Nodes in The Ledge

Find some of the best routes on Table Mountain right here. Bullet hard sandstone.

Bullet hard sandstone offering some of the best climbs on Table Mountain.

1. [12] 14m

2. [12] 8m

3. [12] 11m

4. [14] 18m

5. [11]

The first pitch described hereunder starts about three meters to the right of the crack pitch of 'Quiver Crag'.

1. [F A2] 27m Climb a slight crack in a white face using four pegs. Continue up free to an overhang above. Move to the right and up to a stance.

2. [F A2] 20m A chimney-like crack on the left is climbed to an overhang. Follow a crack to the left and upwards around the block then reach for the top of the block.

3. [E] 10m Walk clockwise around a big block and ascend a chimney to a stance on the right.

4. [19] 37m Climb up 2m and traverse to the right to a corner. Continue to the right for about 2m. The pitch goes virtually straight up from this point. A resting point will be found 8m above, slightly on the left, followed by a crack to another resting point a further 10m above. Climb the face above using layback holds to a ledge. Ascend from the right of this ledge.

1. [22]

2. [18]

3. [22]

4. [19]

No bolting!

1. [21] 18m

2. [19] 30m

3. [23] 30m

1. [17] 17m

2. [16] 20m

3. [20] 10m

4. [16] 30m

1. [17] 35m

2. [19] 40m

1. [20] 30m

2. [19] 18m

A sustained route with a bit of spice. The second pitch is great with a wild finish!

Start by the tree at the right end of the little ledge as for the direct start to 'Touch and Go'.

1. [23/24] 20m Start up the crack system until the large projecting disc-shaped flake ~5m up. Traverse right ~3m to a good flat jug below a large undercling feature. Pull through the steep bulge here, and up the face above to a vague rail (tricky, but essential gear). Continue up and right (sparse pro) on edges to better holds. Carry on up to a narrow ledge. Walk ~3m right and up to a stance on a neat ledge, directly below the thin crack line (of Farewell to Arms) higher up on the wall above.

2. [22/23] 25m Scramble up to the face, which is climbed directly (one good small wire) to the base of the thin Farewell to Arms crack. Follow the crack, but where Farewell to Arms traverses right under the roof, pull through to the wide, jagged crack above. Follow this to the higher roof and traverse ~1m left. Blast straight through the last roof where there is an intermittent finger rail (below and right of Touch and Go). Crank through to the face above, step right and then up to the right side of the Touch and Go stance.

3. [24?] 20m Head up and right to the break on the right side of the first narrow roof above the stance (shared with Farewell to Arms). Pull through and climb up. At the next narrow roof to the left take a step down and left to gain the rail under the roof. Traverse left ~4m to where the rail widens, and there is a large rock wedged flush with the back of the rail. At this point, the rock above the roof is mottled grey, and a bit left of the smoother, yellow/brown rock on the right. Pull through the roof here to a thin rail with key slots for micro cams. Make a hard move up and left to establish on the face which is followed up and slightly left (sparse pro) to reach good holds. Continue straight up the blocky bulges above to the wide ledge.

Note: Other than the sections shared with Farewell to Arms, some sections of these pitches may well have been done before, but all the crux sections are new to the best of our knowledge. The result is a bit of a hybrid route that offers a fairly demanding line up the wall. Consensus grading is needed. Pitch 3 may be harder for shorter folks.

Acronym: Tired And Totally Wanked Out Climbers

1. [23] 20m

2. [23] 20m

3. [21] 25m

4. [25] 25m

Acronym: Tired And Totally Wanked Out Climbers

1. [23] 20m

2. [23] 20m

3. [21] 25m

4. [26] 20m

1. [23] 15m

2. [21] 25m

3. [21] 25m

A direct line, with some steep and exposed sections. The crux requires wide stemming, faith in rubber, finger tendons and a modicum of commitment. The long 23 pitch is excellent and could form a link-up with the overhanging crack on Arms Race for a straight, consistent voyage up the wall.

Start as for Arms Race.

1. [18] 15m At the right end of the ledge, head up the bulging base of the crack, but then move right for ~2m and easily up to a short, wide crack (just right of the usual approach pitch for Arms Race). Stance below and right of a smooth, bottomless corner (which just below and left of the Arms Race overhanging crack.

2. [26+?] 15m Looks improbable and is pretty desperate. Climb up into the short, undercut corner capped by a roof. A very thin rail (which takes narrow micro cams and small offset wires) heads out left under the roof. Traverse left under the roof (crux) until able to pull onto the face. Continue straight up on layaways edges (there is one slot for a bomber small wire) followed by lovely, but slightly run out, face climbing to the ledge. Move up and slightly right to stance at the small platform at the base of the Farewell to Arms recess. Consensus grading needed - might be a grade or two harder. Would be an impressive onsight.

3. [23] 30m Start up the recess and after a few meters move onto the right wall at good series of finger rails. About 1m before the rails head around onto the nose (as for Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, is a steep layback crack. Follow this via some powerful moves and then slightly left up the steep, exposed prow to a wide break. Continue up and slightly right to the narrow roof at a point below the seam above (this seam eventually joins the top section of Touch and Go final pitch). Pull through the roof (good gear at the lip) and take the seam up to a cubby hole at the base of the knobbly groove.

