How long is the Skeleton Gorge hike?

SANBI’s Smuts Track page says about 5.5 hours up and down again. It does not publish a kilometre figure for the full climb. Start at the Fragrance Garden inside Kirstenbosch.

Can you come down Nursery Ravine?

Yes. SANBI says once on top you can retrace your steps, turn left around Castle Rock and descend Nursery Ravine, or turn right toward Maclear’s Beacon (1,085.9m) and return the same way to Kirstenbosch.

Do you need a garden ticket for Skeleton Gorge?

The climb starts at the Fragrance Garden inside Kirstenbosch, so you enter through a garden gate. Official visitor page (2026–27): South African and SADC adults R110 with ID; garden open 08:00–19:00 September–March and 08:00–18:00 April–August. Cash is not accepted. Parking at Gates 1, 2 and 3 is listed as free. Confirm the live tariff on SANBI — international and African-national rates differ.

Where is Skeleton Gorge in Cape Town?

On the eastern face of Table Mountain, starting at the Fragrance Garden inside Kirstenbosch — not on Tafelberg Road. SANBI calls the climb Smuts Track. Platteklip Gorge and India Venster are the cableway-side summit routes.

Where is Skeleton Gorge Cape Town?

Same trailhead: Fragrance Garden inside Kirstenbosch, eastern face of Table Mountain. It is not a Tafelberg Road start. SANBI’s page is Smuts Track up Skeleton Gorge.

What is the Skeleton Gorge hike?

SANBI’s Smuts Track from the Kirstenbosch Fragrance Garden: about 5.5 hours up and down, very steep, ladders in places, and the path can be in Skeleton Stream. A garden ticket is required to start there.

Skeleton Gorge hike from Kirstenbosch

Skeleton Gorge is the Table Mountain hike that starts inside Kirstenbosch, not on Tafelberg Road. SANBI calls it Smuts Track: a long, very strenuous climb. For Platteklip, Lion's Head and India Venster see Table Mountain hike.

Grade: hard
Time: 5.5 hours
Hours: 08:00–19:00 September–March. 08:00–18:00 April–August.
Fee: R110
Dogs: Not allowed
Parking: Free parking at Kirstenbosch Gates 1, 2 and 3, per SANBI’s visitor information page.
Phone: 021 799 8783

Full listing · Directions · Official SANBI page

Skeleton Gorge hike

The Skeleton Gorge hike is SANBI’s Smuts Track from the Fragrance Garden. About 5.5 hours up and down. The gorge is very steep with ladders in places, very slippery in winter and dangerous after heavy rain. The path follows Skeleton Stream and at times is the stream — scrambling over rocks and boulders. SANBI tells hikers to buy a Table Mountain map and read the mountain safety guidelines before setting off.

Skeleton Gorge Cape Town

Skeleton Gorge Cape Town sits on the eastern face of Table Mountain. You start inside Kirstenbosch, not on Tafelberg Road. Platteklip Gorge and India Venster are the cableway-side summit routes.

On top: retrace your steps, or go south (left) around Castle Rock and come down Nursery Ravine, or go north (right) to Maclear's Beacon, the highest point on Table Mountain at 1,085.9m, and return to Kirstenbosch.

Nursery Ravine

SANBI describes Nursery Ravine as a steep, strenuous climb. Most of the path is stepped. The south face of Castle Rock is a sheer cliff at the top. Reach the base via the Silvertree Trail, or a short cut from the top of the Protea Garden. Nursery Stream is often dry in summer. SANBI's mountain-safety page says only Nursery Ravine and Skeleton Gorge are the safe up-and-down routes behind Kirstenbosch — stay on the demarcated paths.

Garden hours, tickets, dogs

Kirstenbosch is listed as open 08:00–19:00 in summer (September–March) and 08:00–18:00 in winter (April–August). Tickets and current resident rates sit on SANBI — we do not copy a garden tariff onto the hike listing. Parking at Gates 1, 2 and 3 is free on the official information page. Dogs are not allowed in the cultivated garden; the Skeleton start at the Fragrance Garden is inside that zone, so this climb is listed as no dogs.

Official pages: Smuts Track up Skeleton Gorge and Nursery Ravine. Picnic lawns (blankets only, no braais or furniture) are a different day: Kirstenbosch picnic lawns.

Questions

How long is the Skeleton Gorge hike?: SANBI’s Smuts Track page says about 5.5 hours up and down again. It does not publish a kilometre figure for the full climb. Start at the Fragrance Garden inside Kirstenbosch.
Can you come down Nursery Ravine?: Yes. SANBI says once on top you can retrace your steps, turn left around Castle Rock and descend Nursery Ravine, or turn right toward Maclear’s Beacon (1,085.9m) and return the same way to Kirstenbosch.
Do you need a garden ticket for Skeleton Gorge?: The climb starts at the Fragrance Garden inside Kirstenbosch, so you enter through a garden gate. Official visitor page (2026–27): South African and SADC adults R110 with ID; garden open 08:00–19:00 September–March and 08:00–18:00 April–August. Cash is not accepted. Parking at Gates 1, 2 and 3 is listed as free. Confirm the live tariff on SANBI — international and African-national rates differ.
Where is Skeleton Gorge in Cape Town?: On the eastern face of Table Mountain, starting at the Fragrance Garden inside Kirstenbosch — not on Tafelberg Road. SANBI calls the climb Smuts Track. Platteklip Gorge and India Venster are the cableway-side summit routes.
Where is Skeleton Gorge Cape Town?: Same trailhead: Fragrance Garden inside Kirstenbosch, eastern face of Table Mountain. It is not a Tafelberg Road start. SANBI’s page is Smuts Track up Skeleton Gorge.
What is the Skeleton Gorge hike?: SANBI’s Smuts Track from the Kirstenbosch Fragrance Garden: about 5.5 hours up and down, very steep, ladders in places, and the path can be in Skeleton Stream. A garden ticket is required to start there.