Moderate 4–5 hours total, incl. transfers
Table Mountain Hike via Platteklip Gorge
Sustained steep stone staircase; no scrambling.
R2,250 per person — based on 2 guests booking privately. R4,500 total.
Cape Town · Kirstenbosch
Skeleton Gorge Hike — Kirstenbosch to Table Mountain
From botanical gardens to the true summit of Table Mountain — through one of Cape Town's last indigenous forests.
- Duration
- 5–6 hours total, incl. transfers
- Difficulty
- Moderate to Hard
- Trailhead
- Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
Private hike price
R2,950 per person — based on 2 guests booking privately. R5,900 total.
Fitness requirements
Strong general fitness needed. The forest section is steep with ladders, and the traverse adds distance. No technical climbing.
Heights & scrambling: Steep forest section with wooden ladders; can be slippery in wet weather. No technical climbing.
Duration shown is the published total including transfers; walking time varies with pace and conditions.
About the route
The Skeleton Gorge Hike starts inside Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and climbs through one of the last pockets of indigenous Afromontane forest in the Cape. Wooden ladders, mossy boulders and a small waterfall set the tone before the trail emerges onto the mountain's back table.
From there it's a gentle traverse across high-altitude reservoirs to Maclear's Beacon — the true summit of Table Mountain and the highest point in Cape Town.
Meet your guide at Kirstenbosch. Guests pay the Kirstenbosch entrance fee separately; we then walk through the curated indigenous beds and slip into the forest on the Smuts Track.
The gorge itself is shaded, cool and atmospheric — root steps, ladders and a small waterfall climb. You emerge onto the open back table, walk past the historic reservoirs, and trace the contour to Maclear's Beacon.
Descent is normally by cable car from the cableway top station (ticket paid separately; weather dependent), with a short transfer back to your hotel.
- Indigenous Afromontane forest
- Wooden ladders & waterfall
- Maclear's Beacon summit
- 1
Kirstenbosch Gardens
Meet, briefing, gardens entry (fee paid separately) and walk to the Smuts Track.
- 2
Skeleton Gorge forest
Shaded indigenous forest with root steps, ladders and a waterfall.
- 3
Back table reservoirs
Open mountain plateau with high-altitude dams.
- 4
Maclear's Beacon
True summit of Table Mountain at 1,086m.
- 5
Cable car descent
Cableway down to Tafelberg Road, then transfer back to your hotel.
Safety on this route
Cableway: Table Mountain cableway tickets are not included and are paid separately. Cableway operations are weather dependent; if the cableway is closed, an alternative descent or route may be required, which may not fit the same itinerary or timing.
- All hikes led by a registered mountain guide trained in wilderness first aid
- Real-time weather monitoring with route changes if conditions turn
- Private hikes — your guide looks after your group only
- First aid kit and emergency communications carried; headlamps provided where needed
All hikes are weather dependent. The guide may change the route, start time or cancel the hike if conditions are unsafe. Guests must advise fitness level, age group, medical conditions, fear of heights and any mobility concerns before booking.
What's included and excluded
What's included
- Private registered hiking guide
- Return hotel pickup and drop-off within the central Cape Town pickup area (suitable transport arranged for your group size; for 7–10 guests any additional transport costs are quoted before confirmation) — confirm your hotel when enquiring
- Bottled water
- Trail snacks
- Headlamps where needed for sunrise, sunset or low-light hiking
Not included — paid separately
- Table Mountain cableway tickets
- Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden entrance fees
- Other reserve or attraction entrance fees
- Personal travel insurance
- Meals beyond the included trail snacks
- Optional guide gratuities
- Personal hiking clothing and footwear
- Additional transport for groups of 7–10 where required
- Any separately quoted additional guide arrangements
Private Hike Pricing
Pricing for 1–10 guests
All Cape Town hikes are private guided hikes for your group only. Prices include a private registered hiking guide, bottled water, trail snacks, headlamps where needed, and return hotel pickup and drop-off within the central Cape Town pickup area — confirm your hotel when enquiring. Larger private groups are welcome and we arrange suitable transport for your group size. The published hiking rates cover 1–10 guests; for 7–10 guests, any additional transport or guide costs are quoted separately before confirmation. Groups of 11 or more are welcome and receive a custom quotation.
