Mowbray Ridge, Cape Town

Photographs & words by…
Ryan Scott

Runner…
Nick Muzik

GPS LOCATION
33°57’8.497”S 18°27’32.692”E

DURATION
Provided you take strategic rest breaks before you start feeling tired on the initial climb, if you’re a middle-of-the-pack trail runner you should reach the highest part of the Ridge in two and a half hours. The descent may be quicker, but your quads will take a pounding.

BEST TIME TO RUN
Early mornings are great, but early evenings are even better. Time it right – i.e. arrive at the Ridge 45 minutes before sunset – and the interaction between the sun, Table Mountain and Lion’s Head is spectacular.

TERRAIN
Well-travelled jeep tracks, solid singletracks, and steep (but not dangerous) rock faces and boulders are typical on the face of Table Mountain. But when you reach Knife Edge, singletrack gives way to boulders, and the Ridge becomes steep and sheer. The terrain isn’t technical, but it does present a challenge for those with a fear of heights.

THE RUN
Straight up to Knife Edge, and back down again. A good portion of this 6.5km loop involves an intense gradient – not even advanced runners should expect to run all the way up this steep climb.

Pace yourself by combining power walking, scrambling and running. Don’t push yourself into the red zone voluntarily, because the arduous ascent will take care of that. Try to bank some power in your reserve.

Follow the trail straight up from Rhodes Memorial, via the King’s Blockhouse. Continue upwards past the small hut above the Blockhouse, until you reach a path to the right that is 100 metres below Knife Edge.

Then you have two options: either ignore the path and continue straight upwards, scrambling safely across; or, if you’re scared of heights and dramatic drop-offs, taking the contour path to the right will prove a far less jarring experience. The contour path leads towards the City Bowl, so you can make your way down via a variety of singletrack trails – either back to Rhodes Mem, or you can go in search of further adventures on the slopes of Table Mountain.

GETTING THERE
Take the M3, and look out for the signage to Rhodes Memorial, between UCT and Kirstenbosch. Park at Rhodes Mem, and begin your run on the singletrack that starts from the steepest part of the parking lot. Then, power your way up the singletrack, towards the King’s Blockhouse.

INSIDER TIP
Give yourself a window of a few days, and keep an eye on the wind (for an accurate prediction, visit windguru.com). It’s not worth the trip if the wind’s pumping – which it often is, in this part of Cape Town.

Take in the view. In a full 360 degrees you can admire the City Bowl, Devil’s Peak, and Muizenberg over the top of the lush Southern Suburbs; Lion’s Head, the harbour, and the Hottentots Holland Mountains; and the flora and fauna of Table Mountain.

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