No visit to Cape Town is really complete without seeing Table Mountain, and for most visitors the easiest way to reach the top is by cable car.
The journey itself only takes a few minutes, but there are a few things worth knowing before you go.
A Little Cableway History
The Table Mountain Cableway has been carrying visitors to the top of the mountain for nearly a century. It officially opened in 1929, although the experience was rather different from the modern cable cars we use today.
The original wooden cable car carried fewer than 20 passengers and took considerably longer to reach the top. Over the decades, the cableway has been upgraded several times as Cape Town grew and Table Mountain became one of South Africa’s most famous attractions.
The modern rotating cable cars were introduced in 1997. Today, millions of people from around the world have made the journey to the summit — but that first trip up in 1929 must have been quite an experience.
Watch the Weather
This is the big one.
Table Mountain makes its own weather, and conditions can change remarkably quickly. You can wake up to a perfectly clear mountain and find it covered by cloud a few hours later.
If you are in Cape Town for several days, my advice is simple: if you wake up and Table Mountain is clear, seriously consider going. Don’t automatically leave it until another day because the forecast looks good.
Wind is also important. The cableway cannot operate safely in strong winds, so always check whether it is running before making your way there.
How to Book Your Tickets
You can buy your tickets in advance directly from the official Table Mountain Aerial Cableway website.
I recommend booking directly rather than buying tickets through a third party. Choose the ticket option you need and complete the booking online. Your ticket is then available electronically, so you can have it ready on your phone when you arrive.
Official tickets can be booked at the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway website: Our African Wonder | Table Mountain
Even if you already have a ticket, check the cableway’s operating status on the morning you plan to visit. Strong winds and poor weather can cause the cableway to close temporarily.
Also remember that having an online ticket doesn’t necessarily mean there won’t be a queue. On a beautiful clear day, particularly during Cape Town’s summer season, Table Mountain can be extremely busy. Going earlier in the day is generally a good idea.
The Cable Car Rotates
One of the clever things about the Table Mountain cable car is that the floor slowly rotates during the journey.
That means you don’t need to fight for the “best” position when you get inside. During the ascent, everyone gets a chance to enjoy the views across Cape Town, the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding mountains.
It’s only a short journey, but it’s part of the Table Mountain experience rather than simply a way of getting to the top.
Take Something Warm
Cape Town might be hot and sunny at sea level, but conditions at the top can be completely different.
Table Mountain rises more than 1,000 metres above Cape Town, and it can be noticeably colder and windier at the summit. Take a light jacket even if you don’t think you’ll need one.
You’ll be glad you have it if the weather changes.
Give Yourself Time at the Top
Don’t just go up, take a photograph and immediately come back down.
There are walking paths and viewpoints across the top, and on a clear day the views are extraordinary. You can see Cape Town, Table Bay, Robben Island, the Atlantic coastline and across towards the Cape Peninsula.
Take a walk, stop at the viewpoints and give yourself some time simply to enjoy where you are.
At Convoy Tours, we don’t include Table Mountain on our Cape Peninsula day tour. There is simply too much to see on the Peninsula itself, and Table Mountain deserves to be enjoyed separately rather than squeezed into an already busy day.
My advice after years of guiding visitors around Cape Town is simple: choose a clear day, don’t rush it, and enjoy being on top of one of the world’s great natural landmarks.
Rob
Convoy Tours