4. [17] 15m Step left onto the face and climb in the centre of it until a finger about halfway up (where the holds above become very smooth and rounded). Traverse slightly left until left hand can use the side of the narrow chimney to the left. Head up, step back right onto the face and up to a small ledge. Then straight to the top between some boulders to stance under the left end of the overhang above.

Note: For the crux pitch you only need micro/small cams and small wires. You will not need anything bigger than a red alien/#4 Wallnut even for the stance.

1. [23] 25m

2. [21] 25m

3. [22] 30m

1. [25] 20m

2. [21] 25m

3. [22] 30m

A short, fiery crux leads to easier climbing in an exposed position.

Start on the platform below the nose that forms Arms Race pitch 2. Approach from the Dream Ledge via the first pitch of Cableway Crag or Farewell to Arms.

1. [25/26?] 15m Scramble up onto the large block at the base of the large wide corner, the left side of which is the opposite side of the nose that Arms Race pitch 2 uses. From standing on the block, there are a series of underclings, the highest ones take micro cams. Pull onto the face and move up and slightly left via a series of technical and tenuous moves to gain good holds ~1m below the roof. Traverse ~1.5m left to a little platform past the left end of the roof above. Follow the featured face above for ~5m then tend right to a little stance is above the starting block, and ~5m directly below the break in the roof above (followed by Arms Race pitch 3). Consensus grading is needed.

2. [20?] 35m Climb up the large features and slightly right to the wide crack through the roof. Follow this as for Arms Race and at the first rail, traverse ~2.5m left and head up to the white face to an alcove below the knobbly, vegetated groove (stance on Lluvia Rosada). Step right and follow the face just to the right of the groove, and through a steep blocky section to finish on the wide ledge below the overhang.

Ledge located on the Cableway Wall, adjacent to Cobblestone Gendarme

1. [13] 12m

2. [7] 11m

3. [11] 15m

4. [16] 25m

5. [16] 22m

1. [19] 20m

2. [21] 20m

3. [21] 10m

4. [21] 25m

Start:

The route is in The Dream sector on Fountain Ledge, Table Mountain. Space Race is very direct and goes through one of the biggest flat roofs on the mountain. The first pitch starts between Farewell to Arms and Last Tango.

1. [23 A3] 30m On The Dream Ledge between 'Farewell to Arms' and Last Tango is a steep white wall capped by a huge roof. Start up the wall left of centre, a few metres from the thin crack of Farewell to Arms. Head directly up to the huge rail then traverse right to get to the thin seam that intermittently heads out to the lip of the roof. Using tiny cams, RPs and knife blades climb the 10m roof and turn the lip. Freestyle a couple of metres to a good stance under overhangs. A nice free variation involves railing rightwards under the huge roof and then coming back left above the roof to the stance.

2. [22] 30m Head up on the left and turn the overhangs. Head straight up the centre of the clean white wall between Last Tango on the left and The Cruise which heads up the leaning break on the right. Arrive at a big ledge and do a tricky mantelshelf.

3. [21 R] 12m After a bit of easy ground, there is a blank slab above. A ripple runs up the slab leaning to the left. Climb this ripple without protection. At the rail, head left and up the overhanging pillar, the slab is quite a serious lead.

4. [21] 20m Above is a wide roof with one obvious break some metres to the left. Don’t go there. Go slightly right and in the roof find a small pocket that allows you to lean out to the lip. Crank up onto the face and go to the arête on the right. Head straight up.

1. [20] 25m

2. [16] 17m

3. [19] 14m

1. [20] 25m

2. [16] 17m

3. [21] 25m

4. [19] 35m

1. [20] 25m

2. [21] 35m

A nice link-up, that potentially has some new climbing.

1. [21] Start up Last Tango but keep straight to join REM. Pull into the step, bottomless corner and up to the highest overlap and rail 1m right to a stance on a narrow ledge (Essentially the Wet Dreams pitch 2)

2. [21] Step left from the stance and through the break (shared with REM) but then head left and up to a rail. Traverse further left and then up to the next rail. Continue a little further left climb up a vague seam arcing to the left (and below the left end of the narrow roof a few meters higher). Climb up passing the roof on its left side to join The Cruise and follow this to the top.

1. [23] 20m

2. [21] 20m

3. [21] 25m

1. [19] 20m

2. [21] 40m

Start: The prominent feature of the Cobblestones Gendarme is the huge overhang and chamber beneath it. The left end of the huge overhang drops a plumbline to Fountain Ledge where La Vida (and Sweet Dreams) starts up the clean arete.

1. [19] 12m Use small vertical cracks slightly left of the arete to get established, then move onto the arete and head straight up to a ledge. Cobblestone Chamber is up on the right

2. [21] 17m Climb the short face above to a ledge and continue up the arete-which is under-protected - to a recess. (A grey Alien or equivalent Metolius master cam is critical placed in a slot on the right). The arete start can be avoided by walking left 3m and climbing the under-clings up and right to reach the recess. Continue up to the jumbo ledge above at the base of "The Dream" and "Last Tango". Walk left 7m.

3. [21] 10m Start as for Last Tango and do the crux. Continue up the easier ground diagonally left heading for the right-facing corner. Traverse right at the base of the corner to do a layback move into the deep recess at the end of "The Dream" first pitch. Move right by railing on the outside or dassie crawl to the stance at the start of the second pitch of "The Dream".

