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Cape Town Table Mountain
Table Mountain - Please click on the picture
Table Mountain rises magically and mystically over Cape Town. This majestic mountain is visible from all sides.
It has an altitude of 1067 meters. The flat summit is nearly 3 km long and supplies breathtaking views over Cape Town and it’s surroundings. The panorama extends from Table Bay along False Bay to Hout Bay and, when there is good visibility, as far as Kommetjie. On a nice day you have an excellent view of the Cape Peninsula up to the Hottentots Holland Mountains.
Table Mountain boasts a multitude of fauna and flora. There are about 1470 different types of flowers and over 250 different proteas to be found. The protea is the national flower of South Africa.
The cable car takes one to the top of Table Mountain and provides a 360º view over Cape Town. It was firstly inaugurated in 1929 and today takes more that 60 000 people to the top of the mountain every year. On the summit you will find a restaurant and a gift shop. By doing short hiking trails from the cable station, visitors can explore the variety of plants, small animals, observe the birds, and enjoy the fantastic view of the azure Atlantic Ocean.
For athletic visitors there are about 350 different hiking trails to the summit – from undemanding ones, even suitable for children, to extremely difficult ascents. It is advisable not to climb the mountain at all without an experienced guide.
East of Table Mountain you will find Devil’s Peak. As the story goes Van Hunks, a pirate in the early 18th century, retired from his life at sea to live on the slopes of Devil’s Peak. One day a stranger approached him and the two made bets as to who could smoke the most. This contest lasted several days and the smoke clouds hung over the mountain-top like a covering.
The pirate finally won the contest and the stranger revealed himself as being the devil. At this point both Van Hunks and the devil vanished without a trace! Now when the clouds hang over the top of Table Mountain, locals say that Van Hunks and the Devil are smoking again. This cloud is known as Table Mountain’s tablecloth.
Of course this phenomenon is also supported by a meteorological explanation. The moisture-laden clouds in the south-east hit against Table Mountain and begin to rise. At an altitude of about 900 metres the winds reach the colder layers of air and clouds start to form. These clouds “roll” over the mountain and “fall” down towards the City Centre. This is how a type of tablecloth emerges, which stretches out over the mountain.
Besides Table Mountain, Kloof Nek is linked to Lion’s Head. Here hiking trails suitable for the entire family can be found. At the top, a stunning view over the entire Cape will be enjoyed.
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