Table Mountain - Table Top Hike

Welcome to Table Mountain National Park, South African jewel, international tourism icon, and Natural World Heritage Site.  Situated at the southwestern tip of Africa, the Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) encompasses the incredibly scenic Table Mountain Chain stretching from Signal Hill in the north to Cape Point in the south and the seas and coastline of the peninsula.

The narrow finger of land with its beautiful valleys, bays and beaches is surrounded by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean in the west and the warmer waters of False Bay and has within its boundaries two world-renowned landmarks - majestic Table Mountain and the legendary Cape of Good Hope. The Park is recognised globally for its extraordinarily rich, diverse and unique fauna and flora - with rugged cliffs, steep slopes and sandy flats - is a truly remarkable natural, scenic, historical, cultural, and recreational asset both locally and internationally. Nowhere else in the world does an area of such spectacular beauty and such rich bio-diversity exist almost entirely within a metropolitan area - the thriving and cosmopolitan city of Cape Town.

A unique feature of the TMNP is that it is primarily an open access Park with only three points where conservation fees are payable, Cape of Good Hope, Boulders and Silvermine.  The rest of the Park is open access and free for all to enjoy.

Itinerary

• We will drive up to the Cable Way station, using the cableway to the top of the mountain.

There are three walks on the Mountain from Upper Cableway station.

• The first being a gentle walk via paths around the front of the mountain. About one hour to complete.
• The second is a little more strenuous and takes you to Maclears Beacon and is a very worthwhile walk right across the top of the mountain. About two and half hours to complete.
• The third is to Maclears Beacon and then down the Mountain via Smuts Path. This will take about four and a half hours. Transport will be arranged at Kirstenbosch to bring us back again.

There is one easy ledge, with a scrambled descent but no serious climbing or scrambling.  There are magnificent views all the way to Cape Point and we can explore the fauna and flora on the top of the mountain.

These hikes are weather dependant. But good walking shoes, a hat and a warm jacket should be taken. Water or drinks of some kind should be carried; although there is a shop at the cable car station.  After our descent in the cable car, we will drive to the end of Tafelberg Road and up Signal Hill - both of which provide fantastic photo opportunities.

Price

Prices (based on a minimum of two people):
1st Walk R450 per person
2nd walk R550 per person
3rd walk R1400 per person

The rates include transport to and from the cable station, the cable car trip to the top and back, and guide (but exclude any refreshments).