Five things to do on top of Table Mountain
The best place to view Cape Town is, of course, from the top of Table Mountain. But when you get to the summit you will discover a whole new world, from fynbos to food and long walks.
A walk around the summit is one of the many activities on Table Mountain. Photo courtesy flowcomm
Table Mountain, one of the New7Wonders of Nature and a part of the Cape Floristic Kingdom, shows off what she has to offer in grand style. Fynbos is endemic to the Cape and the range of flora on the mountain is staggering. The fauna on the mountain include dassies, frogs and lizards, among many other creatures.
Once you get to the top of Table Mountain you can take advantage of free guided tours. The Cableway offers two walks, free of charge, at 10h00 and noon every day. These depart from the meeting point just outside the Upper Cable Station.
The paths cover a distance of more than 2km at the top of the mountain, making for comfortable walking to lookout points from which visitors can view spectacular vistas over the city, Clifton, Sea Point, the V&A Waterfront, Table Bay, Robben Island, the Cape Flats and the Cape Peninsula. You will also see Lion’s Head, Signal Hill and Devil’s Peak.
Enjoy the variety of flora on the mountain. Photo courtesy flowcomm
There are also three signposted walks. The 15-minute Dassie Walk has spectacular views to the north, west and south. The popular 30-minute Agama Walk to gives visitors spectacular 360° views of Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula. The longer Klipspringer Walk takes you along the edge of the plateau and ends above Platteklip Gorge. There is also a wheelchair route.
To commemorate your trip up the mountain, stop for a memento at the Shop at the Top, which is in a National Heritage stone building right next to the Table Mountain Café. The Little Shop at the Top is adjacent to the Upper Cableway Station exit.
You can also buy from a small selection of items from a mobile barrow. You will find the barrow on the Twelve Apostles Terrace just below the Table Mountain Café, weather permitting. The shop sells clothing, curios and mementos, many of them unique to Table Mountain and locally produced. The shops are well worth a visit.
The Shop at the Top sells a range of locally produced goods. Photo courtesy flowcomm
Make those back home terribly jealous, and send them a postcard or letter from the summit. Buy a stamp from one of the shops and pop your letter into the postbox, after which it will be franked with a unique Table Mountain stamp.
Enjoy a light lunch on the mountain. The Table Mountain Café has a wide-ranging menu, including typical South African cuisine such as ostrich sausage. Complement your lunch with a glass of wine or bubbly.
You can also spend an evening on Table Mountain, watching as the sun dips into the Atlantic Ocean and thousands of lights start to twinkle in Cape Town. It is a great time to take photographs, so don’t forget your camera. Until February 28, you can take advantage of the popular Sunset Special.
From 18h00, weather permitting, adults pay only R102.50 per return ticket, while children’s return tickets cost only R50 each.
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