Hiking Table Mountain is far more than a slope-slog to the summit. The landscape is too featured. Bisected by ravines, the Table Mountain massif contains topographical titbits – caves, pinnacles, labyrinths, subterranean streams, sculpted rock, sensational cliffside traverses and imposing cliffs – that spices up a hike. Blinkwater Needle is one such titbit. Located on the north side of the first and highest of the 12 Apostles, the summit of this salient pinnacle provides one of the most amazing locations on Table Mountain. Blind Gully provides access to the Needle, from where a tricky scramble leads to its summit: a rock platform that offers panoramic views, back up at the mountain, into the Blinkwater system of ravines and out across the Atlantic. Its location in a wild and dramatic part of the mountain adds to the exhilaration of standing on the summit. The sheer sides gives the sensation of floating in space.
Table Mountain hikes are about the way to the top rather than the top itself. While the summit provides a sense of achievement, the slopes provide the experience. Making use of a knowledgeable Table Mountain guide will ensure that you do not miss out on Table Mountain’s hidden gems, thereby maximizing your Table Mountain hiking experience.