A visit to Cape Town without going up Table Mountain is like being in Paris and skipping the Eiffel Tower or being in New York and forgetting the Statue of Liberty. Indeed: a big no-no..

The mountain - named Hoerikwaggo by the indigenous population, meaning Sea Mountain - is over a 1000 meter high. The mountain range used to be the home of a variety of wild animal species, from lion's to hippos. Unfortunately they disappeared as man encroached on their habitat.

Only smaller animals remain on the mountain - the little grysbok, porcupines, tortoises and hyrax or dassie (see picture). This creature that is the closest biological relative to the elephant.

There are many legends about Table Mountain. The following story is about the creation of Table Mountain. One day, the mighty sea dragon Nganyamba tried to prevent Qamata - an African mythological figure responsible for the creation of the world - from creating dry land.

Djobela - a one-eyed earth goddess - assisted Nganyamba. She cast a spell and four giants were born. They had the task to guard the north, south, east and west to prevent the creation of more dry land.

This resulted in many battles, and eventually the giants were defeated. Before dying, they asked Djobela to turn them into mountains so they could continue their work. The Watcher of the South - Umlindi Wemingizimu - became Table Mountain.

Scientists have, of course, a different explanation. Hundreds of millions of years ago the Cape was part of the super-continent geologists call Gondwana. Back then Table Mountain was a flat, empty plain. As the vast landmass shifted the plain slowly subsided under the sea.

For 50 million years fine sediment built up, layer after layer. Then the earth's plates buckled again and the layers of sediment were thrust upward to what are now Table Mountain, Devil's Peak and Lion's Head.

Enough reading! Put on your hiking shoes and get up there! Or take the cable car. For R115 you have return ( R60 for a single). Students pay R84.00 for a return R42.00 for a single ticket. Minors under 18 years pay R60.00 for a return and R30.00 for a single.  Family Tickets (2 Adults & 2 Children under 18) cost R295.00.

Other things to do in Cape Town:
To Do Day Cape Town
To Do Night Cape Town

 
Your first friend in South Africa:
Subscribe to our popular and free newsletter for more information on tours and trips, activities, museums, and other 'Things to Do ' in Cape Town and South Africa.

The Cape Town Hopper heli-flip is your entry level flight in a compact and highly maneuverable Robinson 44 helicopter.

The 15 minute helicopter flight is a short and sweet heli-flip of Cape Town that gives you the best of Cape Town in a great first taste, birds-eye view.

After departure the actual size of the V&A Waterfront will become clear and Table Mountain will arise to give you that incredible view of Cape Town.

Flying around the Atlantic Seaboard with view of the luxury mansions of Fresnaye and Bantry Bay on the slopes of Lion’s Head, before the incredible treat of the 4 beaches of Clifton.

The flight continues over the fantastic suburb and beach of Camps Bay with views of the impressive Twelve Apostles and, of course, Table...

MORE