About Klipspring Hikes & Our Expert Guides
At Klipspring Hikes, we blend culture and adventure through guided hikes and tours in Cape Town and beyond. With food as a powerful way to connect to history, stories and place, our hikes invite you to slow down, explore deeply, and gain new perspectives on the natural world – and on each other.
We’re serious about fun, but even more serious about safety. That’s why we work with a small, personally selected team of professionally qualified mountain guides, each bringing decades of local experience and intimate knowledge of Table Mountain and the surrounding Cape Fold Mountains.
With 25+ years of hiking experience, you're in great company
Between us, we bring decades of experience hiking, guiding and exploring the mountains of the Cape and beyond.
Our guides are calm, attentive and deeply familiar with the terrain – focused on safety, good decision-making, thoughtful pacing and creating a relaxed, welcoming experience on the mountain.
Marié van Niekerk
Meet Marié – founder of Klipspring Hikes and a qualified mountain guide with over 25 years of experience hiking, camping and climbing in South Africa and beyond. A native Capetonian, she grew up with the Cape Fold Mountains as her extended backyard and has deep, practical knowledge of the region’s terrain, history and heritage.
Her curiosity and love of travel led to a series of bold career moves, living and working in London, Paris, New York and Amsterdam. Over the past decade, she has explored the mountains of the French and Swiss Alps, the Mediterranean landscapes of Greece, Corsica and Croatia, and the wild northern regions of Sweden, Norway and Iceland.
As a guide, Marié is known for her calm presence, thoughtful pacing and attention to detail. She enjoys creating hikes that feel relaxed and immersive, where guests feel well cared for and fully present in the landscape. Her love of cooking is never far away, and all Klipspring guests enjoy delicious, nutritious homemade mountain meals prepared with care and local flavour.
Marié is an active member of the Mountain Club of South Africa (MCSA) and a SANParks Voluntary Ranger in training. Fully trilingual, she speaks English, Afrikaans and Dutch fluently, with conversational French picked up along the way.
Her dog Otto occupies half of her sofa and the whole of her heart — and, when conditions allow, enthusiastically joins her on mountain missions.
JARROD MARSHALL
Jarrod was born and raised in a small rural town on South Africa’s rugged west coast, where his connection to the outdoors began early. His childhood was spent barefoot, building treehouses, riding BMX and exploring the wild – a foundation that naturally led to a life in the mountains and a career as a qualified mountain guide.
An experienced hiker and trail runner, Jarrod has explored mountain landscapes across South Africa and Europe. One of his standout achievements includes summiting the three highest peaks in the UK – Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon – in under 24 hours. He has also spent time hiking in the French Alps and has extensive, practical knowledge of the trails in and around Cape Town.
As a guide, Jarrod is calm, focused and attentive, with a steady presence that helps guests feel safe and supported on the trail. He has a natural way of reading the group and adjusting pace and approach, ensuring hikes feel challenging in the right places and relaxed where they should be.
Jarrod is a dedicated member of Search and Rescue South Africa, volunteering his skills in service of the community and bringing a strong safety mindset to every hike he leads.
MONIQUE BERMEISTER
Monique is a nature enthusiast with a deep appreciation for flora, fauna and the quieter details of the landscape. A rock climber and AllTrails Trail Ambassador, she brings a thoughtful, observant approach to the mountain and a genuine curiosity about the natural world.
She has spent years exploring the trails and lesser-known corners of the Cape Peninsula, developing a strong understanding of local plant life, geology and ecology. Her interests extend beyond the mountains into South Africa’s layered cultural history, which she weaves naturally into her guiding.
As a guide, Monique is attentive, encouraging and engaging, with a talent for storytelling and a light, cheeky sense of humour. She has a way of making guests feel comfortable and curious, creating hikes that are as informative as they are enjoyable.
When she’s not on the trail, Monique enjoys wine tasting, peninsula explorations and continuing to deepen her knowledge of the landscapes she loves to share.
TREES - FOR PEOPLE WHO LIKE BREATHING
WHY TREES?
Trees do some quietly extraordinary things for the planet – and for us. They cool the air, clean it, protect water systems, support wildlife, and help keep ecosystems resilient in the face of climate change. In short: trees make life on Earth more liveable.
Which is why we think planting them is a pretty good idea.
- Climate Regulation:
Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen – which is important if you’re the kind of person who enjoys breathing. They also help regulate temperature, cooling surrounding areas, something that matters more every year.
- Supporting Wildlife:
Trees, forests and woodlands provide food, shelter and breeding grounds for countless species. More trees mean healthier habitats for birds, insects and animals.
- Protecting Fresh Water:
Tree roots help prevent soil erosion and promote groundwater recharge – essential for maintaining long-term freshwater supplies.
- Cleaning the Air:
Trees act as natural air filters, trapping pollutants and improving air quality, especially in and around urban areas.
- Making Life Better:
Trees provide shade, cool us down on hot days, and make neighbourhoods more liveable. They contribute to physical health, mental wellbeing and community resilience.
Our commitment:
For every hike you take with Klipspring, we plant and maintain one tree through our partnership with Greenpop.
If you’d like to match our pledge (or go bigger), you’re welcome to plant an extra tree or two when you book your hike. Your future self – and the planet – will thank you.