Table Mountain Mountain

Address: Table Mountain (Table Mountain Aerial Cableway), Tafelberg Rd, Gardens, Cape Town, South Africa

Website: https://www.tablemountain.net

Hours: Cableway and mountain facilities operate daily but hours vary with season and weather - check website

Admission: Cableway and park access fees apply (prices vary)

Table Mountain is the iconic flat-topped mountain overlooking Cape Town in South Africa, forming part of Table Mountain National Park with its highest point at Maclear’s Beacon (about 1,086 metres). It is a prominent landmark and a symbol of the city.

The plateau offers short walks and longer hikes, panoramic viewpoints across Table Bay, the city bowl and the Atlantic seaboard, and a diverse flora dominated by fynbos with many endemic plant species. The mountain is served by a rotating aerial cableway that conveys passengers from the lower cable station to the plateau in a few minutes.

Geologically the mountain is capped by a hard sandstone plateau above older rocks and has steep cliffs on several sides that form distinctive profiles seen from the city. The area has been protected as a national park and is part of the Cape Floral Region, recognised for its botanical diversity.

Table Mountain rises directly above central Cape Town and the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, forming the northern part of the Cape Peninsula; neighboring peaks include Devil’s Peak and Lion’s Head.

• Cableway and weather: Cableway operations are weather-dependent; strong winds can close the service so check conditions before planning a visit.
• Best viewing times: Early mornings and late afternoons often provide the clearest views over Cape Town but can also be the windiest times on the plateau.

What to See#

• Table Mountain plateau: The flat sandstone plateau that forms the mountain top, crossed by hiking paths and offering panoramic viewpoints over Cape Town, Table Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
• Maclear’s Beacon: Maclear’s Beacon, the mountain’s highest point at 1,086 metres, marked by a trigonometrical station and a popular summit destination for hikers.
• Platteklip Gorge: Platteklip Gorge, the most direct and heavily used hiking route that ascends from the city to the plateau via a steep path cut through the eastern face.

From central Cape Town drive via Kloof Nek Road/Tafelberg Road to the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway lower station (the drive is about 10 minutes from the city centre depending on traffic) where there is paid parking. Alternatively, take a MyCiTi bus or a taxi to the lower cableway station. If you prefer to hike, the Platteklip Gorge route starts near the cableway base and is a steep walk to the summit (expect a strenuous 1.5-3 hour ascent depending on fitness).

• Go early in the morning if you plan to use the cableway-afternoon cloud 'tablecloths' and stronger winds often roll in, closing the cable car and obscuring views.
• Check the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway's live-status page and book timed tickets online where available; the car is frequently closed for high winds and online booking helps avoid wasted trips.
• If you're fit and want to avoid cableway queues, hike up via Platteklip Gorge and take the cable car down (or vice versa) to save time and get different perspectives; many visitors only do the cable car round-trip and miss the ridge views.