How to Visit Table Mountain, South Africa: 12 Tips for Planning Your Own Trip

From my perspective, visiting Table Mountain is one of the top things to do anywhere in the world. Not just in Cape Town. I’ve been there multiple times, and it doesn’t get old.

I always hike up Table Mountain when I visit South Africa. It’s quieter this way, and it leaves me feeling not just totally amazed by the views, but also accomplished. 

Of course, the Table Mountain cable car is there if you want the easy option, so I’ll explain this option too if you want just views with no effort (I’m only judging you a little bit for taking the easy way!).

Table Mountain is the most significant feature of Cape Town. It’s even portrayed on the city’s flag and an official logo. You see it from almost everywhere in the city. If you’re wondering how to visit Table Mountain, I’ll break it down step by step for you. 

Thinking back at the first time I got up to the top of Table Mountain, the wind was going crazy, the cliffs just went straight down like… nothing, and the whole city and ocean were just there under me. And I was like—yeah, I’ll definitely be back. Ready?

Read more from my South Africa travel blog.

 

At a glance: How to visit Table Mountain

• Getting there: From central Cape Town, it’s a 20-minute drive (without traffic)
• Hike up (Platteklip Gorge = fastest) 
• Take the cable car (fastest overall) 
• Best compromise: hike up, cable car down (my choice)
• Go early morning to avoid the crazy traffic and full parking lot
• Check the weather before going (the wind is known to shut down the cable car) 
• Book tickets online in peak season during the day so you can skip the line (can be up to 90 minutes long)
• How much time do you need to visit Table Mountain? 3–4 hours (1–2 h for the hike up based on your fitness level, 2 hours on top, 5 minutes down using the cable car)

 

My hotel tip: Dysart Boutique Hotel 

 

Mistakes to avoid when visiting Table Mountain

• Going late—clouds show up in the afternoon and ruin everything 
• Thinking the hike is easy—it’s not, it’s uphill the whole time 
• Not checking the wind—the cable car just stops, and you’re stuck 
• Bringing no water—bad idea, you’ll be thirsty, trust me

 

 

Quick facts about Table Mountain: 

• Table Mountain is located on the Cape Peninsula in Cape Town, South Africa.
• Its highest point, Maclear’s Beacon, is 1,085 m (3,560 ft) high. 
• Table Mountain has been a national park since 1998. 
• It has two other local names: Tafelberg in Afrikaans and Hoerikwaggo in Khoikhoi. 

 

You might also be interested in reading:

• 7 Things to Know Before Traveling to South Africa
• Shark Cage Diving in South Africa: 3 Stages of My Heroic Descend Among the White Sharks
• 7 Unique Places to Visit in South Africa
• Best 12 Hotels in Cape Town: Luxury, Comfort and More

 

 

1. What is the best way to visit Table Mountain​  

Climbing up Table Mountain is a must when visiting Cape Town. Of course, there are two routes: the cable car (called Table Mountain Aerial Cableway) is the fastest way up for you couch potatoes, and hiking routes are available for adventurous visitors.

We decided on a compromise, so we climbed up the mountain and rode down on the cable car for more views.  

 

2. How to take the Table Mountain cable car (Table Mountain Aerial Cableway)

Going down? Cable car it is!
 

The Lower Cableway Station is on Tafelberg Road, while the Platteklip Gorge hiking trail starts lower down on Tafelberg Road near the main road—so if you’re hiking up, you’ll begin below the cable car station. 

The cable car up to Table Mountain is modern and also quite cheap, so that might persuade some people to choose the easier way. 

It’s best to buy tickets online to skip the line and save time (at least from December to February, when it’s the peak season, or anytime you’re planning on visiting Table Mountain during midday).

Pro tip: Lines can be over an hour long, so really consider getting those tickets up front! 

The 5-minute cable car ride offers a 360° panorama of the north slope over Cape Town, which is pretty awesome too.  You even get a glimpse of the Atlantic Ocean and Camps Bay from the upper cable car station.

