Cape Town, South Africa.

On the second day of our Cape Town visit, our tour guide, Dries, told us we would go to the top of Table Mountain. We’d already had a running joke about hiking to the top on any of several recommended trails. Since we are long past the stage of moderate hikes, I’ll start with a description of Platteklip Gorge for those who like to hike, the most popular trail up and down the mountain.

From our cable car vantage point, we could see hikers on the mountain below us. The Platteklip Gorge Trail is about 1.7 miles (2.7 km) one way. Many people hike up or down the trail and buy a one-way ticket for the cableway to complete the circuit. The trail has an elevation change of about 2,100 feet (650 meters) and is rated moderately difficult.

From a vantage point near the Lower Cable Station, we could see the entrance to the Upper Cable Station on the mountain high above us. We would soon be taking that five-minute ride to the summit.

On the way up the mountain, we were presented with awesome views of Cape Town, Table Bay, and the surrounding terrain. As we ascended, we saw the whole city of Cape Town, the ocean, and the rocky shoreline.

Once we boarded and started the ascent, we discovered that the floor of the cable car rotates, so there are no bad locations to stand, except maybe in the center of the cable car. The Cableway’s website recommends a later afternoon arrival to avoid peak times. About a million visitors ride the cableway a year.

Stepping out from the cable car, only a short distance from the Upper Cable Station, we got our first views from the summit. The prominent peak in the distance is Lion’s Head, and the island in the bay is Robben Island.

Looking westerly from the peak, we could see Camps Bay. The upscale suburb in Cape Town has white-sand beaches, including Camps Bay Beach and the more secluded Oudekraal Beach. Hiking and water sports are also major activities for visitors to Camps Bay.

Though the Lower Cable Station weather was relatively warm on a Spring day in October, it was windy and cold on the mountaintop. We could have stepped inside the gift shop to warm up but instead decided to limit our exploration time at the top. Before getting on the cable car for the return trip, we walked over to the north of the cable station for a view of the city.

This panoramic view to the north comprises three images stitched into a panorama and features Cape Town, the harbor on Table Bay, and Robben Island.

We took a few more photos, and Dries offered to take a group photo of the intrepid travelers with Cape Town in the background as a memento.

After a short wait, we boarded the cable car for the five-minute ride down the mountain. I recommend the ride up Table Mountain for those planning a trip to Cape Town. Ticket pricing and other details can be found on their website here. Also, check the website for hours of operation and their annual winter shutdown for maintenance from late July to August 3, 2025.

John Steiner