4. [22] 30m Climb the second pitch of "The Dream".

5. [14] 20m or [22X] Move Left 3m and climb the easy arete (or climb directly up the unprotected face for 5m) to scrambling ground and stance on a ledge system that takes you to the abseil chains or to the top out pitch.

6. [18] 20m Move 15m left on the ledge system under the overhang to an obvious break in the roof. Climb this starting with a strenuous cranking to easier ground and continue to the top, or traverse 60m left to the Magnetic Wall abseil station.

Start: The prominent feature of the Cobblestones Gendarme is the huge overhang and chamber beneath it. The left end of the huge overhang drops a plumbline to Fountain Ledge where La Vida (and Sweet Dreams) starts up the clean arete.

1. [19] 12m Use small vertical cracks slightly left of the arete to get established, then move onto the arete and head straight up to a ledge. Cobblestone Chamber is up on the right

2. [21] 17m Climb the short face above to a ledge and continue up the arete-which is under-protected - to a recess. (A grey Alien or equivalent Metolius master cam is critical placed in a slot on the right). The arete start can be avoided by walking left 3m and climbing the under-clings up and right to reach the recess. Continue up to the jumbo ledge above at the base of "The Dream" and "Last Tango". Walk left 7m.

3. [21] 10m Start as for Last Tango and do the crux. Continue up the easier ground diagonally left heading for the right-facing corner. Traverse right at the base of the corner to do a layback move into the deep recess at the end of "The Dream" first pitch. Move right by railing on the outside or dassie crawl to the stance at the start of the second pitch of "The Dream".

4. [22+] 30m Climb straight through the roof on REM and higher up pull through the overlap 2m left of the crux of the dream.

5. [14] 20m or [22X] Move Left 3m and climb the easy arete (or climb directly up the unprotected face for 5m) to scrambling ground and stance on a ledge system that takes you to the abseil chains or to the top out pitch.

6. [18] 20m Move 15m left on the ledge system under the overhang to an obvious break in the roof. Climb this starting with a strenuous cranking to easier ground and continue to the top, or traverse 60m left to the Magnetic Wall abseil station.

1. [23] 30m

2. [21] 30m

No bolting!

1. [17] 12m

2. [17] 15m

3. [19] 12m

4. [14] 12m

5. [19] 20m

6. [12] 5m

Start: The prominent feature of the Cobblestones Gendarme is the huge overhang and chamber beneath it. The left end of the huge overhang drops a plumbline to Fountain Ledge where La Vida starts up the clean arete.

1. [18] 12m Use small vertical cracks slightly left of the arete to get established, then move onto the arete and head straight up to a ledge. Scramble 10m to the right to a big clean ledge with two knee-high blocks on it. At this point, you are looking up at a clean white wall just below and right of the chamber.

2. [21] 17m Step off the larger block onto the wall and make cruxy layaways to get to the horizontal crack that leads to the chamber. This is the "dassie ledge" used by Cobblestones. Head up and left on the steep headwall to reach a large ledge with a recess.

3. [19] 10m From the back of the recess move up and left to get through the overhang using the first notch. French Connection continues left to use the second notch. Holy Mackerel heads up the large crack in the back of the recess. Once established on the face above head up directly to the next ledge to belay here. The section above leads to the top of a free-standing pillar which is avoided. Walk left around the corner and into the gap behind the pillar to belay on the big chockstone.

4. [18] 8m Head up the clean arete on the left to a platform that is the top of the second free-standing pillar.

5. [20] 30m Step across onto the face to gain the block on the left. Head up and left on the steep white wall. Move left below the expanding flakes to avoid them. Move up to gain the steep grey face. Head slightly right and up to the top of the wall. NOTE: The original ascent climbed the expanding flakes at grade 22. This variation is not recommended due to the fact that gear and handholds are reliant on the creaking flakes.

Scramble to the top or traverse 100m left to the Magnetic Wall abseil station.

Start 10m left of 'Cobblestone Face'

1. [12] 12m:

   Climb straight up through the broken-up face to a substantial ledge directly below a cave.

2. [14] 12m:

   Move 8m right, and continue to a restricted ledge partly composed of bollards. The route follows a deep, vertical crack leading into a cave-like recess under a triangular overhang. At this point move out right 1-2m in order to continue up the fault which now breaks through the triangular overhang.

3. [14] 16m:

   A little distance above, there is a shallow cave containing several large, jagged boulder formations. Climb the vertical fault running through this to a broad ledge. Alternatively, move to the left and then climb up for 3m before moving to the right to the same finish.

4. [14] 10m:

   In order to reach the platform on the free-standing pinnacle, which is a feature of this part of the mountain, climb the pleasant 4m face with small Cederberg-like grips. This pitch is adjacent to 'Avalanche Crag'.

5. [14] 10m:

   Cross the chasm between the free-standing pinnacle and the mountain, and climb the cleft on the right, i.e. the nearest one to 'Staircase' which leads to the top of the Cobblestones Gendarme.

6. [17] 12m:

   The pitch which is strenuous for 3m, runs straight up the face immediately above. Climb up and pull through the overlap, move left and up a shallow, vertical recess for 1-2m before moving right on flange-type grips for about 1m then continue up to the broad ledge above. 'Cobblestone Face' also finishes on this ledge.

