Kirstebosch to the cable car

The route starts in Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, on the east side of Table Mountain. The shade provided by the trees makes this a popular route up or down the mountain in summer. It's often combined with Skeleton Gorge, which runs parallel. The top of the ravine involves some boulder hopping and a ladder.

We follow the path to the eastern shoreline of the Hely-Hutchinson Reservoir, one of five dams on top of Table Mountain. They were all built between 1890 and 1907, as Cape Town’s demand for water increased. When Cape Town has had decent winter rain, the reservoir will be full of water.

The route links with the Smuts track through to Maclear's Beacon, the highest point on Table Mountain at 1087m above sea level. We continue on the path towards the upper cable car station. On clear weather days, hikers get treated to indescribable views across the city, Table Bay and the Cape Peninsula.