No table cloth please when I am at the table (Table Mountain (Cape Town))

Member Name: genmil

Product:	Table Mountain (Cape Town)
Date:	19/01/09 (97 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lovely, 360 degree of spectacular views

Disadvantages: beware of the red winged starling.

'Look at the table cloth which is covering the mountain now!' For a moment, I wondered what my cousin was saying. Then it strikes me that she was talking about the mystical white cloud covering the top of Table Mountain from a distance.

Table Mountain is a symbolic landmark in Cape Town, South Africa. The level plateau, surrounded by steep cliffs and spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean, the city, sand dunes and silhouette of mountains in the distance. Table Mountain is a World Heritage site.

The highest point on Table Mountain is towards the eastern end of the plateau which is 3,563 ft above sea level. The flat top of the mountain is sometimes covered by clouds or fog and its spill over give the mountain the effect of a table cloth. Though, it is lovely to see the table cloth effect away from the mountain, it will be disappointing to be at the top of the mountain when it happen.

There are two ways to get to the top of the mountain. One is by cable car and the other is hiking. The Table Mountain Cableway station lies about mid range in the mountain. The cableway has been in operation since 1929 and it was extensively renovated in 1997. The cableway carries 65 passengers to and from the summit and the ascent to the top is about 10 minutes.

The glass window which rotates 360 degrees gives passengers a panoramic view of the city and the mountain. The cleverly constructed glass panel with 2 sections that is without glass allow passengers to take pictures without any obstruction. The only down side is you have to make sure you are standing in a good position to take the pictures, it is mostly standing space with a few seats near the control and it is usually full.

Hiking up the mountain is another popular choice. There are a number of trails ranging from easy to difficult. However, it is good to note that a considerable level of fitness and stamina is needed to complete the hike. As there are many steep cliffs around the summit, the time taken to reach the summit varies according the route taken and the fitness level.

The straightforward route is the Platteklip Gorge and it takes about 1 to 3 hours to ascent to the summit. The other route which is a longer route to the summit is from the south of the main plateau starting at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden (a interesting place to explore different types of local flora and fauna). Another popular ascent is from Kasteelspoort which is a gorge from the Atlantic side of the mountain.

The top of the mountain offer different spectacular view point like Cape Town, Cape Pennisula, Cape Flats and Table Bay. There are 3 different choices of walks on top of the mountain, they are:
-Dassie Walk with views of north, south and west
-Agama Walk with spectacular 360 degree views of Cape Town and Cape Pennisula
-Klipspringer Walk with views along the plateau edge to above Platteklip Gorge.

There are free guided tours which operate at 1000hrs and 1200hrs if you want to know more about the history of Table Mountain and its botanical make up.

There is also a cafe in the summit to escape from the heat and to carry on enjoying the views. And if you fancy sending a postcard from Table Mountain, there is a souvenir shop and a red post box (like the one we have here) for you to post the card.

There is a magical and yet serene feeling at Table Mountain. Perhaps it was the flatness at the peak, totally unblocked and the distance silhouette of the mountains is so picturesque. I could stay on the summit for hours and enjoy the view.

Luckily, we bought hats as it became very hot. There are no shelters except the cafe on the summit. It is not possible to take shelter under trees as there aren't any tall trees. There are mainly alpine plants and the unique fynbos variety.

There are many bird species and the most commonly seen is the Red-winged Starling. Initially, we were fascinated by the tinged of orange red at the tip of the wings and we thought they were very friendly. The red wing starling actually snatched a small piece of pie from my hand just as I was about to eat it.

Of course, I am not put off by the red winged starling; Table Mountain is too beautiful to be put off by the heat and the starling. Anyway, the red winged starling are everywhere in Cape Town and there is not escape from them especially when there is food.

To get the best of Table Mountain, it is important to check the weather as it can get foggy and misty and the view will be obstructed. Beware too of high winds as it can get chilly.

You can get to Table Mountain on your own by taxis or you can join the local tours. We took a taxi from Waterfront and it costs 85Rand which is about £6 one way.

The rates for the Cableway from 1 October 2008 - 30 September 2009 is:
Adult - Return: R145.00
Children (under 18 years) - Return: R76.00
Children under 4 years travel free

For opening hours, check before visiting as it varies according to weather and seasons.
http://www.tablemountain.net/

Summary: You wouldn't regret it.