7. Scramble to the summit

Hiking Approach:

The routes start up a small corner that faces Cape Town and is next (by a few meters) to the Fountain Ledge path, a short distance before the path swings sharply left to the scramble which leads to the upper ledge.

1. [10] 10m:

   Step off a block and climb up the knobbly corner to a ledge.

2. [10] 10m:

   Climb the next small face and traverse (Dassie crawl) left into a chamber under a large overhang. Note, the Dassie crawl starts just after passing the 'Holy Mackerel' layback crack which is capped by a triangular roof.

3. [10] 14m:

   Climb up the sloping block and squirm about 2m under the roof keeping left until you come out the other side. Sling a small protruding horn to prevent the rope getting stuck. Stand up awkwardly on the small ledge and climb the easy crack to the broad ledge above. Communication is difficult at this stage due to the followers being inside the cave below.

4. [11] 15m:

   Move left to twin cracks. Climb the left-hand one for about 5-6m and then move our right for 3m and continue up to a ledge at the base of the "Gendarme" (pinnacle).

5. [10] 10m:

   Climb to the top of the "Gendarme".

6. [12] 15m:

   Step across onto the face and traverse right, around the corner. Move up to the bottom of an exposed crack which is followed to a fair ledge.

7. Scramble to the summit.

1. [12] 12m

2. [13] 18m

3. [14] 22m

4. [14] 9m

5. [12] 12m

6. [13] 12m

7. [16] 23m

No bolting!

After scrambling up to the staircase ledge (grade 10 scramble), walk left all the way to the end of the ledge to a grey face. Climb up to a standing up exposed, but easy, traverse to the left and around the corner to a half tree (it used to be a big tree but someone cut it and left only the tree trunk). Start climbing from there.

1. [16] 25m Climb straight up the flaky wall to a ledge. Go up to the start of a flaky crack system (the start is awkward) and follow this system, which goes slightly diagonally left, to the end of it. Step right to the face and up till able to reach a wide rail (there are two small rails just above it). Build a hanging belay here.

2. [16] 25m Climb the stunning traverse until forced to move up. Climb straight up to a flaky steep crack system to a small ledge with a big hole on it. Belay from this ledge.

3. [16] 20m Start at the far left of the small ledge climbing straight up on good holds the steep wall to a bulging face. Move slightly right and up into a wide but short crack to a huge ledge. Build your anchor here. Scrambling leads to the top.

Climbs the committing steep arête feature below the Roulette ledge. Start as for 'The Squid and the Whale-Original'.

One of the harder routes on the Ledge. Sustained and a touch exciting.

Start: Start on the staircase ledge about 5m to the right of the arête between 'Jeopardy' and 'Jacob's Ladder'

1. [31] 40m Scramble up the large layback seam for about 10 meters to a ledge. Climb up the centre of the overhanging face through a series of small roofs to the 'Roulette' rail. Plenty of smallish cams are useful to protect this bottom section. Resisting the temptation to sit on the 'Roulette' ledge, rail right for 1m, pull through the roof and climb directly up the face just right of the main arete to join the original line at the 'Captain Hook' rail.

2. Figure out a cunning way to get down and to retrieve your gear or join the final pitch of Roulette.

Rail right for 1m, pull through the roof and climb directly up the face just right of the main arete to join the original line at the hook rail.

One of the harder routes on the Ledge. Sustained and a touch exciting.

Start: Start on the staircase ledge about 5m to the right of the arête between 'Jeopardy' and 'Jacob's Ladder'

1. [31] 40m Scramble up the large layback seam for about 10 meters to a ledge. Climb up the centre of the overhanging face through a series of small roofs to the 'Roulette' rail. Plenty of smallish cams are useful to protect this bottom section. Resisting the temptation to sit on the 'Roulette' ledge, rail right 2m and gain the next rail using the vertical crack. From this position, pull straight through the next little roof via difficult moves to establish in some underclings. Climb past a peg and move diagonally left past the crux of 'Jeopardy' to 2 more pegs and the 'Captain Hook' rail (the end of 'Jeopardy'). Lace the rail with cams and climb the blunt arête. Pull straight through the next roof and exit out left onto jugs on the headwall.

2. Figure out a cunning way to get down and to retrieve your gear or join the final pitch of Roulette.

No bolting!

Start as for 'Jeopardy'

Start as for 'Roulette Arête'.

Start as for 'The Squid and the Whale-Original'

Left of 'Roulette'

1. [25] 20m

2. [22 A2] 10m

3. [19] 35m

No bolting!

Take the first 4 pitches of 'Roulette' until the roof. Pull onto the face and traverse right on the lip of the roof until the overhang below your feet ends, and then straight up the wall above (to the left of the top pitch of 'Myrrh').

1. [16] 35m

   ???

2. [23] 12m

   ???

3. [20] 25m

   ???

4. [11] 20m

   ???

1. [16] 35m

   ???

2. [22] 36m

   ???

1. [16] 35m

   ???

2. [32] 15m

   ???

1. [16] 35m

   ???

2. [34] 15m

   ???

Starts on the staircase ledge -- look for an obvious zigzag crack.

1. [12] 17m

   Climb a short slab to a chimney, then up the chimney. Part way, either step left then up a stepped cracked, or continue up the chimney. Belay on the obvious ledge in an alcove.