| Guests | Total Private Hike Price | Price Per Person |
|---|---|---|
| 1 guest | R4,200 | R4,200 pp |
| 2 guestsPrice shown on hike cards | R5,900 | R2,950 pp |
| 3 guests | R7,200 | R2,400 pp |
| 4 guests | R8,400 | R2,100 pp |
| 5 guests | R9,500 | R1,900 pp |
| 6 guests | R10,500 | R1,750 pp |
| 7 guestsTransport & guide arrangements quoted separately | R12,950 | R1,850 pp |
| 8 guestsTransport & guide arrangements quoted separately | R14,800 | R1,850 pp |
| 9 guestsTransport & guide arrangements quoted separately | R16,650 | R1,850 pp |
| 10 guestsTransport & guide arrangements quoted separately | R18,500 | R1,850 pp |
| 11+ guests | Custom enquiry — no published price | |
1 guest
Total R4,200
R4,200
pp
2 guests
Total R5,900
Price shown on hike cards
R2,950
pp
3 guests
Total R7,200
R2,400
pp
4 guests
Total R8,400
R2,100
pp
5 guests
Total R9,500
R1,900
pp
6 guests
Total R10,500
R1,750
pp
7 guests
Total R12,950
Transport quoted separately
R1,850
pp
8 guests
Total R14,800
Transport quoted separately
R1,850
pp
9 guests
Total R16,650
Transport quoted separately
R1,850
pp
10 guests
Total R18,500
Transport quoted separately
R1,850
pp
11+ guests
Custom enquiry
For 7–10 guests, additional transport arrangements and any necessary guide arrangements are quoted separately and are not included in the totals above.
- Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden entrance fee excluded and paid separately.
- Cableway tickets are excluded and paid separately.
- If the cableway is closed, an alternative descent or route may be required.
Exclusions: Table Mountain cableway tickets, Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden entrance fees and other reserve or attraction entrance fees are not included and are paid separately by guests. Also excluded: personal travel insurance, meals beyond the included trail snacks, optional guide gratuities, personal hiking clothing and footwear, additional transport for groups of 7–10 where required, and any separately quoted additional guide arrangements.
Safety: All hikes are weather dependent. The guide may change the route, start time or cancel the hike if conditions are unsafe. Guests must advise fitness level, age group, medical conditions, fear of heights and any mobility concerns before booking.
Prices are shown in South African Rand and are subject to final confirmation before booking.
Weather & preparation
Best time of year
October to April. The gorge can be slippery and the ladders dangerous in wet weather — we avoid this route after heavy rain.
What to bring
- Trail or hiking shoes with grip
- Light rain or wind layer
- Sunhat, sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen
- Small daypack (bottled water and trail snacks are provided)
- Camera or phone for the views
Skeleton Gorge Forest & Summit Hike, answered
Related hikes
Moderate 5–6 hours total, incl. transfers
Kasteelspoort Hike — Twelve Apostles
Sustained climb with no scrambling; the optional Diving Board detour sits above steep drops.
R2,800 per person — based on 2 guests booking privately. R5,600 total.
Hard 6–7 hours total, incl. transfers
Devil's Peak Hike — Advanced Cape Town Route
Advanced, steep and fully exposed full mountain day; non-technical summit push.
R2,700 per person — based on 2 guests booking privately. R5,400 total.
Ask about this hike
Send us your dates to check availability for the Skeleton Gorge Forest & Summit Hike. Our team will reply as soon as possible.
About the Skeleton Gorge Hike — Kirstenbosch to Table Mountain
The Skeleton Gorge Hike is one of the most rewarding ways to experience Cape Town's mountain landscape. South African Adventures runs it as a private, guided experience — with a private registered hiking guide, hotel pickup within the central Cape Town pickup area (larger groups welcome, with extra transport arranged as needed), and a route built around your fitness and the day's conditions.
Pair this hike with our Cape Point day tour, Constantia wine tour or any of our other Cape Town hiking tours to build a full Cape adventure itinerary. Get in touch on WhatsApp and we'll plan it with you.
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