Table Mountain
No visit to Cape Town would be complete without ascending Table Mountain. There are two ways to do it: on foot, with the trail starting from the Kirstenbosch gardens, or by cable car from the foot of the mountain. The hike up takes around three good hours. Light clothing and sturdy shoes are essential, and make sure to pack water and a warm layer or windbreaker in your bag — it can get cool at the summit after the effort of the climb. You don’t need to be an athlete, but a reasonable level of fitness is required, as the slope is sometimes very steep.
The alternative is to take the cable car. Buy your tickets online to avoid the tedious queue at the ticket office.
It is strongly advisable to go up early in the morning or in the late afternoon. The 11am to 4pm window is best avoided if possible.
Before planning your visit, make sure Table Mountain is not completely shrouded in cloud — the whole point of the trip is, of course, the view over Cape Town. The weather on the mountain can change very quickly.
IMPORTANT
Most people who hike up Table Mountain choose to come back down by cable car. Bear in mind that the starting point for the hike is not in the same location as the cable car station — your car will be parked at Kirstenbosch gardens, while the cable car drops you at the foot of the mountain on the other side.
So you have two options: head back down the same way you came up, or simply grab an Uber — genuinely very affordable — to get back to your car.
Pour la randonnée
📍 Kirstenbosch Gardens – Rhodes Dr, Newlands, Cape Town
Par le téléphérique
📍 5821 Tafelberg Rd, Table Mountain, Cape Town,