2. [12] 24m

   Traverse right, past a wide-step continue traversing around the corner, continue traversing past bolted anchors to belay behind a large boulder.

3. [13] 18m

   At the left end of the boulder, climb a jagged right leaning crack/weakness into a chimney than past a small roof to a ledge.

Continue right through a keyhole and scramble to the top.

Start 2m right of 'Staircase'

1. [20] 20m

   ???

2. [17] 15m

   ???

3. [20] 20m

   ???

7m right of 'Staircase'

1. [17] 23m

   ???

2. [14] 23m

   ???

3. [16] 28m

   ???

No bolting!

1. [23] 12m

   ???

2. [15] 30m

   ???

3. [22] 35m

   ???

1. [24] 17m ???

Start: Right of 'Cool Cat', below the Elevator Roof.

1. [22] 15m

   Move up to the rail under the big roof. Rail strenuously left to the narrow ledge at the point where 'Cool Cat' pulls through the roof.

2. [15] 20m

   Climb the wall to the cave at the start of the Staircase traverse.

3. [20] 20m

   Climb the Aretḗ above the right hand side of the cave, moving right and finally joining the original last pitch of 'Myrrh'.

4. [19] 30m

   From a few meters up the gully, traverse out left onto the steep wall. Climb the center of the wall to the top.

No bolting!

Start: This climb is on 'Fountain Ledge', Table Mountain. The most notable nearby feature is the enormous roof of 'Elevator' about 20m up. Directly below the enormous roof is a big free-standing pillar. Scramble up behind the big pillar for 8m and then walk 10m along a ledge to the left to just beyond the Elevator roof.

1. [24] 16m At the point where the ledge does a sharp right turn, the ledge becomes flat and broad, and there is a smaller ledge a metre higher. Step up onto the higher ledge and climb the shallow recess to the roof. Micro nuts are essential gear. Climb through the stepped-out roof using the big pockets to reach a rail. Rail out to the left over the overhang without feet. Continue around the corner and mantelshelf a small platform. Climb the corner for 3m to make a semi-hanging stance.

2. [25] 30m Continue up the corner system for a couple of metres then move out to the right for a couple of metres. Continue straight up the series of horizontal bands and rails to reach the 'Staircase' Traverse below a small corner/flake feature a metre or two above. Climb this feature and continue up and right on the smooth white wall above. Then head up leftwards to the roof. Climb through the roof and continue up to a small ledge. Continue up to a big ledge to stance. Scramble left for 15m to the huge flat boulder with a fixed abseil, else climb easily to the top.

No bolting!

No bolting!

No bolting!

No bolting!

No bolting!

Start as for Tour de Force. Climb the finger crack through the roof.

No bolting!

No bolting!

This route is around 20 left of the point where one would get abseiling from the top of staircase route.

1. Climb the face just to the left of the arête tending to the right just before getting under the overhang. Climb the arê to stand up in a small ledge above the overhang. Traverse a meter left and climb the 5m face, with no gear but good holds, to a bigger ledge.

2. From the ledge, head to the face on the left on the face and find the clearest way to the staircase ledge.

3. Walk around 8 meters left to a single bench looking rock and climb a small crack system just in front of it (it is just two meters right to the staircase chimney system). Climb the crack to a good ledge. Head right to the top of the big block and up to a big ledge.

This routes ends conveniently very close to the abseil point and an easy scrambling take one to the top of the mountain.

No bolting!

No bolting!

No bolting!

No bolting!

No bolting!

No bolting!

No bolting!

Africa Amphitheatre is the obvious North-East face that overlooks the City of Cape Town. It is home to three great routes, 'Africa Amphitheatre', the modern 'Africa Safari' and the astounding 'Roof of Africa' (the hardest, big route on Table Mountain)

The classic Right Face - Arrow Face traverses the amphitheatre more or less at its lower third and provides a convenient point to abseil to the bottom of the amphitheatre from a sturdy tree.

No bolting.

Although it wanders about and is scruffy in places this route is still very popular and is one of the classic climbs on Table Mountain. Although most parties commence at the level of Africa Ledge, which drops the standard of the route to "E3", the climb starts at the top of Africa Ravine. A left variation was opened in 1947 but these pitches are now used by Africa Sideburn.

These top sections commence near the extreme left-hand end of Africa Ledge. The pitch is up a face about 10m to the left of the recess used by Africa Nose which is on the left-hand side of the large overhangs.

1. 12m "E1": Climb the face to the ledge above to the left of a rock pillar.

2. Traverse left and scramble through two short rock-bands to a ledge that ends under an overhang.

3. 12m "E2": Climb up to the overhang, traverse right and then continue up to the ledge above. As this pitch is rather bushy it is now usual to do a variation to the right. Climb up a short recess of red rock to below an overhand. Swing left and up to step onto a sloping ledge and continue to a good stance.

4. Walk approximately 2 rope lengths to the left and to the base of a very large chimney.

5. 25m "E3": Bridge up the initial metre or two and then either move into the chimney and continue up the crack on the left-hand wall OR continue bridging up the very edge of the chimney and then traverse into the chimney on the left-hand wall to the stance.

6. 25m "D": Climb up the back of the chimney, over a chockstone, and move out left towards a good rock platform. Note (i) It is interesting to watch the facial expressions of a second when he discovers the chockstone is loose. (ii) The Nose Variation starts from this level. If the face is very wet it is probably wise to do this variation.

