Imagine a place with the most majestuous rock formation, surrounded by the bluest ocean, whitest beaches, unequalled views and spectacular sunsets. All this provides a majestic backdrop to the City of Cape Town. Table Mountain is without doubt one of the world’s most striking natural wonders and South Africa’s most recognized icon.

Table Mountain is a sandstone plateau rising up above the Cape Flats. The top is approximately 3km wide, and at its highest point, Maclear’s Beacon, rises to 1085m.

Over the centuries it has become one of South Africa's most famous landmarks. The steep cliffs and rocky outcrops of the mountain play home to numerous species of plants and animals. The mountain is home to approximately 1470 species of plants, more than the entire British Isles!

The Cableway

If using the cableway to reach the summit, set aside at least an hour for your visit. This gives you time to enjoy all 11 viewpoints. If you want to go for a walk or have a meal on the top, plan for a longer stay on the mountain.

The cableway is freely accessible to people with disabilities. There are dedicated parking bays near the lift entrance at the lower cable station.

The cableway has become a landmark in Cape Town, since it's opening, 75 years ago, and over 15 million people, including King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II, as well as Oprah Winfrey, has taken the trip to the top.

The new cableway was officially opened on the 4th of October 1997, the anniversary of the original launch, almost 70 years previously.

The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company celebrated its 75th anniversary in October 2004 and greeted its 16 millionth passenger in December of the same year. It remains the most popular tourist attraction in Cape Town – come up and join us!

Visitor Activities

Beside the numerous, kilometers long hiking trails, try abseiling, hang-gliding, parasailing, mountain biking, mountain and rock climbing, hiking around Lion’s Head and Signal Hill or just enjoying a relaxing meal with the most stunning unequalled views.

Interesting Facts

Muslims regard Cape Town as a holy place. The pioneers of Islam in Cape Town were political prisoners and slaves brought from the East during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Numerous tombs, called kramats, form a sacred circle around the City.

In former years, a small cannon was fired from the summit of Lion’s Head, signalling the approach of ships in Table Bay. This was relayed to the interior by cannons mounted at vantage points to call distant farmers to the City with provisions for the sailors.

The Noonday Gun fires everyday except Sundays at 12 am, from Signal Hill.

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