Table Mountain is a plateau in South Africa overlooking Cape Town. Visitors can hike or take a cable car to the top for views of the city and Atlantic coast. The plateau has significant cliffs and cave systems, and is home to unique plant species and animals like the dassie. The area is protected as part of the Cape Floral Region and is part of the Table Mountain National Park.
Table Mountain is a large plateau about 2 miles (3 km) from side to side overlooking Cape Town in South Africa. It sits approximately 3,500 feet (1,000 meters) above sea level and makes for an impressive tourist attraction. Visitors can hike up to Table Mountain or use a cable car to reach the top.
Alongside the edge of the plateau are significant cliffs. The plateau is flanked on the east and west sides by the Devil’s Peak and Lion’s Head mountains respectively. From the plateau, the city of Cape Town can be seen near Table Bay.
Visitors can hike any of several trails of varying difficulty, but the most common is Plattleklip Gorge. This is the route allegedly taken by the first person to climb Table Mountain. Antonio de Saldanha was the first European to land in the area and made the ascent in 1503. The Portuguese navigator carved a cross into the side of the lion’s head, and it can still be seen today.
Those who want to visit the top of the mountain but don’t want to hike can take the Table Mountain Cable Car, which first opened in 1929. It takes passengers to the top of the mountain from a cable car station located on Tafelberg Road. At the upper cable car station, magnificent views of the Atlantic coast can be seen, as well as Cape Town and Robben Island. Tour buses in Cape Town make regular stops at the cable car station.
The top of the mountain consists mostly of sandstone, which doesn’t usually lend itself to large cave systems. Table Mountain does, however, have some extensive cave systems. The largest of these, the Wynberg Caves, is located on the back side of the mountain.
Although animals such as lions, leopards and deer once roamed Table Mountain, these species have either been eradicated or relocated. The most common animal one can spot on the top of the mountain is the dassie, also known as the rock hyrax. It is similar in appearance to a rabbit or guinea pig. You may also see the occasional porcupine, mongoose, snake, lizard or turtle. The vegetation on the top of the mountain is abundant and many plant species are found nowhere else on earth. The plants of the area are protected as part of the Cape Floral Region. Over 2,200 plant species can be found on the mountain.
The plateau is part of the Table Mountain National Park, which is located in the southwestern tip of the African continent. The park runs from Cape Point south to the northern edge of Signal Hill. In addition to Table Mountain, the park includes another world-famous attraction – the Cape of Good Hope.
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