a parent or legal guardian to sign on their behalf.
• Prohibited Items & Conduct:
  • Safety & Pacing: For your own safety and that of the group, running, racing, or reckless behavior of any kind is strictly prohibited on the trail. Hikers must remain with the group and are not permitted to overtake or move ahead of the guide at any stage of the trek.
  • Prohibited: No person under the influence—or suspected of being under the influence—of alcohol or illegal substances will be allowed to participate. No alcohol or illegal substances may be brought onto the mountain trails.
  • Food & Waste: No loose or uncontained food items are permitted on the trek.
• Environmental Responsibility:
  • Nature Reserve: The mountain trails are part of a protected environmental network. Littering is strictly forbidden; all trash must be carried back out with you.
  • Best Practice: We ask all guests to implement best-practice conservation principles: respect local wildlife, reduce personal waste, and actively protect the area's biodiversity.

Pick-Up & Transport Information

⚠️ Please Note: This section is only applicable to guests who have booked this activity with transport included. If you booked the self-drive option, please follow your specific arrival instructions.

• Pick-Up Window: Morning collection generally takes place between 5:00 AM and 6:00 AM in summer and 6:30 AM and 7:30 AM in winter. Your exact collection time is tentative and subject to change. The final schedule relies heavily on weather tracking and a final conditions check.
• Pick-Up Time Confirmation: Our operations team finalizes the most efficient collection and start times the day before departure. A Cape Xtreme consultant will reach out to you directly during the day or afternoon prior to your tour to confirm your exact collection time.

Booking Terms & Cancellations

View our full Terms & Conditions online here: www.capextreme.com/terms

Cancellation / Refund Policy

PRIVATE & CUSTOM TOURS CANCELLATION POLICY
Please be advised that the cancellation fee & refund percentage (%) is applicable to the TOTAL tour/activity price LESS a less 5% transaction fee in the case of online or POS card transactions made for payment. This represents a direct bank processing cost and is not a revenue-generating charge.

Cancellation or changes:

• 30 days or more prior to tour date = 80% Refund
• 29-15 days prior to tour date = 50% Refund
• 14-0 days prior to tour date, late arrivals or “NO-SHOWS” = 0%/No Refund

❗️Late arrivals and/or no-shows for a tour/activity/time slot, regardless of the reason, unfortunately forfeit the full booking. Similar to booking an airline ticket; the plane will not wait for any passenger that is late. Please ensure you are on time for your booking.
❗️All transaction/transfer fees and/or forex conversion costs charged by the banks during the refund process will be billed to you (the client/booking holder)
❗️Refund and credit values are calculated in our local ZAR (South African Rand) currency. Transaction values in your own currency could be affected due to bank fees and currency exchange fluctuations.