Table Mountain, Cape Town

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Signal Hill is the famous, flat-topped hill located next to Lion's Head. Signal Hill derives its name from the time when it was used as a semaphore post for communication with ships at sea. It is from here that the noon cannon is still fired every day. After dark, the hill is a popular scene for couples wanting to enjoy the romantic sights of the sparkling city lights set against the backdrop of a floodlit Table Mountain.

Signal Hill is well known for the cannon shot at noon. This cannon is operated by the South African Astronomical Observatory. There is a road leading to the summit and it is from this vantage point that stunning views over Cape Town and the surrounding areas can be appreciated. These views are at their most spectacular at dawn or sunset. Signal Hill is the perfect place from which to view Cape Town in all its wonder.

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The best views of Cape Town are seen from the top of Table Mountain. The Cableway takes you to the summit in under 10 minutes and the cable car's rotating floor ensure that all passengers get a 360 degree aerial view of the city.
Opening Hours
1 March - 31 March
First Car Up 08h00
Last Car Up 18h30
Last Car Down 19h30
Adult - Return: R130.00

The Cape Explorer Topless Bus offers guided tours that drop off at the Lower Cable Station. The 2 hour long tours are on a circular route and drop off points include: Cape Town Tourism, The Cableway, Camps Bay and the V&A Waterfront Clock Tower, Convention Centre, S.A. Museum, Castle and Sea Point. For more information please check their website on http://www.hyltonross.co.za/ (Topless Tours)

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Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town. It is a significant tourist attraction, with many visitors using the cableway to take a ride to the top. The mountain forms part of the Table Mountain National Park.

The main feature of Table Mountain is a level plateau approximately 3 kilometres (2 miles) from side to side, surrounded by steep cliffs. The plateau, flanked by Devil's Peak to the east and by Lion's Head to the west, forms a dramatic backdrop to Cape Town and its Table Bay harbour, and together with Signal Hill form the natural amphitheatre of the City Bowl.

The highest point on Table Mountain is towards the eastern end of the plateau and is marked by Maclear's Beacon, a stone cairn built in 1865 by Sir Thomas Maclear for trigonometrical survey. It is 1,086 metres (3,563 ft) above sea level, about 19 metres (62 ft) higher than the cable station at the western end of the plateau.

The flat top of the mountain is often covered by cloud spilling over the top to form the "table cloth."

Table Mountain is at the northern end of a sandstone mountain range that forms the spine of the Cape Peninsula. To the south of the main plateau is a lower part of the range called the Back Table. On the Atlantic coast of the peninsula, the range is known as the Twelve Apostles. The range continues southwards to Cape Point.

Antonio de Saldanha was the first European to land in Table Bay. He climbed the mighty mountain in 1503 and named it 'Table Mountain'.

The Table Mountain Cableway takes passengers from the lower cable station on Tafelberg Road, about 302 m above sea level, to the plateau at the top of the mountain. The upper cable station offers views overlooking Cape Town, Table Bay and Robben Island to the north, and the Atlantic seaboard to the west and south.

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The best views of Cape Town and the surrounding area can be seen from atop Table Mountain. You take a cable car (about 5 minute ride) to the top of the mountain. There are a number of paths when you are up there to hike and explore. There is also a cafeteria style restaurant on top of the mountain where you can grab a bite to eat and a glass of wine.

Table Mountain is one of South Africa’s greatest landmarks and towers 1,086m above the City of Cape Town. It is visible from as far as 200 km out to sea on clear days and is often covered with cloud called the tablecloth. A revolving cable car carries visitors up and down in about 5 minutes and numerous walking and hiking paths lead up and across Table Mountain. Spectacular views of the city, the Cape peninsula, the coastline and the ocean can be seen from 11 viewpoints on the summit. Table Mountain is more than a place of dramatic scenic beauty, it is also a place of richly diverse flora. Over 1,470 plant species occur on the mountain, more than in the British Isles. Complimenting this is the fauna such as the Table Mountain Ghost Frog that is found nowhere else in the world.

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What more can I say about being on Table Mountain? So many before me have written many things about Table Mountain.

All I can say is that you just go there and experience the feeling of being on top of the world !!!!!

Ok, first thing is first......all the tour books were right about....If you wake up and the weather is clear and the wind isn't blowing hard...MAKE YOUR WAY UP TO TABLE MOUNTAIN !!!!!!!! we choose to do that on our first day there and it was so perfect...if we would have waited a couple of days we wouldn't have had the chance to go up there the weather went sour real quick on our days in Cape Town....price as of June 2007 was R120 for a return.....I really don't know how else would anyone get down if it wasn't thru the gondola type thing takes you up and down ? Once up on the top there is various trails around the top....we spent about a hour and that was plenty of time. The view from the top are just jaw-dropping !!!!!..also on top there are toilets and a small gift shops, and a deli type place to grab snacks, soda, etc., Well worth the time and trip up.....can't come to Cape Town without doing this !!!!!!

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If you are in Cape Town , a visit to Table mountain is a must do . The best way to get to the top is to go by the cable car, trip takes about 10min each way and the view is mind blowing, as the gondala rotates one complete rotation from the bottom station to the top. There is a restaurant, souvenir shop and toilets at the summit .
The cable car is closed down if the wind or the fog become to strong or thick so check the weather before setting out at the time i was there, the cost was R100 return for an adult , well worth it in my book

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Going up Table Mountain is a definite must-do while in Cape Town. You can either walk up, which is said to be not too easy or take the cablecar for 120 Rand return. Me being lazy took the cablecar of course :), but on top of the mountain there are some easy walks to do aswell.
The vistas are just spectacular, so make sure you go there on a clear day. My luck did not last too long, a nasty cloud creeped in after a while and the temperature dropped considerately.
You'll find a restaurant and a souvenir shop on the mountain.