7. 40m "E1": From the stance move around left on the ledge level with the platform on the face. The exposure now becomes interesting. Continue traversing for about 6m and then move up, using a bollard, and over a smooth sloping section to the top of a second bollard. Continue up for a short distance and then traverse diagonally right towards the chimney. Continue straight up on large holds for the final 10m, on the left-hand edge of the chimney, to a stance under the overhangs. It is possible to break this pitch in two at a small one-man stance below the final vertical section.

8. 40/50m "D": Traverse left until the end of the overhang, then move up and continue along to the extreme left-hand end of the ledge.

9. 15m "E2: Move up and out left from below the small overhang and continue up the crack to a ledge. Walk left to the base of an easy crack.

10. 18m "D": Follow the crack to the summit.

No bolting.

No bolting.

A lonely, exposed pitch consisting of a horizontal roof and steep crack that is visible from Tafelberg road, near the top pitch of Africa Amphitheatre. It could now be done as an alternative, hard last pitch to 'Africa Safari'.

Access: To be done as a single pitch: From the upper cable station, walk towards Platteklip, passing two viewing areas with railings. The next lookout has a stone wall. From here, in the direction of Devil's Peak, one can see a huge, egg-shaped boulder on the edge. About 20m left, as viewed from here, is the top of the pitch. Abseil from good sling points above the left wall of the corner to a platform. Scramble down over a boulder to another ledge below the route.

Route: 30m (24?) Gain the roof and crank through the obvious flake and crack (about 4m long) to the lip, and then follow the steep crack system, taking the right split at the top of the steep section. The top third is still a bit lichenous, but at this stage, the business is over. Consensus grading needed

A direct line, with interesting pitches and the occasional run-out. With some more cleaning, it will be a 4-star route.

Access

Walk along the Right Face Arrow Face traverse. On the climbers left of the tunnels is a low roof ±15m up. Higher up, there is a long roof about 30m up. Start ±20m to the left of the left end of this higher roof, at a point below an off-width crack 20m above the path. Cairn next to the path at the base of the climb.

1. 25m (17) Follow a crack and short face to reach a small ledge. Continue up the face to the left of a small corner to a narrow chimney with an arête on the right side. Follow this to the off-width that was visible from the ground. Continue up to the ledge with a large sickle-shaped rock to belay on.

2. 25m (16) Climb the corner above and then a layback crack to a ledge. Head slightly left on a face and then easily up to a wide ledge. Walk ±6m right to the base of a clean corner crack.

3. 30m (22) Climb the corner and finger crack to a ledge. Continue up the short right-arching crack until able to pull through the steep left wall to good holds below the left end of the roof. Traverse left over a vegetated ledge and onto a large block. Move up and right to an easy angled ramp. Head straight up to a small grassy ledge (this section is easy but a bit run out with one good rail for gear about 2m from the ledge). A #4 Camalot may be useful but is not essential.

4. 15m (17) Traverse left and then up to a long, wide edge. Continue left along this until a long pull gains good holds above, which are followed straight up to a broad ledge (sparse gear). Walk right ±5m to a break in the lower overhang that runs across the back of the ledge.

5. 20m (17) Pull up to a wide rail and reach over the roof to good holds. Traverse left ±3m and then straight up until able to move easily left onto the big ledge with a tree at the base of a wide chimney. A #4 Camalot may be useful but is not essential.

6. 35m (21) To the right of the wide chimney is a left-leaning ramp with good holds, which is slightly separate from the face to the right. Follow the ramp for a few meters and step right onto a narrow ledge. Head straight up the edges on the face above to the next horizontal break. Continue straight up to a large block under the roof. Step right and up to pass the roof, then go diagonally left up a low angle slab to some large pocket-type features. From here crank up until able to reach good holds above the slopers. Continue easily up the face to the next ledge at a point just left of the bushes. Stance directly below the roof crack above.

7. 25m (15) Climb the leftmost side of the juggy face above to the top.

An alternative finish is to blast straight through the roof crack at the top of pitch 6. This was opened in 2012 as the stand-alone pitch called 'No Horizon'

A direct line, with interesting pitches and the occasional run-out. With some more cleaning, it will be a 4-star route.

Access

Walk along the Right Face Arrow Face traverse. On the climbers left of the tunnels is a low roof ±15m up. Higher up, there is a long roof about 30m up. Start ±20m to the left of the left end of this higher roof, at a point below an off-width crack 20m above the path. Cairn next to the path at the base of the climb.

1. 25m (17) Follow a crack and short face to reach a small ledge. Continue up the face to the left of a small corner to a narrow chimney with an arête on the right side. Follow this to the off-width that was visible from the ground. Continue up to the ledge with a large sickle-shaped rock to belay on.

2. 25m (16) Climb the corner above and then a layback crack to a ledge. Head slightly left on a face and then easily up to a wide ledge. Walk ±6m right to the base of a clean corner crack.

3. 30m (22) Climb the corner and finger crack to a ledge. Continue up the short right-arching crack until able to pull through the steep left wall to good holds below the left end of the roof. Traverse left over a vegetated ledge and onto a large block. Move up and right to an easy angled ramp. Head straight up to a small grassy ledge (this section is easy but a bit run out with one good rail for gear about 2m from the ledge). A #4 Camalot may be useful but is not essential.

