South Africa's Table Mountain National Park

Useful Information

History

Human history around 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 area 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 millions of visits recorded annually.

Wildlife

You won’t find the Big Five in Table Mountain National Park, but the park is 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 Table Mountain National Park, you will find larger antelope like eland, red hartebeest, and bontebok. Other mammals include zebra, several species of mongoose, Cape fox, otter, and, of course, baboon.

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

Vegetation & Terrain

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 about 520 million years old. It comprises three different formations. The Graafwater Formation is a 25–65 m layer of sandstone and mudstone in red and purple hues. The Peninsula Formation consists of light gray, pebble-like sandstone. This layer is 700 m thick and forms the bulk of Table Mountain. The last is the Pakhuis Formation, found near the top of Table Mountain.

The most common vegetation type in Table Mountain National Park is fynbos. Fynbos is an ancient vegetation type that dates back tens of millions of years. Four principal plant groups dominate fynbos here: protea, erica, restio, and geophyte. Fynbos typically requires periodic fire, often on cycles of roughly 10–20 years, which is why it thrives in this area. Other vegetation types include renosterveld and Afromontane forest. Renosterveld encompasses grass-like shrubs found on the slopes of the mountain and is highly endangered. Afromontane forest is less prevalent and depends on frequent rainfall.

Activities

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 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 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.