You can park the car you rented through DiscoverCars at the lower cable station garage.
 

Opening times: 

• The cableway operates from 8:30 or 9 am to 5.30 or 6 pm, depending on the season. 
• The last car to the cable station is at 7 or 8 pm, depending on the season.
• The cars go up approximately every 15 minutes and take just 5 minutes.
• Always check the official website: www.tablemountain.net, as the cableway doesn’t operate in case of high winds or bad weather. You wouldn't want to show up at a dead cable car station.

Prices: 

• Adult one-way tickets cost ZAR 295 (USD 17.50) in 2026. Return ticket prices vary slightly based on the time of day you want to go back. See the official website for details. 

 

3. How do you hike up Table Mountain? Platteklip Gorge is the fastest route

The Table Mountain route—you will find it on alltrails.com
 

There are more than 200 routes all over Table Mountain National Park. That makes a great pastime activity in case you’re staying in Cape Town for a longer time. All of the trails are available on alltrails.com, including routes fit for children as well as the hardcore ones. 

The time range is from 1.5 hours for the shortest one to a half-day trip if you decide to explore the whole mountain. I just recommend searching for reviews and information in advance, as on some routes, there could be types of people you really don’t want to meet. 

You can also opt for a guided tour just to be sure.

The most direct, and therefore most popular, route up to the plateau is Platteklip Gorge. That’s exactly the one we took when we were there. We climbed this almost 3 km (1.80 mi) long and it takes about an hour or so, including many stops to take the perfect Instagram pics. 

However, from December to February, it may be quite challenging for some less fit hikers as the sun beats you down the whole route. Prepare steady shoes and adequate water supplies.

The Platteklip Gorge hike up Table Mountain placed second on my list of best day hikes in South Africa, so you can tell I liked it. 

 

4. What’s is the best time to visit Table Mountain?

A tablecloth of clouds—a smoking contest between a pirate and the devil??
 

There’s really no bad time to visit Table Mountain. It’s beautiful in all seasons. Spring (September–November) and fall (March–May) are your safest bets if you want less crowds but still high chances of the cable car being open.

The temperatures are ok, and if you’re lucky, it’ll also be sunny. It’s best to head out there early in the morning because the traffic is insane if you get there later.  

In the winter months (May-August), you are risking that the cable car won't operate due to weather, and summers (December–February) can be hot and very busy.

Tip: Hop over to my Cape Town itinerary if you're ready to travel! Table Mountain is included, of course. We stayed at Dysart Boutique Hotel and LOVED it!  

Table Mountain is also famous for the tablecloth of clouds. Every time the south-eastern winds blow from the coast, thick clouds form all over the slopes. It doesn’t mean it will rain necessarily.

The mist and the clouds usually disperse after a few minutes. I must say it feels magical being up there, and that’s something coming from me! Naturally, there’s a myth related to this phenomenon: 

The smoking contest

Legend has it that there was a smoking contest between a Dutch pirate living on the east side of Table Mountain and the devil. Once, when the pirate was smoking outside his hut, the devil appeared out of nowhere and challenged him about who could create more smoke.

So, if you ever see the tablecloth covering the mountain, it’s these two idiots' fault. 

 

5. Do I need to buy Table Mountain tickets in advance?

Not always, but you probably should. If you’re wondering how to visit Table Mountain, showing up midday or in peak season without a ticket is not the way to do it. You can easily wait an hour or more in line at the station.

Buying tickets online won’t save you from the weather, but it can save you from wasting an hour of your life. 

 

6. Try rock climbing up or abseiling down Table Mountain for the ultimate experience 

How to visit Table Mountain with an extra adrenaline kick? Rock climbing!. There are plenty of multi-pitch routes on Table Mountain, from very easy ones to the most challenging.  

Most of the routes are to be found on Africa Ledge, the north-east side of the mountain facing the city, or on the Fountain Ledge towards the Atlantic seaboard.

