Table Mountain SKELETON 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

Embark on an unforgettable hike up Skeleton Gorge, starting from the beautiful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, a sanctuary filled with thousands of indigenous plants.

The ascent takes you through the gorge's densely forested slopes, where you'll pause along the way to admire spectacular views over the Peninsula and the leafy Southern Suburbs. The ascent up is continuous and steep, requiring a good level of fitness. The trail involves an adventurous section that requires a small amount of climbing over boulders and ascending ladders.

Once you reach the summit, we walk toward Maclear’s Beacon (at 1,087m - the highest point on Table Mountain) before heading to the Cable Station. Throughout this walk, you'll be treated to impressive, sweeping views. The trip concludes with a relaxed descent via the Cable Car.

📌 Be aware that after rain, particularly in winter (June to August), the route can become very wet and slippery, sometimes almost impassable after heavy downpours. During this time (June to August), we do not operate Skeleton Gorge Hikes. Conversely, Kirstenbosch Gardens’ opening hours often prevent an early start in summer, meaning the hike can be extremely hot and humid from October to March. You’ll need to be in good physical condition to truly enjoy this demanding yet rewarding route.

Inclusions & Exclusions

• ✅ What’s Included: One-way hotel pick-up only transfer if transported option was paid for, 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: One-way hotel pick-up transfer if self-drive option was chosen, return hotel drop-off transfer, Kirstenbosch entrance, cableway ticket (for the descent), extra snacks & refreshments, all items of a personal nature.

📌 Please be reminded that the standard transport package includes one-way pick-up only for the Skeleton Gorge trail. Return drop-off transport is not included by default; however, a drop-off service can easily be arranged and added to your booking at an additional cost (please enquire with our team to arrange this).

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

• This route is largely shaded most of the way up Skeleton Gorge.
• Despite the shade, we still strongly recommend starting this hike in the morning.

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 (most likely via the Platteklip Gorge route). 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

Skeleton Gorge is a strenuous and rewarding route. Please prepare carefully.
The hike takes you through shaded, indigenous forest up the Eastern slopes of Table Mountain, and summits at Maclear’s Beacon, the highest point on Table Mountain. 1086m above sea level.

• Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult (challenging).
• Physical Fitness Profile: A moderate to challenging difficulty rating requires an intermediate to high level of fitness. 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: The trail kicks off with a steep, winding climb up log and stone steps through a thick, lush Afromontane forest before giving way to a rocky, boulder-strewn streambed. The route’s standout features are the wooden ladders used to scale steep drop-offs. While the climbing is technically straightforward, the ladders offer a thrilling—and occasionally intimidating—brush with heights. Be extra cautious, as this section gets incredibly slick after rain.
• Minimum Age: Participants must be at least 12 years old.
  The recommended absolute minimum age for hiking Skeleton Gorge is 12 years old. Skeleton Gorge requires scrambling up steep tree roots, giant boulders, and multiple wooden ladders, which are generally too strenuous for smaller legs.
• 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 6:30 AM and 7:30 AM. 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.
• Pick-Up Only Reminder: Please be reminded that the standard transport package includes one-way pick-up only for the Skeleton Gorge trail. Return drop-off transport is not included by default; however, a drop-off service can easily be arranged and added to your booking at an additional cost (please enquire with our team to arrange this).

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.