The UNFIT tourist's guide to hiking up Table Mountain using the Platteklip Gorge trail

[@gradylloyd3502]

You may be unfit, but you’ve sure got guts and determination - I could hear the struggle in your breathing! I did the same climb about 20 years ago when I was 58. But I weighed about 150 lbs at the time and was reasonably fit. My then 25 year old stepdaughter was my partner, and we had the same plan - to take the lift down. But the winds had risen such that the cable car was cancelled. Hiking back down was almost as tough as the climb up. Enjoyed your video and salute your courage.

[@SouthAfricanWanderer]

Thank you so much 🙏🏼 Yeah I think with a lot of my hikes it’s more will power and pushing through to the end. Coming down is tough on the knees, glutes and hamstrings 😅

[@ervinslens]

This trail looks so beautiful bud, such a unique and picturesque trail!

[@SouthAfricanWanderer]

It’s a pity I had the mist and cloudy weather, on a clear day it’s even more beautiful!

[@JasenomadeTV]

Thank you very much for this video...

[@SouthAfricanWanderer]

I hope it helps you with your hike 🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@JasenomadeTV]

@@SouthAfricanWanderer 100%♥

[@DK.448]

♥️ this! I have some work to do this morning but will check in as and when I can. I just heard you’ve done this climb three times before 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🙌🏽. Enjoy yr climb and 🙏🏽 for sharing and letting us to spiritually climb with you! ♥️ and best wishes from London, 🇬🇧.

[@SouthAfricanWanderer]

Thanks so much! 🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@Suhailmaster58]

Thanks for this video for the unfit once. It’s helpful 😅

[@SouthAfricanWanderer]

Glad I could be of assistance 🙏🏼

[@pauljansen6650]

This is the one I've been waiting for! Very deceiving hike, you often think you are close to the top but it takes a while to get there.

[@SouthAfricanWanderer]

I hope it helps!

[@winstonpetersen3110]

thank you for sharing you huge walk. Keep going brother. Keep it up

[@SouthAfricanWanderer]

Thanks so much Winston! The encouragement is always welcomed!

[@markwillies7666]

As a fellow Capetonian and procrastinator, if you've been trying to procrastinate then you must have attained professional level status.

[@yeowchongong5608]

Thank you for such inspirational and encouraging video. I will be doing the same in 2 weeks time. And am unfit 🤣😅😬

[@SouthAfricanWanderer]

You can do it! Just take it easy. Also, if you have the time, check out the Lions head hike as well. There’s a video up on my channel as well

[@yeowchongong5608]

@@SouthAfricanWanderer watched that and liked. Thanks for your video, I decided not taking my chance. That one looked tougher then table top

[@SouthAfricanWanderer]

@@yeowchongong5608 There is more scrambling and climbing over large rocks.

[@louiseharrison2591]

Can you do this if you have vertigo?

[@SouthAfricanWanderer]

Yes I think that should be possible - there aren't any paths along ridges and you can keep looking forward and up so it should be fine. However I used the cable car coming back down which i would definitely not recommend if you have vertigo because not only is the cable car moving down the mountain it also rotates to give everyone a 360deg view. If you come back down using this route I am also not sure how much it would trigger the vertigo as I have only ever climbed up.

[@BHAVYEGOEL]

Would you recommend doing this with a baby in the carrier?

[@SouthAfricanWanderer]

I’m generally unfit so it will depend on how fit you are. If you are carrying the baby carrier I think you should be more fit than me

[@yeowchongong5608]

By the way any loo along the way up?

[@SouthAfricanWanderer]

I don’t think there is one along the way, just at the bottom cable car station and then again at the top. I would normally say find a big rock or bush. But it’s a busier route so there’s always people passing 🙊😂😂

[@yeowchongong5608]

@@SouthAfricanWanderer 🤣😉

[@davidgorman1182]

Your body will soak up all that moisture lol. No loo along the way, but no use for it either

[@JosephPhillips-o9z]

I'm motivated to do this one in 2025

[@SouthAfricanWanderer]

You can do it!

[@capetownwalks]

Next time let me take you on a nicer route with more variation (not just the stair master 1000!) - the route is called India Venster :)

[@SouthAfricanWanderer]

I shall definitely take you up on that offer! Is that the one I saw people scrambling over the rocks as we came down with the cable car?

[@capetownwalks]

@@SouthAfricanWanderer Indeed! :)

[@SouthAfricanWanderer]

@@capetownwalks that looked scary though. I’ve got a fear of heights (even though I do all these hikes)

[@capetownwalks]

@@SouthAfricanWanderer aaah then theres a few others which are not as scary :) (Kasteelspoort and Skeleton Gorge are 2 others)

[@SouthAfricanWanderer]

@@capetownwalks yep and I also want to do Chapman’s peak drive and a few other Cape Town hikes