Everything you need to know about Table Mountain
Ultimate guide to visit one of the new7world wonders of nature
Table Mountain is the most iconic place in whole Cape Town and we were so excited to go up this mountain. This was a highlight of our trip, but also a very scary experience (which we did to ourselves). Basically, we wanted to be on top of Table Mountain by sunset, but it wasn’t possible during the time we went. The last cable car down went before sunset so we decided to hike down, in the dark. Nothing happened, but I would not promote this.
I still enjoyed being on top of one of the most natural wonders in the world and I want you to enjoy it too. Below, you will find all the information you need to know about getting up Table Mountain!
You might also like: Ultimate 3 day itinerary in Cape Town
For your information, all these pictures were taken in December 2022.
Table of Contents
Summary
- Table Mountain is one of the most iconic landmarks in South Africa and is a must visit!
- The best way to reach Table Mountain is by car or by taxi/Uber.
- The best time to visit Table Mountain is during the summer months (October – March).
- There are different ways to get to the top of Table Mountain: with the cable car or with different hiking trails.
Some information about Table Mountain
Table Mountain is one of the most iconic landmarks in Cape Town and even South Africa in general. Also, it’s located in the middle of this city. As the name itself suggests, the mountain resembles a table because the mountain is flat-topped. Furthermore, Table Mountain stands at over 1.000 meter above sea level, which gives a breathtaking view over whole Cape Town.
Moreover, this mountain is also a popular destination for hikers, adventure seekers or photographers as there is something for everyone. There are different hiking trails to the top of Table Mountain, but it’s also possible to take the scenic cable car for a slower way to get to the top. Besides, this majestic place is now part of the New7Wonders of Nature, since 2011. Another reason that Table Mountain is a must-visit for anyone traveling to Cape Town!
How to get to Table Mountain?
You can either go to Table Mountain by rental car or with a taxi/Uber. Public transportation is not really an option or you have to walk for around 20 minutes after you get of the bus. We ourselves did this with a rental car and felt like it was the easiest way to get here. Also, you have your own freedom and don’t need to wait for someone else to pick you up. But we got here at closing time for buying a ticket, so finding a parkin spot wasn’t so hard then.
By car: You can find the parking lot right next to the cable car. Despite being one of the biggest tourist attractions in Cape Town, there aren’t a lot of parking facilities and you could end up having to walk a while to get to the cable car. If you want to go with the car, come very early or very late as you have the best chance of a parking spot.
With public transport: If you’re leaving from V&A Waterfront or Camps Bay, you’ll need to get off the bus at the bust stop ‘Kloof Nek‘ and walk for around 20 minutes to the entrance of the cable car.
When is the best time to visit Table Mountain?
The best time to go to Table Mountain depends a lot on your preferences and what you want to do there. For example, during the summer months (December to February), the weather will be much better, but there will be much more crowds.
But fear not, we went in December and we didn’t have to wait to get on the cable car. Obviously, this happened because we took the last cable car up to catch the sunset at the top. This is a big tip if you do come in peak season. Just know that if you don’t want to hike all the way down after sunset, that you calculate a bit more time.
But if you want to be more adventurous and plan to hike to the top of Table Mountain, I would recommend to go during the cooler months (April to September), so you don’t have to sweat all the way. Because, this climb to Table Mountain can be brutal! And if you want lesser crowds, go between April to June as this is outside peak season.
How to get to the top of Table Mountain?
The easiest way to get to the top of Table Mountain is by cable car. It’s the most convenient and time saving way to get up and down. The pricing can be a bit much as it’s around €20 per person for an adult, but it’s worth it. And if you really don’t want to spend so much money, hiking is still an option, but you will loose a good amount of time and it takes way more effort.
Also, check beforehand if the cable car is open as they will close if the weather isn’t good. You can check this on their website. When the last cable car goes down, they blast a very loud sirene so you wouldn’t miss it by accident. I thought this was a very good thing, because people lose track of time. And they don’t want to put people in danger for hiking in the dark.
- 1 February – 30 April: from 08:00 am till 08:30 pm (last car down at 07:30 pm)
- 1 May – 31 August: from 08:30 am till 04:00 pm (last car down at 05:00 pm)
- 1 September – 15 December: from 08:30 am till 06:00 pm (last car down at 07:00 pm)
- 16 December – 15 January: from 08:00 am till 08:00 pm (last car down at 09:00 pm)
- 16 January – 31 January: from 08:00 am till 07:30 pm (last car down at 08:30 pm)
Hiking to the top
Length
2.9 kilometers
Duration
More than 2 hours to go up
Height difference
650 meters
Difficulty
Medium
To be completely honest with you, we didn’t plan on doing this hike. But because the last cable car went down before the sunset when we were there, we decided to do this hike in the dark. I would not recommend it as it’s quite dangerous to be in the dark in South Africa. I was quite scared the whole hike, even though nothing happened, but it wasn’t our smartest move. So, if you really want to have a sunset at Table Mountain, check when the sunset is when you are arriving in Cape Town and plan your trip around this.
We did the Platteklip hike through the gorge and even though we didn’t saw anything because it was pitch black, I know we did A LOT of stairs. I was very stiff the day after the hike. So I can only imagine if you go up Table Mountain. It’s definitely a workout for your calves. The stairs were also uneven, so that makes it a bit harder. If it would still be light, I would’ve enjoyed this hike a lot more. It’s not a technical hike, but it requires a lot of endurance.
There are a few other hikes you can try to get up Table Mountain and you can find them here.
Some tips to photograph
Table Mountain has a huge platform at the top and has great angles from both sides of the cable car. Scout the location a bit before taking pictures and enjoy the view first. On the right side, you have a view over Lions Head. Here, you have lots of rocks to sit on where you have a good picture opportunity with a background view of Lions Head. The other side had a beautiful view over the whole mountain range. Make sure to not stand so close to the edge for your own safety!
Other things to do near Table Mountain
Another great hike in Cape Town is Lions Head. You have a great view over this mountain from Table Mountain, but it’s also a great activity to actually climb up! Both hikes were great and I don’t know if I could pick a favorite, so plan both into your itinerary!
Read also: Hiking to the top of Lions Head (coming soon)
South Africa has way more to offer than just Cape Town! So, if you have more time to visit more places in South Africa, make sure to read about these places in my other blog posts and find some inspiration:
- Driving the panorama route in South Africa (coming soon)
- Visiting Kruger National Park in South Africa
- Hiking to Drakensberg (coming soon)
- The garden route: the ultimate roadtrip (coming soon)
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Hello, I’m Ellen and welcome to this blog! I’m in love with exploring the world and hopefully I get to inspire you with these blog posts and pictures to feel the same. You will find detailed itineraries, hidden gems, tips and so much more!
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