Diagonal Cave Hike is a lovely medium length hike in Table Mountain National Park. If you’re looking for a weekend morning hike that takes you into the beautiful fynbos without being too strenuous then this is the perfect pick for you! This hike takes you along the Pipe Track above Camps Bay and then leads you halfway up the Diagonal Route ascent to a cave. The cave overlooks Camps Bay and Lion’s Head. If you’re feeling strong you can continue up Diagonal for a steep climb to the top of Table Mountain. There’s a loop that continues from there to the Valley of the Red Gods and Valley of Isolation. 

Details:

Start Location: Kloof Nek parking lot- start of the Pipe Track. 

Distance: 7.5km

Duration: 2.5 hours

Difficulty: Easy with a short steep section that is farily strenous. Path is easy to follow. 

Conservation fee: None

The Route:

Hike along the pipe track for about 3km until you see a sign pointing to Diagonal Route. Turn left up this narrow path. You will then hike upwards for about 800m until you get to the cave. The path zigzags a lot up the mountain and is fairly steep. Just before you reach the cave you will get to a section that requires a little bit of rock scrambling. Just after that you should see the cave to your left. It is a large overhang with a view of Lion’s Head and Table Mountain. Come back down the way you came.

For more exciting and adventurous hikes in and around Cape Town why not check out my hiking blog posts on Kalk Bay Peak, Silvermine Waterfall, Bailey’s Kloof, the Red Disa Hike, Eagle’s Nest, Suther Peak, Tranquility Cracks, Cecilia Waterfall, Kloof Corner, Devil’s Peak, Judas Peak, Panorama hike in Jonkershoek or my post on the Top 10 Hikes in Cape Town.