Justin Hawthorne is a professional mountain guide, working primarily in the Western Cape of South Africa. He is accredited and registered to legally guide anywhere in the province, on or off trail. Justin guides with a genuine passion for the mountain and is an ambassador for all things positive towards Table Mountain.
Table Mountain hikes vary from short walks in the forest, to day hikes up more popular ascent routes to adventurous scrambles and trails off-the-beaten-track! Over and above the day hikes, overnight hiking across the Table Mountain Chain is an area Justin has ample experience in leading and organizing. All hikes include a strong focus on interpretation of fynbos and forest ecology.
Whether you’re adventurous and interested in hiking routes such as India Venster, Grotto-Fountain-Cairn Traverse or Hiddingh-Ascension via Ferny Gully, or maybe you’re keen on something less technical but off-the-beaten track like Tranquility Cracks, Constantia Corner or Grootkop on the Twelve Apostles – I’d love to lead the way!
I enjoy guiding families and youngsters on easier trails too where I shift from a botanical excursion to looking closer at tracks and signs, wildlife and birds, frogs and insects…and we include some cool spots such as caves, rivers, beaches, forests and rocky outcrops. It is great fun for a birthday excursion with a twist!
For trails further afield I also guide a myriad of routes across the Cape Peninsula and around the Western Cape. Trails in the Boland (Simonsberg, Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve, Jonkershoek and the Hottentots Holland Nature Reserves, Helderberg, the Kogelberg), the Cederberg and Groot Winterhoek as well as the Du Toits Kloof Mountains in the Limietberg Nature Reserve among others. Send me an email to start planning your hiking adventure.
Justin Hawthorne 