The Western Cape
The Western Cape, with its Mediterranean climate, is the most diverse climbing region in the country. With the close proximity of excellent restaurants, wine estates and great beaches, this region is hard to beat. Think Provence, but only better !!
Table Mountain is definitely worth a day or two, even if you are really a sport climber. The steep, pumping routes are mostly very airy. The hard quartzitic sandstone is weathered into amazing jugs and gargoyles, making even the steepest walls quite climbable. Grades to suit all.
The rest of the Cape Peninsula contains numerous quality bouldering area, sport crags and trad areas. Topside is tops for bouldering, Silvermine (home of the exquisite Stirling Silver (21)) is very popular with sport climbers, and crags like Elsies Peak and Muizenberg offer good tradding with gorgeous views.
Two to three hours north of Cape Town lies the wonderland of the Cederberg. The sport climbing at Rocklands and Truitjieskraal is definitely worthwhile, and the bouldering at Rocklands is well known as a world-class venue. What is largely unknown, is that the true value of the Cederberg lies in the quality of the trad climbing at Wolfberg, Tafelberg and Krakadouw ! Excellent quality rock, routes up to 8 pitches, stunning surroundings with a real wilderness feel, make a visit to these crags a truly unforgettable experience.
The other major venue is Montagu, primarily the home of the sport climber, but also playing host to classic trad routes like Technicolour Darkness and Titanium Trip.
If longer back-country type routes are more your style, there are a host of 10 - 20 pitch routes to choose from. Some are excellent, others are bushy horrors. Speak to the locals. Many of these routes are long, sustained and on good rock, and wouls satisfy the appetite of most alpine or big-wall climbers.
