Getting to the top of Table Mountain is now a little easier, with the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (TMACC) introducing WhatsApp ticketing as part of a broader push to make the attraction more accessible.
The move comes during Tourism Month as South Africa’s international tourism numbers continue to climb.
Access Starts Before Visitors Arrive
TMACC has added WhatsApp as a new ticketing channel through Webtickets, giving visitors another way to purchase standard return and one-way tickets. Visitors can access the option through the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway tickets page on Webtickets by selecting “Buy via WhatsApp”, by scanning the QR code at the Ticket Office or in the queue at the Lower Station. WhatsApp tickets, like tickets purchased online or at the Ticket Office, are valid for seven days. Unused WhatsApp tickets can be fully refunded through the platform within that validity period. Concession and special-offer fares are not sold via WhatsApp and remain available through the relevant existing channels.
Access to information is another part of the visitor journey. TMACC’s website and mobile app provide live information on operating status, temperature, visibility, wind conditions, first and last car times and estimated waiting times at the Lower and Upper Cable Stations.
“Mountain weather can change quickly, and operating responsibly means that sometimes the Cableway has to stop,” said Wahida Parker, Managing Director of TMACC.
She said that providing people with accurate information in real time allows visitors to plan accordingly.
Tourism Growth
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The country recorded 991,696 international tourist arrivals in July 2026, up 12.5% from the same month last year, while arrivals for the first seven months reached 6.58 million, a 12.4% year-on-year increase. Growth was led by African markets, up 14.3%, while overseas arrivals grew 5.7%.
The South African Reserve Bank noted in its Chart of the Week on 4 September 2026 that arrivals in the first half of 2026, at roughly 5.6 million, remained above pre-pandemic levels, with growth driven largely by SADC markets. Overseas arrivals for January to July 2026 reached 1.37 million, or 94.7% of 2019 levels, reinforcing the importance of regional and domestic visitors to the Cableway’s year-round volumes.
“Table Mountain serves two audiences at once. It is often the first experience an international visitor has of Cape Town, and it is a mountain that Capetonians treat as their own,” said Parker.
“For us, access means looking at the whole visitor journey. It is about making it easier to plan a visit, access tickets, understand operating conditions, reach more of the summit and, where possible, make the experience affordable and available to different groups,” she emphasised.
Mountain Accessibility
The Universal Access Walkway, opened in April 2026 in partnership with SANParks, provides visitors using wheelchairs, prams and other mobility aids with a dedicated route towards the edge of the summit plateau. It extends the area of the mountain that can be reached by visitors with different mobility needs. TMACC has also introduced additional measures across the Cableway experience, including dedicated parking bays at the Lower Station for visitors with disabled parking permits, priority access at the ticket office and access to lifts serving the Cableway.
Wheelchairs are available at the Cableway on request, while mobility scooters are available at the Upper Station subject to a safety assessment and staff guidance. The summit also includes ramps at the TEN67 Eatery and a dedicated lift servicing the VIEWS by De Grendel wine bar and restaurant. A route map showing which summit pathways are suitable for wheelchairs and mobility scooters is also available through TMACC’s Universal Access information.
“Table Mountain is a natural environment and there are physical limitations to what can be made accessible. What matters is being transparent about those limitations while continuing to improve the parts of the experience that we can,” added Parker.
Making the Mountain More Affordable
For TMACC, accessibility also includes creating ways for more South Africans to experience the mountain. Its year-round and seasonal offers provide different entry points for families, young people, students, pensioners and regular visitors.
- Children aged 4 to 17 qualify for child ticket rates. From 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, the online return rate is R230, while the Ticket Office return rate is R270. Children under four travel free.
- South African senior citizens aged 60 and older pay R130 for a return ticket seven days a week, online or at the Ticket Office, with a valid South African ID.
- Students aged 18 and older, local and international, pay R320 return or R200 one way with a valid student card. Student tickets are available at the Lower Station Ticket Office.
- South Africans can redeem a free return Cableway ticket during their birthday month at the Ticket Office or Visitor Information Centre with valid South African identification.
- South Africans can also redeem the Local is Lekker special valid until 31 October 2026. A return ticket rate for adults is R265, while the rate for children is R135. A valid South African ID is required when booking.
- Regular visitors can make use of the Virtual Cable Card, with options for adults, children aged 4 to 17 and South African pensioners aged 60 and older, providing year-round access for frequent users.
Opening Access To Education
TMACC also uses the Cableway to broaden access to learning through Class in the Clouds, its environmental education programme for Grade 1 to Grade 12 learners. The programme is available at a special concession rate and gives learners the opportunity to explore Table Mountain while learning about its fauna, flora, history and geography in a natural setting. Since the programme began in 2001, more than 367 000 learners have participated.
The 2026 Class in the Clouds programme runs until 30 October, Monday to Friday, excluding school holidays and public holidays. More than 15 000 learners take part in the programme each year, with each booking able to accommodate 10 to 100 learners per time slot.
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