WOOD BUTTRESS, ONE OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES ON THE ATLANTIC SEABOARD, IS ALWAYS A REWARDING HIKE ON TABLE MOUNTAIN.
The Wood Buttress hike is a thrilling route with a fair amount of moderately easy scrambling. In other words, climbing up rocks using both arms and feet.
The route is not very exposed. Above all, the rocks are made for climbing with plenty available hand- and foot holds. Therefore it is an ideal trail for those inexperienced in scrambling. If you do not want to scramble at all, Kasteelspoort is the trail for you.
The altitude at the start of this trail, is 330 m. Consequently, the elevation gain to the top of Wood Buttress is only 400 m, ending at 730 m. However, the top of Table Mountain, at the Cableway, will take you to 1060 .
Only a few know the route over the Wood Buttress. Therefore you are likely to walk alone and really experience nature.
It takes +/-3 hours to hike to the top of Wood Buttress at a comfortable pace, including photo stops and rest stops. The size of the group as well as fitness levels will largely determine the duration. During the hike, we will stop at the Old Cableway, with the iconic sufboard rock in the background.
Like with all the trails, you need to be reasonably fit to hike the Wood Buttress. You must have no fear of heights! Fear will not only prevent you from having fun, but it will also put you in danger, as a large part of this trail involves scrambling.
The descent
You can descend the mountain either by Kasteelspoort or Woody Ravine, which will add +/-2 more hours to the hike.
Alternatively you can walk through the Valley of Isolation and Echo Valley. The vegetation changes dramatically during this stretch, which certainly keeps it interesting. It takes +/–3 hours to the top of the front table of Table Mountain, from where you will take the Cableway down.
PLEASE NOTE: THE CABLEWAY MAY BE CLOSED DUE TO MAINTENANCE OR ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, IN WHICH CASE WE WILL NOT GO TO THE TABLE TOP, BUT DESCEND ON KASTEELSPOORT. THAT WILL ADD R500 and +/-2 HOURS TO THE TRIP.
Price
1 Person – R3 200
2-4 Persons – R1 900 pp
5 Persons – R1 700 pp
*Max 5 persons.
**Cableway ticket down @ R220 excluded.
It is also possible to cross the mountain. We will have a packed snack at the reservoir on top, where we can spend some time.
From there we descend down Nursery Ravine into Kirstenbosch, our Botanical Gardens. For this epic adventure, you can add +/-5 hours to the journey.
Price
1 Person – R4 000
2-4 Persons – R2 500 pp
5 Persons – R2 200 pp
*Max 5 persons.
**Excludes R200 pp entrance to Kirstenbosch Gardens.
