Rock Climbing
- About climbing in South Africa
- Guided rock climbing with Venture Forth
- Cape Peninsula Sport Climbing
- Table Mountain Traditional Climbing
- Country Routes, Big Walls & Alpine Rock Routes
- Climbing Road Trips
About climbing in South Africa
South Africa is a rock climber’s paradise offering spectacular routes of all grades on fantastic quality rock in pristine mountain environments. Our crags are not as overcrowded as those in the UK, Europe or North America, yet the quality of climbs often far surpasses that found in other parts of the world. Standing in line to get onto the rock is almost unheard of and, if its solitude you are after, you normally don’t need to go too far to find peace and quiet.
Various types of climbing is available in grades to suit all levels of experience and ability. Sport Climbing and Traditional Climbing routes can be found in various places all around the country. Long Country Routes, Big Walls and Alpine Rock can be found in places such as the Du Toit’s Kloof Mountains of the Western Cape, the famous and high Drakensberg Mountains or Blouberg in the North.
The Western Cape offers some of the best climbing available in the country. If you stay anywhere near Cape Town you can get onto high quality rock routes within minutes. There are loads of sport climbing options at various venues i.e. Table Mountain and the Peninsula Chain which offers multi-pitch traditional climbing ranging from easy classics to hard test pieces on quality rock.
If you are up for taking a road trip, one can head out to the multitude of crags near the enchanting town of Montague or up the West Coast to the rugged Cederberg Wilderness with its giant peaks and ancient rock formations. Oudtshoorn and the Swartberg Mountains call in the distance. You can stay for a weekend or a week, travel to different venues and see the country in the process. The options are endless.
If you are a climber you will not leave South Africa disappointed.
Guided rock climbing with Venture Forth
Venture Forth offers guided rock climbing for all levels of experience and fitness. Our guides are highly experienced and all are suitably qualified and registered. We are based in the shadow of Table Mountain in Cape Town and thus your best choice as a guide service to explore the wonders of the Western Cape Mountains. We also offer guided climbing in other parts of the country such as the Drakensberg and Magaliesberg.
Guided rock climbing is mostly done as Private Guiding and often it’s just a single client, one-on-one with a guide. This offers you a wide range of options and a flexible itinerary. Venture Forth will provide all the required equipment so you don’t need to pay for extra weight on your flight. Please have a look at some of the options below.
Cape Peninsula Sport Climbing
We offer both half-day and full-day sport climbing options around the Cape Peninsula. There are excellent routes available for all levels and we will show you the best crags and ensure your safety. On the menu will be places like Silvermine Nature Reserve, Lakeside Pinnacle, historical Peers Cave or the giant granite domes of Paarl Mountain in the Winelands. On a half-day tour you will see only one crag but on a full-day tour we can visit two crags giving you more climbing options and allowing more sight-seeing. Please contact us for details and options.
Table Mountain Traditional Climbing
Standing 1086m tall above the Mother City is arguably South Africa’s most famous landmark, Table Mountain. The city of Cape Town and its suburbs surround the giant 80km long mountain chain stretching from Signal Hill above Table Bay to Cape Point in the South. In Cape Town life literally centres around the mountain.
Table Mountain is a World Heritage Site and a proclaimed National Park with great biodiversity and fantastic natural beauty. The mountain offers inspiring traditional rock climbing routes, mostly on high quality Sandstone.
Venture Forth offers full-day guided rock climbing trips on Table Mountain with a wide variety of routes to choose from. All levels of experience and ability are catered for and our experienced, qualified guides ensure your safety. Please contact us for options and more details.
Country Routes, Big Walls & Alpine Rock Routes
If you would like a complete mountain experience then we suggest taking on a mountain route in Du Toit’s Kloof, the Cederberg or the Drakensberg. Come and experience solitude, high mountain adventure and great climbing in one of South Africa’s more remote ranges. Trips ranging from 2 days to 2 weeks are available and customised to suit your requirements. Please contact us for options and more information.
Climbing Road Trips
Want to see the best of the Western Cape Mountains, or maybe the county? No problem! Grab your pack and toss it in the back so that we can take you on an unforgettable adventure - climbing at all the best crags and seeing great towns along the way. Experience a road trip, South African style! Please contact us so that we can suggest an itinerary.
Add-on Options
Yes, we have to admit that there is much more to South Africa than just rock climbing. So, on your rest days, please consider river rafting, wine touring, game viewing, quad biking, horse riding, sight-seeing or just sitting on one of our exquisite beaches. Talk to us, we’ll make all the arrangements.
