A well-known sight for residents of the Cape Town area, Table Mountain, one of the New7Wonders of Nature, continues to be one of the main attractions of the Cape, with many hiking its various routes, and plenty taking the famous Cableway up to the top. An uncountable amount have been to the top and beheld the view that has been described by many as the most epic in the African continent.

Do you have a preferred way of reaching the top of Table Mountain? Or are you simply content to admire its colossal, picturesque shape and take a snapshot as memorabilia?

Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company

The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company has been in business since 1929, and can proudly carry the statistic of being completely accident free. Yes, since the beginning. With such an undeniably impressive fact, it is not a wonder that so many queue for a ride up. Recently the company was awarded the TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence. What you should also know, and quite fitting at this time, is that on Saturday the 4th of October, the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company celebrates its 85th year in Cape Town. To think, before the cableway was built, a railway was considered! Thank goodness that never happened, otherwise we wouldn’t have the exquisite tourist attraction that is the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway!

To date the Cableway has transported over 23 million people to the top of Table Mountain. Since the start, the cable car has been upgraded 4 times, the 4th being the current one that the Table Mountain Cableway Company uses.

The current cable car’s carrying capacity is 5200 kg, totalling 65 people. The bottom floor of the cabin rotates, giving visitors a 360 degree view on the way up and down. The base of the cable car is a water tank that holds up to 4000 litres. While it provides fresh water for visitors, it’s other purpose is to act as a ballast to provide stability in windy conditions.

Speaking about weather, the cableway is very much influenced by its conditions. Because of the unpredictable nature of weather in the Cape Town area, especially around Table Mountain, a cable car ride cannot be booked in advance. On the days when weather is bad, the cableway is closed. If you intend on using the cableway, it would be wise to plan and pay close attention to the weather, because it really can make or break your plans.

As for the cost, take a look below to see how much you pay, and how you can save:

Type of Client                                     One Way                                                     Return
Adults                                                    R115                                                             R225
Children (4-17)                                     R58                                                               R110
SA senior citizens concession           R50                                                                R95
SA students concession                     R68                                                               R130

There are ways you can save. SA senior citizens and SA students can obtain discounts, but that is only possible at the ticket office and not online. Senior citizens also get a meal special at the Table Mountain Café.

Visitors who are in possession of a SANParks Wild/My Green Card can get a 20% discount, but again, only at the ticket office. They can also get a 20% discount on another feature that allows visitors to save, the Cable Card.

Cable Card holders enjoy year-round access for free throughout the year. One return ride per day, absolutely free. Card holders also qualify for discounts on certain items at the Shop at the Top and at the Table Mountain Café. The card is valid for one year and must be renewed close to the expiry date. Read below for the cost of the card (note that SANParks/My Green Card holders get 20% off):

Adult Cable Card                                   R535
Child Cable Card                                   R285
Adult and Child                                     R635
Combo Cable Card

There are other special offers. The Sunset Special, available from 1 November to 19 December and from 8 January to 28 February, costs visitors half price only after 18:00 for return tickets. Adults will pay R112.50 and kids aged 4-17 will pay R55.

The birthday special offers visitors a completely free ride. All they have to do is bring their I.D. along when they come to the ticket office.

Cableway Kids Season allows two kids under the age of 18 to ride for free as long as they are accompanied by an adult who buys the return ticket. This special offer runs from 1 May to October 31, is valid on weekends, public holidays as well the June and October school holidays.

While these discounts are great, there is the convenience of buying tickets online, which saves you from queuing at the ticket office, although you do still have to queue for a ride. But none of the discounts and special offers can be used when purchasing tickets online.

The last special is the Class in the Clouds. Operating since 2001, this programme is open to all primary and high school students. The kids get to experience the magnificence of Table Mountain while receiving a lesson about fauna and flora in a natural setting. Schools save by paying R41 per learner. For an additional R24, learners also get a hot dog and juice. This combo cost of R65 can only be pre-ordered.

Now that you have all this info on the Cableway, you can use it to get the Table Mountain experience that you are hoping for.

But if you want to skip the use of the Cableway going up, and test your level of fitness, appreciate the mountain air and the beauty of Table Mountain, read on.

Tips and routes for hikers going up Table Mountain

The first person to ascend Table Mountain was António de Saldanha in 1503. There are various ways to ascend the iconic mountain in the Cape on foot. Climbing a mountain is an adventure in itself and as fun as it can be, it doesn’t hurt to take care going up and going down. In fact, if you didn’t take care, you can seriously get hurt.

Just as the weather affects the cableway, bad weather can prove to be extremely dangerous for hikers. Anyone ascending the mountain is sure to find that footing can be tricky, and strong wind and rain can make falling extremely likely. If you notice that the weather is starting to change for the worse while ascending, it’s strongly advised that you turn back.

Another generally known tip includes travelling in groups. While the various hiking routes are popular, crime is a possibility and lone hikers are a target. Those that travel in large groups are advised to travel as fast as the slowest member, ensuring that no one is left behind. It’s wise to carry water, sandwiches and fruit.

For a cost you can take advantage of the presence of a guide. Experienced Table Mountain hikers who know everything there is to know about ascending the flat topped mountain  will make sure you reach the top safely, get down in one piece and that you have a pleasurable time.

There are many routes to get to the top of Table Mountain. The most popular and easiest will be mentioned here. If you want to know about the ones that bring out the true adventurers, let us know and we’ll supply a post about the various routes to the flat top of Table Mountain.

First up there’s Platteklip Gorge. It starts at the parking area that is 2km past the lower cable station. The most direct route, it’s also considered to be the easiest. Pay attention: saying that this route is the easiest does not mean it’s easy. It is just 3km from bottom to top, but don’t be fooled. It’s a direct assent. Physically it is demanding, and it’s said to be a moderate to tough hike. But it’s still the easiest hiking route to the top. If you’re prepared to take up the challenge, the route rewards you with the most outstanding views, if you just stop every now and then to look back.

Then there is the Pipe Track. This contour route, that runs above Camps Bay, starts at Kloof Nek, offers a beautiful but quite lengthy way to get to the top. It’s advised that you never attempt this route without someone that knows it.

Additional info

Beyond tips about hiking in groups and turning back in bad weather, here are a few things you should remember as well.

The hike to the top can be extremely wearying if you’re not ready for that kind of physical exercise. In that case you could take the cableway down, but keep in mind that you’ll need to observe the state of the weather on the day you hike, because once the weather makes a turn for the worst, the cableway closes, and then you’ll be forced to walk back down. Other times you could be in a similar situation is if you make a hike later in the afternoon and end up staying at the top until after sunset. While the latest cable car down varies between the times of 18:30 and 21:00 dependent on the time of year, the unpredictable nature would force the cableway to close, and anyone can tell you it’s extremely dangerous to descend from Table Mountain in the dark.

If you intend to hike up and down from the top of Table Mountain, make sure you time your journey to ensure your descent is before sunset, for the sake of visibility.

As long as you act responsibly, make sensible decisions and pay attention to the advice that’s given, there is no reason why you cannot have an enjoyable and memorable time experiencing the majesty of Table Mountain.