Six memorable experiences on Table Mountain
Table Mountain is the most iconic landmark of South Africa.
The Khoi and San people named the mountain Hoerikwaggo or Mountain in the Sea. But the history of this mountain dates back to over 30,000 years and there is some evidence that the mountain was inhabited in the Stone Age. The mountain was sacred for the Khoi and San people as they believed their god (Tsui or Goab) lived there.The first European to see the Cape was Bartolomeu Dias in 1448. The first recorded climb of the mountain was done by the Portuguese navigator, Admiral Antonio de Saldanha, in 1503. It was De Saldanha who gave the mountain its name, Taboa da caba, meaning table of the cape.
It is the only natural site on the planet to have a constellation of stars named after it. The constellation is called “Mensa”, which means ‘table’ in Latin. Having withstood six million years of erosion, it hosts the richest floral kingdom on earth, with more than 1 470 floral species.
Over 800,000 people visit it each year and it can be experienced in many fantastic ways:
ORIGINAL EXPERIENCE
The Cableway was opened in 1929 and has been upgraded three times, most recently in 1997. The cable cars take visitors up 704m, from the Lower Cable Station at 363m above sea level to the Upper Cable Station at 1 067m above sea level. Details to plan your trip and special offers (eg. half price for locals after 6 pm) can be obtained from the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway
NATURAL EXPERIENCE
Hike on Table Mountain and you’ll be rewarded with a good workout, an exceptional view (if the weather plays along) and bragging rights to say you conquered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Visit Five fantastic hikes for more details. Be prepared and do not underestimate the dangers.
ADRENALINE EXPERIENCE
The K-Way Table Mountain 16km Race is a spectacular run from Constantia Nek up the jeep track to the top of Table Mountain and back. At its inception (1978) it was the first organised Trail Run in the country. The route follows the historic Bridal Path up to and around the Woodhead dam. A challenging 16km route covering a short distance (500m) of single-track running, and the rest on gravel and cement.
ADVENTURE EXPERIENCE
If you are more adventurous, why not abseil down Table Mountain ? Descending down the side of a sheer cliff you will have Camps Bay, the Atlantic Seaboard and the deep blue ocean at your feet with the Twelve Apostles at your side. Contact Abseil Africa for this exhilarating adventure.
SOARING EXPERIENCE
Table Mountain is not only the most sought-after but also the highest launch site in Cape Town, but with its rapidly changing wind directions it is not often flown. For this reason special licenses are required and it is not suitable for tandem paragliding. Luckily there is an alternative - tandem paragliding from Lions Head or Signal Hill ! Fly with Cape Town Paragliding - who use the amazing GoPro cameras to capture insane video and photos of your tandem paragliding flight.
LUXURY EXPERIENCE
For the memory of a lifetime, why not splurge a little ? Cape Town Helicopters offers various helicopter trips from 25 to 50 minutes.
Whichever way you choose to experience Table Mountain, you are guaranteed to have a memorable experience. For more memorable experiences, stay and dine at one of these official twisht experiences in the Mother City:
Nestled beneath Bantry Bay’s majestic Lion’s Head, on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean and just a step away from Cape Town’s CBD, is the most beautiful urban resort hotel in Cape Town. This iconic landmark hotel boasts 350 rooms that combine contemporary sophistication and comfort with spaciousness. The President Hotel is situated in Bantry Bay, which is known to be the most wind-free area in Cape Town, making the hotel secluded and protected, enjoying nearly 300 days of sunshine and wind free days per year.
High up, on the slopes of Lion’s Head Mountain, you’ll feel the sun, but not the wind. Ocean, stretching further than the eye can see. The South Atlantic, home to passing pods of dolphins and whales. Cape Town with its lively Waterfront is just along the coastline, a 15-minute drive down through Sea Point. Inside, luxurious en-suite rooms; each one designed and furnished to make your stay relaxing and your time here feeling far too short. Come for a holiday, for business, an intimate wedding or family celebration.
An architectural masterpiece with six identical sea facing suites in the prestigious suburb of Llandudno, Cape Town. Butler and Chef services, champagne breakfasts, sipping on sunset cocktails and snacking canapés are among the inclusions in the rate at the luxurious private villa. An award-winning, exclusive use Villa with a design that compliments the natural elements of stone, wood and ultra modern interiors.
It is known that location and convenience go hand-in-hand, and the state-of-the-art aha Harbour Bridge Hotel & Suites is no exception! Ideally situated within the Convention Centre and Cape Town International Convention Centre precinct, this premier four-star hotel offers business and leisure travellers the ultimate accommodation experience. Within close proximity to the V&A Waterfront and Cape Town International Convention Centre, this Hotel offers a well-appointed conference venue on the picturesque Cape Town Foreshore.
aha Simon’s Town Quayside Hotel is perfectly positioned on the water’s edge of the Simon’s Town yacht basin, with breathtaking views over False Bay and the majestic Simon’s Kloof Mountains. This nautically styled, 4-star Simon’s Town hotel has a unique location, offering superb views of the yachts and boats in the harbour, with which no other hotel in the area can compete.
An unique African restaurant in the heart of Cape Town. A set 14 course Cape Malay and African menu is a taste safari that will transport you from Table Mountain to Timbuktu. The culinary experience is accompanied by unique interactive traditional entertainment. GOLD Restaurant offers 3 unique performances during your dinner, starting with a praise singer who welcomes you to GOLD Restaurant and introduces you to the singers, dancers, puppets and musicians. The second performance showcases the vibrant dancing and celebrations in Africa and the third performance is in honour of our royal African queens. She scatters 24 carat gold dust on the guests to say thank you for visiting.
Just click on the names above for more details or visit twisht (travel wish list) for more experiences and special deals in 93 countries and subscribe to our newsletter.