4. 15m (17) Traverse left and then up to a long, wide edge. Continue left along this until a long pull gains good holds above, which are followed straight up to a broad ledge (sparse gear). Walk right ±5m to a break in the lower overhang that runs across the back of the ledge.

5. 20m (17) Pull up to a wide rail and reach over the roof to good holds. Traverse left ±3m and then straight up until able to move easily left onto the big ledge with a tree at the base of a wide chimney. A #4 Camalot may be useful but is not essential.

6. 35m (20) Tricky gear. Traverse right on the narrow ledge 5 meters up and over a slanted, squeeze type feature to a huge jug. Pull up to a smooth ledge with succulents growing at the back (but avoid the dangerous loose boulder to the left). Pull up and right, and then slightly back left to the low angle slab just over the roof and continue as per the direct pitch. Scramble right and up to a small platform below the final face.

7. 25m (15) Climb the leftmost side of the juggy face above to the top

An alternative finish is to blast straight through the roof crack at the top of pitch 6. This was opened in 2012 as the stand-alone pitch called 'No Horizon'

Easiest approach along Arrow Face Right Face traverse. Abseil point from the cherry tree below enormous detached feature mid traverse. Abseil down for the first 2 pitches from “base camp”. 50m rope just adequate.

1. [21] 20m Climb break in the centre of the wall in line with the abseil to a ledge.

2. [20] 30m Climb the short wall above through the roof. Up cleaned rock, slightly right at the small overhang, pull through and diagonally left to the cherry tree.

3. [12] 15m Scramble on the outside of the anvil-shaped feature and left to the tip.

4. [22] 25m From the tip of the anvil rail 1m left and climb straight up. Up the slab above to a thin crack break above small overlap. Up this, up to a higher rail to rest on the right under another small overhang. Up to the small ledge above on the left.

5. [22] 15m Straight up to the corner leading to the roof. Move left until an undercling and footholds enable one to reach above the overhang. Up the wall on the left to a ledge.

6. [22] 30m Walk 15m left to a corner leading to a rail through the roof. Climb up and left to the blunt arete. Straight up this. Continue in a straight line to chain on a big block in the middle of the bushy ledge.

7. [22] 40m Start 5m to the left on a white arete. Climb up on the pockets, up the break above tending left to below the obvious undercut chimney feature. Puzzle this out and finish at a chain just above.

8. [16] 40m Up 5m to a ledge. Walk left and climb the juggy wall to the top.

On the same level on the ledge to the right is a chain abseil point. 4 abseils off chains around blocks take you back to the traverse line.

📷 Hilton and Tinie on the FA

Pitch 1: 15m Grade 21 Start a bit right of safari and climb up and a bit left at the top to a stance under a left of a roof

Pitch 2: 25m Grade 24+ Climb through the break in the roof a bit right of the stance and continue up the face to the big tea cave ledge where you can walk off

Pitch 3: 8m Grade 19 From the big slot cave stand on a cairn to the left to reach the high rail and do a hard move and the scramble to another big ledge below the huge roof

Pitch 4: 20m Grade 25 Start left of the big flat rock and climb up to the roof break, which has a green triangle jug in the beginning, at the lip go left to a jug and then up right to 2 pegs and continue a little way up to a stance

Pitch 5: 15m Grade 20 Climb up to the top

NOTE: one can also walk in from the tea cave level and do pitch 3 and then do the money pitch (4) From the big ledge above and lower off the pegs like a sport route And rap off tat down Pitch 3 then walk back to the tea cave

Start: The route starts in the middle of the amphitheatre where a tabletop-sized slab of rock lies at a diagonal angle against the rockface. Scramble up the slab and go right a metre or two on the ledge to the first break consisting of a vertical crack.

Pitch 1 20m 21: Climb the crack for a few metres. Step right and climb up to the roof. Rail left then go up to a big pocket on the left. Reach up to a rail and traverse right above the roof. Climb up to intersect the next roof on its left. Go up the corner then step out right onto the arête. Continue up to the big bushy ledge to stance where Pitch 2 directly begins up the whitish wall above;

Pitch 2 40m 23: Start up the white wall using little rails and pockets to reach a small rail 4m up. Rail right for 2m then climb a crack with a piton. Head up and leftwards over a couple of little ledges. On a ledge walk left along a solid rock razor. At the end climb up leftwards towards a roof. Climb through the roof and continue up to the Right Face – Arrow Face Traverse. Scramble up the back of the Breakfast Rock to stance on top;

Pitch 3 25m 26: At the entrance to the tunnel scramble up onto the rock shelf on the left. Stand on a jammed flake and climb up to the roof. Rail left for 8m (Camalot #3 and #4). At the horn lean out and climb up at a piton to reach the roof above. Rail right for a metre or two then climb a flake and a wall to reach a big rail. Continue up a corner to exit on the left and climb up to a good rail and ledge. (The Right Face Arrow Face Pitch);

Pitch 4 30m 23: Walk 3m right then go up the first break. Climb up to the corner that goes through the small roof. Climb the corner and the arête to the right for a couple of metres. Step across to the left and rail out for 3m. Pull up into the Post Box then up to a thin rail above it with a piton. From the piton go 1m right and climb the steep edge to a little ledge. Go diagonally up leftwards for some way to reach a hanging stance with a piton below the hanging corners.

