Devil's Peak via Tafelberg Road Contour

Devil's Peak is the eastern summit of the Table Mountain massif, rising above Cape Town's city bowl in South Africa's Western Cape. This route starts on Tafelberg Road, about ten minutes by Uber, Bolt or taxi from the city centre, and follows the contour path before climbing toward the peak. No permit is required within Table Mountain National Park. The round trip is about 9 km and takes four to five hours, with roughly 600 m of climbing between about 350 m at the start and about 1,000 m at the summit. The surface mixes dirt contour path, rocky steps and boulder sections, and the upper part is exposed to strong wind, with little shade and some scrambling. Navigation is straightforward in clear weather but harder in cloud, so an offline GPS track is useful. Landmarks include the contour path beneath the cliffs, the junction toward the Saddle between Table Mountain and Devil's Peak, the steep ascent onto the ridge and the summit's views of the city, Table Bay and the plateau. Water sources are unreliable, so hikers carry their own. There are no refuges on the route. The turn-around point is the Saddle if wind or mist arrive, as the ridge above is highly exposed. Past muggings have occurred on this side of the mountain, so a group of three or more is recommended, and valuables should be kept out of sight. The descent follows the same route, and it is best to leave enough daylight to return before dark.