If you’re not too experienced, I recommend finding a guided rock-climbing tour. There are several to choose from, the best-rated being Cape Town Climbing and Manawa.  

 

 

7. How to visit Table Mountain in a wheelchair? No problem

Climbing Table Mountain with a smile on my face
 

This is quite surprising, but Capetonians are obviously very friendly and bend over backward to welcome all the visitors, including the handicapped. There’s lift access to the cable car, disabled parking lots, and even a specially adapted pathway on the top of Table Mountain.

Look, they even issued a special wheelchair map with points of interest and directions.  

 

8. Is Table Mountain the oldest in the world? 

Table Mountain is older than dinosaurs! It’s 600 million years old. To give you an idea, compared to the Himalayas, it’s six times older and four times older than the Alps. So it's a mountain grandaddy.

However, the oldest mountain range on earth lies on the other side of South Africa at its border with Swaziland. It’s called the Barberton Greenstone Belt, and it’s estimated to be 3.5 billion years old. 

Thanks to its unique geologic value, its variety of endemic species, and its monumental profile, Table Mountain is included on the list of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. 

Want more mountains in South Africa? Check out Drakensberg! You'll need to bring your big boy (girl) panties if you want to take on the chain ladders at Tugela Falls.

 

 

9. Why is Table Mountain flat?

V&A Waterfront in Cape Town 
 

Table Mountain is flat because of geology... and pancakes?! Planning how to visit Table Mountain automatically means you’ve wondered why it’s so flat. To put it simply, imagine a stack of pancakes (be patient, it'll make sense in the end).

These pancakes represent different types of rocks the mountain is made of. A solid sandstone on the top of Table Mountain and the granite beneath it. During the ice age, there were ice plains that eroded the sandstone, forming the flat top. 

When the continents split up, the granite held the mountain together instead of crushing inwards. For the following centuries, erosion has been taking bits of the mountain from the sides, but not from the top made of massive sandstone.

That means the sides of the mountain are crumbling down while the top of Table Mountain stands still. 

 

10. Table Mountain is a no-fly drone area 

Drones are strictly prohibited in National Parks in South Africa, and since Table Mountain is a national park, nobody can fly a drone there either. So, that means no killer drone footage from your South Africa vacation. It’s also prohibited to make a fire there, excluding the marked campsite areas.

Just in case you were wondering. 

 

 

11. Over 8,000 species live on Table Mountain

Adult Homo Sapiens Sapiens alfa male to be seen in his natural habitat on Table Mountain
 

Table Mountain National Park is home to the Cape Floral Kingdom. A unique biome made of thousands of species, some of them endemic to Table Mountain.  

It’s so huge, you feel like you're on a different planet. Just imagine the species from every corner of Africa in one place. The cool thing is that this biome is endemic only to the West Cape, so you won’t find it anywhere else on the planet. 

If you want to see the flowers in bloom, come here in February and March, when most of the flowers blossom, including South Africa’s national flower King Protea. 

The mountain is also home to many animal species, like the endemic ghost frog, various snakes, lizards, and mongooses. 

If you’re lucky, you can also spot the dassie, the unofficial mascot of Table Mountain. There's even a special trail called Dassie walk, aimed at spotting these cute fellows. I guess they were shy when we went there, so the only animal on Table Mountain was me. 

The animal life here is impressive, but just a bit too shy.

 

 

12. You can see Table Mountain up in the sky!

Did you know Table Mountain is so inspiring that it even has its very own constellation? It’s the only place on earth so interesting that someone decided to name the stars after it (aka how to visit Table Mountain without visiting South Africa).

It was Nicolas de Lacaille, a French astronomer from the 18^th century, who named the constellation the “Mensa” (meaning “the table”) during his stay in Cape Town. If you’re in South Africa in the middle of July, you can see it right under the Orion belt around midnight. 

 

 

 

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