If you’re an adventurous spirit visiting Cape Town, hiking the India Venster Trail up Table Mountain is an incredible way to spend the day. This route offers the perfect mix of challenge, excitement, and stunning scenery. With its location just 15 minutes from the downtown waterfront, it’s also easily accessible.
ADVENTURE STATISTICS
Time Required: 3-4 Hours up
Location: Center in Cape Town, Africa
Distance: 3.5km one way
Elevation Gain: 720m
Difficulty: 7/10 – Some scramble areas
Season: Year round
Additional Requirements: None
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
From Cape Town: From the Downtown Waterfront area head southwest on the M62 for 3-4km up the hill and turn left onto Tafelberg Rd (follow signs and buses) Follow for 1.6km to reach the Aerial Tram. Parking is challenging depending on how busy it is.
WHAT TO BRING
- Comfortable Footwear: Hiking shoes. Make sure your shoes are broken in prior to tackling this hike to prevent unexpected blisters. You could get away with running shoes but having extra grip on the rock surfaces will come in handy!
- Water: This hike has some elevation gain. Be sure to bring enough water for 3-4 hours of physical exertion.
- Snacks: Bring some of your favorite snacks to enjoy along the hike as well as a light lunch for when you arrive at the summit. Some of our favorite snacks are trail mix, bananas, beef jerky and licorice.
- Weather appropriate clothing: You will be exposed to the elements throughout this hike. Cape Town can be very warm in the summer months. Check the weather forecast and plan accordingly.
- Sunscreen: If it is sunny and you’re like Mattson, who easily burns, bring sunscreen!
- Insect Repellent: Insect repellent can greatly improve your hiking experience.
- Camera: There are numerous photo opportunities you won’t want to miss.
- This Guide: Print a copy of this guide to reference throughout the hike
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Taking Tram Down: You can hike up and all the way down if you choose. There is also the option to take the tram down. After 3-4 hours of hiking and potentially a beer or two at the top, we opted for the easy way out. The tram down will cost you 220ZAR/13US dollars so a method of payment might be something you want to pack just incase.
Leave No Trace: It is important that we enjoy the outdoors responsibly and sustainably. Some key principles to consider when hiking to “Leave No Trace” are:
- Plan ahead and prepare: Proper planning allows adventurers to hike safely while minimizing damage to the land.
- Travel on durable surfaces: Stick to the trail when possible. If there is no trail, or you must travel off trail, stay on durable surfaces to reduce your impact.
- Dispose of waste properly: Pack it in, pack it out.
- Leave what you find: Leave rocks, plants, archaeological artifacts and other objects of interest as you find them.
- Respect wildlife: Observe wildlife from a distance. Never feed wild animals.
- Be considerate of other visitors: Be courteous to others to allow everyone to enjoy their outdoor experience.
To learn more about “Leave No Trace” visit http://www.leavenotrace.ca
HIKING DIRECTIONS
Summary: The India Venster trail is the most challenging hike up the front of Table Mountain and is the perfect way to start off a trip in South Africa.
Step-By-Step Guide:
The trailhead (Route marker #1 on the map) is located just to the right of the Lower Cable Car station when facing the mountain. Depending on how crowded it is, you might need to park along the roadside and walk uphill a bit to reach the starting point.
The trail is clearly marked and easy to follow right from the beginning. Eventually, it intersects with the Contour Path Trail, where you’ll see signs for the “India Venster Route.” This path leads beneath the Cable Car and continues its climb up the mountain.
Follow the yellow footprints painted on the rocks, they serve as your trail markers and will guide you along the correct route. This was our first time doing the hike with very little prior information, and we still found it easy to navigate, so the trail is clearly well marked.
The real adventure begins about halfway up, when the trail turns into a scramble. You’ll climb a few ladders and navigate rocky crevices, with some sections offering chains to help you stay secure along the cliffside.
After reaching the top of the mountain, it’s about a 700 meter walk across mostly flat, solid rock to get to the Upper Cable Car Station (Route marker #2 on the map) . At the top, there’s a restaurant and concession stand where you can grab a bite to eat, have a drink, and soak in the stunning views!
We don’t recommend hiking back down the India Venster route, it’s much more challenging and risky descending than it is climbing up. We took the cable car down (Route marker #3 on the map), but if you’d prefer to hike down Table Mountain, consider one of the easier alternatives, like the Platteklip Gorge Trail.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
Thank you for choosing Epic Trip Adventures as your guide. We are committed to continually updating our guides to be as relevant and accurate as possible. If you have feedback to improve this guide please leave it in the comments below.
We also want to hear about your Table Mountain adventures. If you have stories, pictures or even a link to your own adventure video please share them below!
Have fun out there!
– ETA