Pitch 5 30m 23: Climb the hanging corners angling up leftwards. Break through the roof at the left end and climb the wall to a big ledge. Bring the party up then walk 10m up and over to the left and around the corner (passing Africa Safari’s arête) to make a stance directly below the big crack through the huge dimpled roof.

Pitch 6 35m 28: Climb up to the roof then hang upside down to climb the crack to the lip and then 2m up the wall to the first rail. Traverse a long way left and upwards to a break where you start up left then at a roof go a little right and up a finger crack and up to a roof with a good rail. Rail left to the little Diving Board, climb up onto this horizontally wedged flake without pulling it off, and continue straight up to the big camping ledge.

Pitch 7 25m 22: Step off the big flat rock and pull up to get onto a semi-sitting ledge. Go a metre or two to the right to the obvious post box for a Camalot #2. Climb the break up on the left to get onto the wall. Go up and left to the attractive white wall. Climb the blunt arête and head up to a good ledge;

Pitch 8 15m 23: Lead off to the right and climb the crack through the enormous roof. Go up the corner then exit left onto a small stance;

Pitch 9 15m 28: Go up right into the crawling ledge. Climb the underside of the biggest part of the roof to get to the pointy tip. Get onto the wall and climb the arête and the wall to the left to get up to a small ledge and stance. Bring the party up then scramble and then walk left along the ledge. Scramble up to the obvious rock platform below the big arête to stance;

Pitch 10 20m 20: From the platform pull up the steep arête and continue up to the roof. Go left for a few metres to a break, through the small roof. Continue directly up to the top.

Descent: Cable car or India Venster walk.

Approach: The route starts at the top of Africa Ravine. There are several good ways to get to it. The nicest is to get to the Right Face – Arrow Face Traverse tunnel and then do a 50m abseil off the big cherry tree using the lowest link in the big chain.

Start: The route starts at the far left of the amphitheatre on the clean white rock below the big overhangs 60m above. A few metres right from the tree in the very corner find a cairn below a clean vertical crack.

1. 42m 20: Climb the crack for 10m to a ledge. Step right and climb the big, thin flake for a few metres. Start up leftwards on the pocketed brown wall then angle to the right. Step around into a corner and head up for a few metres. Climb the 10m face on the right up to a good ledge. Walk out right and stance at the end;

2. 27m 16: Go up for a few metres then angle up rightwards for 10m then go straight up a big corner to stance on the bushy Right Face – Arrow Face Traverse. Walk left (east) for 15m to just beyond a big tree. Stance at the big detached block beneath an overhang;

3. 27m 20: Stand on the block to place gear at full stretch in the thin horizontal rail. Rail to the right for a couple of metres then crank hard to get onto the ledge. Climb up on the left for a few metres to a ledge. Climb the slab close to the right end up to a small ledge. Climb the next slab in the middle up to a big ledge;

4. 27m 22: Start up the appealing corner on the left and get up into a big groove. Continue straight up and right up laybacks for 10m to a small roof. Climb around the roof on the left. Climb 10m up cracks and a pod to reach a big ledge. Walk a few metres left to stance at the huge block;

5. 15m 20: Start in the chamber behind the huge block, and scramble up left to the base of a crack system. Follow this for a few meters and pull up and left to a little platform. Pull onto the face on edges and up left to the top of the crack taken by Kape Moss pitch 3. Traverse right on the sloping ledge to a stance below a very thin crack in the face over the roof;

6. 25m 26: Crank over the first roof by the thin crack to a shelf below the second bigger roof. Rail right to below the steep bottomless corner at the right side of the roof above. Get a few micro/small wire placements in the horizontal seam at the base of the corner before launching into the crux sequence. Hard moves past a narrow, vertical finger slot lead to a good rail at the next overlap. Traverse left until the end of the rail, below a bulging section. Pull through and step left on the face above. Continue straight up to a final rail, step 1m left and then up onto the slab that is followed to the bivvy ledge. Walk a few meters left to a split block below a break in the low overhang. (Maybe 27+ for onsight);

7. 20m 19: Pull through the low overhang onto the white face and head straight up to the left side of a small roof in the middle of the face. Pull through and step right to above the roof and tend right for two or three metres. Continue up through at a break and then left to stance below a large corner (taken by Africa Amphitheatre);

8. 30m 20: Climb over some blocks to the white face that forms the left side of the huge corner. Head straight up the middle of the face. Crank off the 4 or 5 horizontal ripples then run it out until the rail. The holds are positive but don’t fall off - that landing would be bad. At the roof move left to the break through the roof on the left side, then up the ramp to the left and easy face to the ledge;

9. 20m 15: Climb the juggy wall on the left to the top.

Descent: Cable car or India Venster walk.

Notes: Double rack of cams, full set of wires including micros and 50m ropes are recommended. The crux pitch could be done with a single point of aid at about 23 A1. A free link-up at grade 22 would be to skip the crux pitch by moving from Pitch 5 into the top part of Kape Moss pitch 3 until the Bivvy Ledge.

Pages 44-48 MCSA Journal 1945

Pages 37-43 MCSA Journal 1925

Pages 112-114 MCSA Journal 1959

Pages 152-153 MCSA Journal 1967

Pages 94-95 MCSA Journal 1970