Table Mountain

One of the New 7 Wonders of the World, under the New 7 Wonders of Nature category, Table Mountain is always my favorite part of any visit to Cape Town.  It is iconic and the only natural site on the planet to have a constellation of stars named after it - Mensa, meaning "the table."

The iconic view of the mountain from Bloubergstrand, just after sunset

The flat-topped mountain hosts the richest, yet smallest, floral kingdom on earth with over 1,470 floral species.  Table Mountain also boasts numerous rare and endangered animal species.

A dassie (Afrikaans: rock hyrax) is not at all endangered and is a common sight on the mountain

The main feature of Table Mountain is the level plateau approximately 2 miles from side to side, edged by impressive cliffs.  The plateau, flanked by Devil's Peak to the east and by Lion's Head to the west, make for a dramatic backdrop to Cape Town.  This broad sweep of mountainous heights, together with Signal Hill, forms the natural amphitheater of the City Bowl and Table Bay harbor.

The City Bowl, photographed during the construction of Green Point Stadium in the foreground

The mountain is sometimes seen with its "table cloth" covering it - clouds spilling over the edge which then dissipate.

The "table cloth" seen from the V&A Waterfront

The "table cloth" hanging low

A view from above the "table cloth" of clouds

The original aerial cableway, giving visitors easy access to the top of the mountain, was opened in 1929.  In 1997 the cableway was extensively upgraded and new cars were introduced carrying 65 instead of 25 passengers.  The new cars give a faster journey to the summit and rotate through 360 degrees during the ascent and descent, giving all riders a panoramic view over the city.

The first cablecar - 1929

The current cablecars - upgraded in 1997

Two cars cross paths

The plan during our visit will be to climb Table Mountain via the Platteklip Gorge route.  At the top we'll explore the mountain and enjoy the views.  We'll have a picnic while the sun sets, then descend via the cablecar at night after watching the city come alive in lights.

The view of Platteklip Gorge from the bottom of the mountain

The view of Platteklip Gorge from the top of the mountain

At night the city and the mountain come alive with lights