Table Mountain★★★
The Table Mountain (1,085 m) is not only Cape Town's landmark but also one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. Its flat plateau — 3 km long and up to 1 km wide — is omnipresent from the city and dominates the skyline.
Cable Car
The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway takes you to the summit in 5 minutes. The rotating gondola offers a 360° panorama during the ride. At the top: hiking trails, dassies (rock hyraxes that look like marmots), and a café.
Table Mountain Road, lower station. Return approx. 395 ZAR (20€). Daily 8 am–6 pm (seasonal), closed in strong winds. Book tickets online — wait times can be up to 2 hours in season!
Hike: Platteklip Gorge
The most direct and popular hiking route up Table Mountain. Steep but straightforward: 600 meters elevation gain through a gorge on the north side. Duration: approx. 2–3 hours up, descent possible by cable car. Sturdy footwear, water (2 liters!), and sun protection are mandatory.
Lion's Head
The conical neighbor of Table Mountain is Cape Town's most popular sundowner hike. On full moon nights, hundreds climb to the summit (669 m) to experience the sunset over the Atlantic. Duration: approx. 1–1.5 hours. Last 100 meters with chains and ladders — a bit of a head for heights required.
💡 Tipp
The cable car closes in windy conditions — and the "Cape Doctor" (southeasterly wind) often blows for days. Check the webcam on tablemountain.net in the morning. If the cable car is open, go immediately!
