'It is . . . a sacred and
precious place . . . to us on Robben Island, Table Mountain was a beacon
of hope. It represented the mainland to which we knew we would one day
return.'
Nelson Mandela
 Table
Mountain is the centrepiece of the Table Mountain National Park. Covering
only 17,000 ha, this small area supports some 2,285 plant species of which
at least 90 are found only on the Peninsula, and is part of the Cape Floral
Region World Heritage Site.
The most usual (and easiest)
way of visiting Table Mountain is to ride up in the Cable Car, which operates
every day, except in bad weather conditions. But it's a great walk, either
up, down or both ways. Platteklip Gorge, just east of the Cable Station,
is a good one, as you can walk one way and take the cable car the other.
Skeleton Gorge and Nursery Ravine, both of which start in Kirstenbosch
National Botanical Gardens, are also easy walks.
 If
you have a good map, and you really do know what you're doing in the wilds,
it's a good hike from the cable car to Kirstenbosch or vice versa. It's
really great to do this on a Sunday in summer, when you can walk down into
Kirstenbosch and enjoy the open air sunset concert. Organise someone to
drive the car round and bring a picnic.
Other fun walks include the
Pipe Track, to the west of the Lower Cable Station, and Lions Head, which
is probably the most popular walk in the whole of Cape Town. It's great
on a full moon night - you walk up in the afternoon and watch the sun set
over the Ocean and the moon rise over the distant Hottentots Holland Mountains
while you enjoy a leisurely picnic. Then you walk down by bright moonlight.
Despite the moon, you'll still need a torch (flashlight).
 If
you're really into walking, there are literally hundreds of trails on the
mountain. If you're a relatively experienced hiker, get a good guide book
and head off with food, water, a mobile phone and warm clothes. Always
let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return. This
is not a city park - it is a real mountain, with steep cliffs and gorges,
and the weather can change without warning. Unless you're pretty confident,
it's probably a better idea to do an escorted walk. Always bear in mind,
though, that Table Mountain is in the middle of a city and muggers are
just entrepreneurs like any other. So walk in a big group or stay close
to where there are lots of other people.
There is a fabulous multi-day
hike on Table Mountain, which you can do in a number of ways. You can pack
all your stuff in a backpack and hike between the huts in the usual way,
or you can do a number of variations on the slackpacking theme. SANParks
offers a guided and/or portered hike or you could do a full slackpacking
trail, with your gear taken by car from guest house to guest house while
you walk over the mountain.
Table
Mountain Aerial Cableway
Tel: +27 21 424 8181
Consult the website for opening
hours, current rates and to find out if its operating if the weather is
bad.
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