Table Mountain Diving Board Hike

Table Mountains Diving Board HikeDuration: 4 - 5 hoursDifficulty: Medium to ToughIf youre looking for one of the best photo opportunities to be had on Table Mountain, consider hiking up Kasteelpoort for a photo on Table Mountains famous diving board; a flat granite rock which juts out of the mountain side and allows for fantastic views and photos.It is a pretty tough hike, taking between four and five hours, but it offers several spectacular viewpoints, and you go through three very distinct areas of the Mountain.Our recommended route:Park at the parking lot at the intersection of Tafelberg & Kloof Nek Roads, and hike along the Pipe Track (the contour path going above Camps Bay). You walk for approximately 30 minutes along the Pipe Track, until you reach Kasteelpoort, which is well sign posted.The route up Kasteelpoort is one of the easier routes up Table Mountain, and it takes approximately one hour.Once on top you will reach a marker showing your position on the mountain. From here it is pretty easy to find the diving board. It is a just past the ruins of the old cable station. Once youve had your photo you get to enjoy the awesome views as you walk along the spine of the Twelve Apostles, back to the upper cable station.This will take about 90 minutes. This part of the walk is fairly easy, and offers amazing views in all directions.Once you get to the upper cable station you can enjoy the sweeping views of the City Bowl, and then either take the cable car back down to Tafelberg Road, and either walk back to your car (about 1.5km) or take one of the waiting taxis back. If you are feeling particularly energetic, you can walk down to the lower cable station, via Plattekloof Gorge, and along the contour path beneath the Table Mountain face, but this is quite tough, and should only be attempted if you still have quite a bit of energy when you get to the upper cable station.Plattekloof Gorge is the busiest path up and down the mountain, and you will see a lot more hikers on this route than you did on the route up Kasteelpoort. The downhill is long and steep though, so be prepared!And please remember always take lots of water, something to eat, a cell phone and some warm clothing. The mountain rescue number is 021 948 9900, so save it into your phone, and make sure that someone knows your route and when you expect to be back.Enjoy the hike!