India Venster

Check this guide if you want to know whether the India Venster route up Table Mountain in Cape Town is for you.

Summary verdict: a brilliant hike for the grade 1 scrambler with excellent scrambles and amazing views but do take account of the many risks

Route in: start near the lower cableway station on Tafelberg Road in Cape Town

Start point: there’s a set of steps heading up the mountain by the zebra crossing just before (west of) the drop-off zone; you’ll see a Table Mountain sign and map at the start of the steps

Grading: grade 2 in one part but there are staples and chains to help, and a few short grade 1.5 scrambles. As noted next, you do need some head for heights but I have a degree of acrophobia and was OK. Total height gain is just over 2,000 feet.

Warning: there are a lot of dangers to watch out for. Mugging is very rare but can happen in the area up to the Contour Path. Heat and dehydration are risks especially in the summer: take plenty of water. Wildfires do race up Table Mountain at times: look out for warnings and smoke. Mist can come down suddenly and it’s easy to dangerously lose your way: watch the weather forecast and the weather. High winds can be problematic: again, check the forecast. Go in dry weather: rain or wet rock generally would make the scramble very much more difficult, unpleasant and risky. Hikers do get injured in falls, and get stuck – unable to keep going but unable to descend once past the staples/chains climb. You need to have some head for heights. If you miss the last cable car down, you have to walk.

End point: top of Table Mountain

Route out: easiest is to take the cableway down (but note this does not run in bad weather like high winds, mist or heavy rain; also check the time of the last car down – typically 1700 in winter), or you can walk down via Platteklip Gorge

Time: about 2 hours for the scramble up

Combine with: climbs of Platteklip Gorge (grade 0.5 but quite arduous), Lion’s Head (grade 1.5), Devil’s Peak – but all require you to descend the mountain first

Gear: nothing special – just decent footwear and enough water and sun protection

Verdict: a brilliant scramble for a grade 1 scrambler as it’s just around the edge of what is feasible; feels like a real achievement to complete; and fantastic views. I loved it so much, I went straight back down and did it all over again

Category: Top-Rated Scramble

Score: 9/10

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