The volunteer-led magazine with ever-changing voices exploring different perspectives on today’s rapidly-evolving world.
Why You Need To Add Abseiling Table Mountain To Your Bucket List A Review of Abseil Africa’s Table Mountain Experience
WORDS Geena Grant
Cape Town’s most recognisable feature, Table Mountain, which reaches 1085 metres above sea level, has attracted around one million visitors annually in recent years. Many of these visitors, both tourists and locals, choose to either hike the mountain or take the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, but there is a lesser-known third way to experience the mountain – abseiling. Recently, the team at Cape Chameleon was lucky enough to have the opportunity to try this breathtaking activity and share the unforgettable experience thanks to Abseil Africa.
Geena Grant hikes up Platteklip Gorge to reach the top of Table Mountain.
Arguably the most important part of your Table Mountain adventure is planning ahead to make sure you don’t miss out on visiting one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.
The Cableway is a quick and easy option, but it could be closed at short notice due to gale-force winds, so it is important that you are flexible and check the Cableway website before setting off. After checking in with our guides at Abseil Africa and confirming the Cableway was operating for our return down the mountain, we left the office for the mountain.
The Stairs to Heaven…
We had decided to hike up Table Mountain before the abseil, taking the mountain’s oldest and most direct trail to the summit, Platteklip Gorge.
As can be expected, the path was quite steep and being such a beautiful day, very busy. Nevertheless, even with quite a few stops for water and to take photographs, we made it to the top in just under one hour and 40 minutes!
Once on top, we ventured over to the start of the abseil, which is on the left just before the Upper Cableway Station. We met Leo from Abseil Africa, who introduced us to one of our guides, Chizzy, and led us upstairs into the Cableway Station to sign up. You can leave any bags behind the Abseil Africa desk, but make sure you bring water for the 30-minute hike back up and your phone or camera for your guides to take pictures!
Going Over The Edge…
Now time for the exciting part! It was time to take on the world’s highest commercial abseil at 112 metres. We were fitted with harnesses and given a demonstration on the correct way to operate the clips and lines, before following a rope down the rock face to the start of the abseil.
Geena with Chizzy and Leo from Abseil Africa.
At the edge, we met two more guides who gave us gloves and a helmet each before hooking us up while cracking jokes. The guides made us feel comfortable and helped us over the edge. I needed a bit of extra encouragement when I suddenly realised it was quite a long way down and that I couldn’t actually see the end, but they made it very clear we were safe and that even when taking both my hands off the rope, I wouldn’t be dropping to my death!
Once taking the leap, we started lowering ourselves, with help from our guides, down the side of Table Mountain! The aim is to keep leaning back with your shoulders and not to bend your knees excessively as it’s very important that you always have your feet below your waist.
Junior editor Thamar Houliston and journalism intern Geena Grant before the descent!
After we got the technique under control, we were able to relax and take a moment to enjoy what we really came to see – the magnificent view! Turning my head, I could see the sweeping valleys that led down towards the stunning Camps Bay coastline and ocean beyond. There was hardly a cloud in the sky and a brilliant blue for as far as the eye could see.
Wait There’s A Surprise Coming!
Geena all smiles as she gets into the abseil.
This wasn’t time to get too comfortable though, there’s was a spectacular surprise coming our way. Suddenly, I realised there is no more rock beneath my feet and hastily looked down to see the ends of the ropes that were keeping me alive, dangling freely on their own for the remaining 60 metres or so to the ground.
However, any worries subsided as I took in the beautiful surrounds once more. This abseil definitely follows the ‘save the best for last’ philosophy.
Clearly, this is an incredible experience, not for the faint-hearted, but a once in a lifetime activity that all Capetonians and tourists alike should add to their bucket lists.
The team at Abseil Africa go above and beyond to make your experience as enjoyable as possible and are the only commercial abseil on Table Mountain.
So next time you think about venturing up Table Mountain, take a step out of your comfort zone and admire the view from an abseiling harness instead!
For more information visit abseilafrica.co.za, call +27 72 065 1520 or email info@abseilafrica.co.za.
Was so much fun!