Environmental Responsibility

The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway is passionate about the environment, and we do all we can to minimise our impact on the mountain ecology. Conserving the area’s biodiversity is our top priority, and all waste is brought down from the summit, to ensure the mountain-top remains pristine.

Our environmental policy

Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company Ltd (TMACC) are custodians of a high-use area of Table Mountain, part of the Cape Floristic Region World Heritage Site and Table Mountain National Park. 

1. As custodians of a high-use area of Table Mountain, part of the Cape Floristic Region World Heritage Site and a National Park, we are committed to its protection within our area of responsibility.

2. We are committed to creating and maintaining a clean, safe and healthy environment for our employees and visitors.

3. We are committed to continual improvement in service provision and environmental performance.

4. We aim to eliminate pollution within our area of responsibility.

5. We are committed to complying with all relevant environmental legislation and regulations.

6. We support and promote the precautionary principle in all our activities and will endeavour to modify our service, in line with evolving scientific and technical knowledge, to prevent environmental degradation.

7. We will adhere to the environmental procedures as set out in the Environmental Management System and we will review our policy and environmental performance on an ongoing basis.

8. We are committed to biodiversity conservation in conjunction with Table Mountain National Park and other conservation authorities.

9. We are committed to raising environmental awareness of employees and visitors.

10. We are committed to the sustainable use of all resources and will minimise waste at source and recycle where possible.

11. We are committed to contributing financially to the preservation of Table Mountain.

12. We are committed to document, implement, maintain and make our environmental policy available to all interested parties.

Water is life

Water is a precious commodity anywhere in the Western Cape, and especially on top of Table Mountain. We want to help prevent the dehydration of some 1460 different species of fynbos that grow on the slopes, by minimising water consumption. Chemical toilets were introduced in 1997, and visitors are constantly reminded to save water wherever they can. Even the Table Mountain Cafe is playing its part, saving a whopping 1-million litres in its first year alone.

A burning issue

Fires are vital, yet a constant threat to the mountain’s natural balance. In 2002 we introduced a smoking policy, restricting smoking to designated areas. This has significantly contributed to a reduction in cigarette-butt litter, and in the associated fire hazard that lighting up poses. Visitors are strongly urged to smoke in designated areas only.

People problems

Table Mountain is understandably popular with tourists, but people can cause considerable damage to its delicate ecosystem. We do all we can to limit and reduce the impact of visitors, by creating designated paths and smoking areas. A low-emissions zone was also introduced at the Lower Station bus parking area in 2005.
We ask you to please keep the following in mind:

• Do not litter – use the bins provided
• Do not chip or damage the rocks
• Do not feed the animals
• Do not pick the flowers
• Do not waste water
• Stay on the footpaths
• Smoke in designated areas only

Eyesores

We have worked hard to ensure the Cableway’s facilities integrate with the beauty and natural splendour of Table Mountain. We want the mountain to remain unaffected by the movement of people up and down its slopes and on its summit. In 1999, we were awarded The ILASA (Institute of Landscape Architects of South Africa) Award for Excellence in Landscape Architecture, “for the restructured pathways and viewpoints, which enhance visitors’ experience, whilst ensuring that detriment to the vegetation and rock formations are kept to a minimum”.

Awards and Accolades

2010: Heritage Environmental Rating – Platinum

2009: South African Tourism’s Attraction of the Year (finalist)

2009: Re-certified as ISO 14001-compliant

2008: Imvelo Award for Responsible Tourism (Best single resource management – water)

2008: Heritage Environmental Rating – Silver Class

2008: Ishkus Power Achievement Award, in recognition of energy savings

2008: SANParks Cape Regional Achievement Award (Business Partner of the Year)

2005: Finalist in the Imvelo Awards for Best Overall Environmental Management Programme

2004 : Table Mountain becomes a World Heritage Site

2003 : TMACC’s Environmental Management System is awarded ISO 14001 certification

2000: The Green Globe Achievement Award: a commendation for Environmental Management and Awareness in our first year of membership.  Rick Taylor, chief executive officer of Cape Metropolitan Tourism Council said “TMACC has proven that it is able to achieve a balance between development and respecting and protecting the environment.”

1999: The EPPIC (Environmental Planning Professions Interdisciplinary Committee) National Premium Award for Integrated Environmental Management, in recognition of the environmentally sensitive manner in which the cableway was built and is being operated.