Table Mountain

Photo courtesy Ryan Whisner

On November 11, 2011, Table Mountain was named among the New7Wonders of Nature, following a lengthy international public voting process.

You can get to the top of Cape Town’s most famous icon in just five minutes by taking a cable car up, or spend the better part of your day hiking it.

Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, established in 1929, takes visitors to the top in one of two cable cars, each with rotating floors and huge windows to ensure your views while travelling are almost as spectacular as those on the summit. Cable cars depart every 10 to 15 minutes.

There are a number of short walks on the top, as well as longer ones that can take you down to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, or even further along, to the Silvermine Nature Reserve.

Table Mountain is known for its rich biodiversity and is home to over 1 500 species of plants (more than the number found throughout the entire British Isles), most of them fynbos, which forms one of the world’s six plant kingdoms all on its own. At its highest point, Table Mountain reaches 1 085m (3 560ft) and affords views all the way to Robben Island and beyond.

When you’ve worked up an appetite, Table Mountain Café is a self-service restaurant where you can enjoy food and refreshments. The Café uses compostable plates and containers for food instead of regular, washable plates, helping conserve about 20 000 litres of water per month. Measures like these are part of Table Mountain Aerial Cableway’s mission to reduce their ecological footprint.

The lower cable station is located at the western end of Table Mountain. A CitySightseeing bus, taxi (at about R60 one way) or Rikki cab (around R20 per person) from the CBD will take you to the departure point, or if you’re using your own transport, take Buitengracht Street towards the mountain. After crossing Camp Street, Buitengracht becomes Kloof Nek Road. Follow Kloof Nek Road to a traffic circle, then turn left at Tafelberg Road and follow the signs to the Cableway.

The Cableway operates only when weather permits and does not take bookings. Tickets can be purchased on the day of your visit at the lower station ticket office or online (a better option, particularly on busy days, as the queue for those with online tickets is shorter). It is freely accessible to people with disabilities, and there are dedicated parking spots at the lower cable station for those with disabilities. Visit the Cableway’s website to check the weather conditions, ensure the cable cars are running, and purchase tickets online.

If you would prefer to hike up the mountain, contact the Cape Town Tourism Visitor Information Centre at the lower cable station to book a registered guide or tour operator. You can book any tour, accommodation and transport from this centre, and make reservations for any one of South Africa’s national parks.

There are also other ways to experience the mountain up close, including doing the Hoerikwaggo Trail, or walking up the mountain from Silvermine Nature Reserve or Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Depending on where you walk from, you may not have to pay a cent to enjoy the mountain (this includes walking up the front of the mountain via Platteklip Gorge).



Extra info

Weatherline: +27 (0)21 424 8181

Opening hours:

Opening hours vary from season to season. For full details, please check the website schedule. Generally the first car goes up at 08h00 and the last car comes down at 21h30 in summer. In winter, the first car goes up at around 08h30 and the last returns at 18h00.

Prices (valid October 1, 2011 – September 30, 2012):

Discounted rates for tickets bought online.

Adult return R 195
Adult one-way R 100
Child (4 – 17) return R 95
Child (4 – 17) one-way R 50

Newlands rugby stadium

Newlands rugby stadium, officially known as DHL Newlands, is where the Springboks play their international matches in Cape Town. The stadium is also the home ground of the Stormers and Western Province rugby teams.

Scarborough

Along the winding road from Kommetjie past Witsands and Misty Cliffs, approximately an hour’s drive from Cape Town city centre, you’ll come upon a pretty seaside village flanked by pristine beaches, scenic mountains and a camel-shaped rock formation – this is Scarborough.

Ratanga Junction

Picture this ... You’re strapped into your seat, hanging under the track of a looping roller coaster that’s hurtling down a twisting track at about 100km/h. Screams fill the air, and you’re not sure you’ll live to savour the memories ... If that sounds like fun to you, then Ratanga Junction’s the place you need to be!

Lion’s Head

Lion’s Head forms part of the Table Mountain range and provides a scenic backdrop to the City of Cape Town.

Great rides

Feel the kiss of the salty wind astraddle a classic car or motorcycle, while taking in the magnificence of Cape Town’s mountain and ocean scenery.

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