The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway provides a captivating experience, granting visitors not just access to one of Cape Town’s premier tourist destinations and a recognized New7 Wonder of Nature, but also offering breathtaking 360° panoramic views spanning across Cape Town’s vibrant cityscape and its adjacent charming suburbs. From atop this iconic mountain, guests are treated to an unparalleled vista that encompasses the sparkling coastline, the bustling city life below, and the picturesque landscapes that stretch out towards the horizon, creating an unforgettable and awe-inspiring journey into the heart of Cape Town’s natural and urban beauty.

Hop on the cable car to enjoy taking pictures down ragged cliffs, spotting dassies, buying souvenirs at the Shop at the Top, having lunch at the Table Mountain Café or even trying out the world’s highest abseil!

How much does it cost to ride the cable car?

The type of experience. Private tours or hop-on-hop-off bus combos include the cable car tickets but are more expensive than buying them separately.

The prices range from R 50 to R 950 for adults and from R 150 to R 475 for children.

What time is the first trip on the cable car?

• First trip up | 08:00
• Last trip up | 18:30
• Last trip down | 19:30
• Contact number: 021 424 0015

How long does the ride take to the top?

4-5 minutes. [Of absolute amazement!]

The cable car travels at 10m per second.

How long do I have to wait to get onto the cable car?

For the ride up it all depends on the queues. [ Early bird catches the worm.] For the ride down, there should be a cable car going down every 10-15 minutes taking about 65 visitors up and down at a time. While one of the two cable cars goes up, the other cable car goes down.

Is the cable car wheelchair friendly?

Yes.

How do I get there and where can I park?

Physical Address of the Lower Cable Station | Tafelberg Road, Cape Town, 8001

[Take Kloofnek Road up from either side of the mountain.] GPS Coordinates | 33°57′26.33″S 18°24′11.19″E

There is free parking all along Tafelberg Road to the Lower Cable Station. There are however allocated dedicated parking bays for tour buses, taxis and disabled.

• Buses | Myciti Bus service has a bus stop at the top of Kloofnek Road, 1.5km from the Lower Cable Station.
• Minibus Taxis | Take one as far as the top of Kloofnek Road, 1.5km from the Lower Cable Station.
• Metered Taxis | Available for hire and can take you all the way to the cable car ticket office.
• City Sightseeing Bus | This Bus service has a bus stop at the cable car ticket office.

What can I expect to see from the top?

Views over Lion’s Head, Signal Hill, the city of Cape Town, Helderberg mountains, Bloubergstrand, Devil’s Peak, the Twelve Apostles, Camps Bay and Robben Island.

What can I expect to find at the top?

Platforms with look-out points, footpaths and walking routes, souvenir shop [Shop at the Top], café [Table Mountain Café] and abseiling.

What can I expect to do at the top?

Three short walks; The Dassie, Agama and Klipspringer as well as other longer hikes. Free of charge guided walks on the hour from 09:00 – 15:00. Browse around the Shop at the Top, enjoy breakfast, lunch, a snack or just a cup of coffee at the self-service restaurant and deli, Table Mountain Café. Abseil Africa offer the chance to abseil down a cliff.

Experience the world’s highest abseil at 112m high.

What can I buy at the Shop at the Top?

All kinds of souvenirs such as Table Mountain branded mugs, magnets, soft toys, crafts, jewellery, stationary, clothing, hats, books, calendars and postcards.

What do I take with me?

Wear comfortable walking shoes, take something to keep you warm, sunscreen, sunhat, water [all available at the Shop at the Top] and your camera.

Is the cell phone reception at the top?

Yes.

When is the best time to go?

Cape Town’s best weather is from November to March.

Interesting Facts about Table Mountain:

• Height | 1085m [3559ft] | The car cable car takes one upto 1067m above sea level.
• Table Mountain National Park is recognised as the richest single floristic area on the planet.
• The first recorded ascent was by Antonio de Saldanha in 1503.
• Lions and leopards used to live on Table Mountain and the last lion sighted was in 1802.
• The first cable car ride happened on the 4^th of October, 1929 and carried 20 passengers.
• The cable car has transported over 20-million people to the top of Table Mountain.

Content and Images | Ed Beukes

Sources include tablemountain.net | wikipedia.org