Editor’s Note: This post is part of a series on my trip to South Africa.
Hiking Cape Town’s Lion’s Head Trail was one of the most memorable experiences I had in South Africa.
Hiking The Klipspringer Walk Trail (Cape Town, South Africa)
With the Lion’s Head Trail checked off my list, it was time to try perhaps Cape Town’s most popular trail of all: The Klipspringer Walk Trail.
About The Klipspringer Walk Trail
To be fair, this trail is more of a “walk” than a “hike” (hence the name). Sure, most of it takes place on a well-marked, paved pathway, but that doesn’t mean this trail is not without its own set of challenges.
You’ll have to first get there via cableway, navigate the large crowds and strategic viewpoints, deal with the higher elevation and rapidly changing weather, and perhaps even have to find your way through intense cloud cover [fog] of the legendary “table-cloth” of Table Mountain.
The 1.5 km Klipspringer Walk Trail can be done as a loop in about 45 minutes to an hour. It can also be used as a gateway to the many other hiking trails in the Table Mountain National Park. AllTrails.com lists this hike as “easy” and I agree with that rating.
Location & Getting There
Because this trail starts atop Table Mountain, the de facto trailhead is the Table Mountain Ariel Cableway.
The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway is easily accessible from anywhere in Cape Town, by a short 20-minute ride from the V&A Waterfront area in Cape Town.
There are several bus routes that can take you there, but I would just recommend an Uber (or taxi).
Map Of The Klipspringer Walk Trail
The Klipspringer Walk [proper] starts from the Upper Cable Car station on the top of Table Mountain.
There is a Cafe at the top that serves coffee, food stuffs, and most importantly – cold beer.
Map of the Klipspringer Walk Trail
The Cableway
The cableway ride to the top is an incredible attraction by itself.
The cableway pod continuously rotates to provide passengers with 360-degree views while moving up and down the mountain.
View from the cable car queue
View of the Upper Cableway Station on top of Table Mountain
Views Of Cape Town
As soon as you step foot out of the station, you’ll be on the Klipspringer Walk Trail. I recommend walking this trail in a clock-wise manner if you want to start off with the spectacular views of Capr Town below.
Crowds among the clouds
View of Cape Town below
You may have to wait for a break in the clouds (AKA the “table-cloth”)
Hiking The Klipspringer Walk Trail
Here are just a few of the interesting things to see on this trail nature-walk.
Hiking through the fog with the Upper Cableway Station in the background
Metallic model of Table Mountain (and Lion’s Head)
Obscured by clouds? The intense fog of the table-cloth make this look like a bridge to nowhere
Beautiful flora of Table Mountain
Believe it or not, this little guy (about the size of a small dog) is a close relative of the Elephant called a Rock Hyrax
Rock Hyrax love lounging near the cableway station
The Table Mountain Ariel Cableway
Here’s some video of the cable ride back down Table Mountain…ahhh, what views!
Final Thoughts: Hiking The Klipspringer Walk Trail (Cape Town, South Africa)
As you can see, I visited Table Mountain on a “typical day” where the table-cloth cloud-cover was in full-effect. I had some awesome views when the clouds temporarily broke (also typical), but for the most part the fog was pretty intense.
Even so, I would absolutely say don’t let a little fog stop you from hiking this trail. This trail is amazing even in the fog, with much to see and do – even if you just grab a coffee and enjoy the views (or the exercise).
I found the cablecar ride up to be easy and not at all as scary or as vertigo-inducing as I had initially feared. Rather, it was quite relaxing and provided some of the very best views of Cape Town and Table-Mountain available anywhere.
The Klipspringer Walk Trail is a “must-do” attraction and should not be missed when in Cape-Town.
Cheers!
