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Table Mountain CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
The Summit of Cape Town's Table Mountain
Table Mountain has been voted to be one of the New7Wonders (N7W) of Nature.
A trip by Table Mountain Aerial Cableway to Table Mountain’s "flat" summit provides panoramic views across the ocean, along the shore and across the city. The slowly rotating cable car provides passengers with a 360° view during the 765m/5 minute ascent to the upper cable station (elevation of 1,067 metres [3,501 ft] above sea level).
Helpful hints for visitors:
* Buy tickets online to avoid the wait in line at the ticket office at the lower cable station, where waiting times can be very long at peak tourism seasons and over weekends.
* Also check the above website link for the latest operating status. The cableway closes when weather conditions dictate -- and also close annualy for periods of routine maintenance.
* If the weather is fine, don't put off your trip up the mountain to the next day. Weather conditions at the top of the mountain can change abruptly and you may be disappointed if you postpone your plans.
Several safe viewsites and restaurant facilities are provided within easy walking distance of the upper cable station at the top.
Table Mountain is situated within the Table Mountain National Park and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The indigenous vegetation on the mountain is known as fynbos, particularly colourful in spring and boasting over 1 460 different species of plants.
Three short trails along the top of the mountain are safe and easy going. Weather dependent, misty wisps of cloud descend across the path -- this is Table Mountain’s “table cloth”.
Longer hiking trails across the mountain top lead away from the busy cableway station and restaurant. For the more energetic, several hiking trails lead up the mountain – and rock climbing provides a more strenuous option.
POD South Africa Table Mountain[2:06 min] [Attribution (video): PODSouthAfrica]Table Mountain is perhaps Cape Town's most famous attraction - and is a great place to start a tour of Cape Town. Viewsites on the mountain provide visitors with a birds-eye perspective of Cape Town and the Peninsula. If the weather is fine, enjoy the trails along the top of the mountain - or even one of the trails up the mountain. |
Best Time to Visit
Opportunities to ascend the mountain occur throughout the year, but weather can be unpredictable, particularly in the winter months (June through August), with periodic bouts of rain and northwesterly gales; and in late spring and early summer (November and December), with bouts of south easterly gale force winds.However, the fynbos and other flowering plants are at their absolute best towards the end of winter, in spring and in early summer (August-November).
The summer and autumn months (January through May) will be most reliable and provide superb views with frequent clear days to enjoy the breathtaking scenery from the top of the mountain.
Table Mountain Hiking Trails
There are hiking trails and climbs to satisfy the most ardent high adrenaline climber to family hikers. Routes up the mountain include Nursery Ravine and Skeleton Gorge, accessed from Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and Platteklip Gorge, accessed from Tafelberg Rd., a short distance past the lower cableway station.Many groups hike up the mountain and descend via the Table Mountain Cableway.
For visitors to the mountain, guided hikes are offered by Hike Table Mountain.
Safety Guidelines
Take utmost care when hiking on the Mountain. Always look out for changes in weather, which can be unpredictable. Follow these safety guidelines when walking or hiking on the mountain.
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Getting AroundFor an easy and safe way to get around Cape Town's major attractions including Table Mountain's lower cableway station, ride the open-top bus. |
Cape Town Attractions
| Highlights of Cape Town | Bo-Kaap | Cape Town and Peninsula Beaches |
| Camps Bay | Clifton Beaches | Cape Peninsula Attractions | Castle of Good Hope |
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Groot Constantia Wine Estate | Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens |Robben Island |
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Table Mountain | V&A Waterfront | Winelands and Wine Routes |
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