Table Mountain National Park

By Air

A quick flight from OR Tambo will take visitors directly to Cape Town. Table Mountain National Park is a half-hour drive (25km) from this airport via the N2. Once you arrive in Cape Town, an expert guide will transfer you to the park via a private, air-conditioned vehicle.

By Road

Table Mountain National Park is located centrally to the bustling city of Cape Town; it is reachable from various access points. From any accommodations in the city, you will be at most 20 minutes from accessing the park.

Cape Town has wet and cool winters and warm and dry summers. It is best to visit during the summer when there are more outdoor activities in Table Mountain National Park. During winter, Cape Town never reaches dramatic lows in temperature; if you visit during the winter period, you will still be able to enjoy the glory of Table Mountain National Park.

The history of Table Mountain dates back 30 000 years to the Stone Age. It is older than many other famous landmarks around the world. Around 2 000 years ago, the Khoisan inhabited the area around Table Mountain and named it "Hoerikwaggo." The word "Hoerikwaggo" translates to 'Mountain in the Sea.' The first European climbed to the top of the mountain in 1503. This honor belongs to Admiral Antonio de Saldanha, a Portuguese navigator who docked his ship in Table Bay. He summited Table Mountain via the Platteklip Gorge and carved a cross into Lion's Head that is still visible today.

During the British occupation of the Cape, three blockhouses were built on Table Mountain, one of which is still in good condition. In the late 1800s, several dams were built in the national park to supply water to Cape Town. These dams are no longer used for that purpose but are still accessible to hikers or people seeking to cool down. The aerial cableway has been operating since 1926 and was upgraded in 1997. Table Mountain National Park was founded in 1998 and has since been the most visited national park in South Africa, with 4.2 million visits recorded annually.

You won't find the Big Five in Table Mountain National Park, but the park is still rich in fauna. It is home to several antelope species adapted to the fynbos, like klipspringer, grysbok, common duiker, grey rhebok, and steenbok. Your best chance of catching a glimpse of these animals would be in the early morning. In the Cape of Good Hope section of the Table Mountain National Park, you will find larger antelope like eland, red hartebeest, and bontebok. Other mammals include zebras, several species of mongoose, the Cape fox, otters, and, of course, baboons.

A large part of the park lies offshore, protecting abundant marine life. The penguins on Boulders Beach are distinctive, but there are also whales to look for, especially southern right and humpback whales. It is also common to see the Cape fur seal. Other common sea creatures include dolphins (bottlenose, common and dusky), great white sharks, yellow tail, and Cape salmon. While you visit the national park, there is a good chance of seeing a host of bird species, from woodpeckers to birds of prey. Always be aware of the possibility of running into one of the 22 snake species.

The Table Mountain National Park can be divided into three sections: The Table Mountain Section, The Silvermine-Tokai section, and the Cape Point section. The entire area covers 221 square kilometers (85 square miles). The Table Mountain group of rock formations is 520 million years old. It comprises three different formations. The Graafwater formation is a layer of 25m-65m of sandstone and mudstone in red and purple hues. The Peninsula formations consist of light grey, pebble-like sandstone. This layer is 700m thick and forms the bulk of Table Mountain. The last formation is the Pakhuis formation, found on Table Mountain's top.

The most common vegetation type in Table Mountain National Park is fynbos. Fynbos is an ancient vegetation type that dates back 50 million years. There are four types of fynbos here: Proteas, Ericas, Restios, and Geophytes. Fynbos needs to burn at least once every 15 years, which is why it thrives in this area, as there are frequent fires in the national park. Other types of vegetation include the Renosterveld and the Afromontane forest. Renosterveld encompasses the grass-like shrubs found on the slopes of the mountain, and it is highly endangered. The Afromontane forest is less prevalent and is dependent on frequent rainfall.

Whether you like to be adventurous and climb mountains, experience a nice view from the comfort of your vehicle, breathe in the ocean air or have up-close encounters with animals, the Table Mountain National Park has an activity for everyone. There are a variety of hiking trails and even overnight trails in all three sections. This activity is highly recommended, as it allows you to take in the beauty of the national park. For people who prefer to keep their heart rate down, a cool dip in one of the dams is a great way to relax. Mountain biking is a prevalent activity, with various available trails.

At the seaside, there are activities like fishing, snorkeling and scuba diving, surfing and kiteboarding, and, of course, penguin encounters. A different way to view the Mother City is by paragliding from Signal Hill or Lion's Head, usually with a landing spot in Camps Bay.