Table Mountain is South Africa’s most famous landmark. It is a flat-topped mountain overlooking the city of Cape Town, known for being one of the New7Wonders of Nature. It got its name for its uncanny resemblance to a table. It owes its table-top flatness to the fact that it is a syncline mountain, meaning that it once was the bottom of a valley. Table Mountain is a great destination for nature-lovers and adventurous individuals. Tourists and locals can enjoy the activities like hiking, rock climbing, caving and mountain biking.
The plateau forms a dramatic backdrop to Cape Town. The main feature of the Table Mountain is the level plateau approximately 3 kilometers from side to side, edged by impressive cliffs. The highest point on Table Mountain is towards the eastern end of the plateau and is marked by Maclear’s Beacon.
The flat top of the mountain is often covered by orographic clouds known as the “table cloth”, which is formed when a south easterly wind is directed up the mountain’s slopes into colder air. According to legends, the table cloth symbolizes the smoking contest between the Devil and a local pirate called Van Hunks.
Table Mountain forms part of the Table Mountain National Park and is also a home to large variety of unique flora and fauna. It is also known as part of a World Heritage Site, an important part of the Cape Floristic Region and the single richest floristic area in the world. Visitors can take a casual walk on the top, explore the Cape’s unique fynbos vegetation and spot a variety of animals. Grysbok, dassies, porcupines, tortoises, mongooses, and snakes can all be spotted on the mountain. The mountain’s magnificence, beauty, and remarkable features, along with the adventures it offers draw roughly a million people a year
Table Mountain Aerial Cableway
Because Table Mountain is elevated 1,085 meters above sea level, going to and from the mountain is difficult. The cable car transportation system built by Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company has become the solution to the arduous walk and climb to the top. Since its opening in 1929 up until now, the cable cars have been the easiest and fastest way of going to and from the Table Mountain and more than 25 million people has taken the trip. This cable car transportation system offers visitors a five-minute ride to the summit. The cable cars hold around 65 people and revolve slowly to give the visitors the chance to see the spectacular panoramic view of the Cape Peninsula including the Table Bay, the nearby peaks of the surrounding mountains and the rest of the Table Mountain National Park. This cable car transportation system has been upgraded three times since 1929. The last upgrade was in 1997 where they introduced extensive renovations and installed new cars which are now called the rotairs.
At an elevation of 1,067 meters, on the westernmost end of the Table Mountain plateau lies the upper cable station. At the upper cable station, you will find a restaurant and a curio shop as well as a network of footpaths to explore the table top. Amenities at the upper station also include free guided walking tours, an audio tour, meals and internet access.
With just R255 for a return trip, you will get to experience the cable car ride and enjoy the wonders of South Africa’s most prominent landmark. Spending a day in Table Mountain with your family, friends and loved one is all worth the time and effort of getting there. Indeed, a trip to Cape Town will never be complete without going up the Table Mountain.