Table Mountain National Park
Discover Table Mountain National Park
Table Mountain National Park is a 221-km² park in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It protects the natural environment of the Table Mountain Chain, and in particular the rare fynbos vegetation. The park contains two well-known landmarks: Table Mountain, and the Cape of Good Hope, the most southwestern extremity of Africa. The park forms part of the Cape Floristic Region UNESCO World Heritage Site, comprises a large area of the Cape Peninsula and incorporates a number of park areas.
What to Experience in Table Mountain National Park
Taste of Table Mountain National Park...
Be wary of approaching chacma baboons at Cape Point. They regularly attack tourists. They usually won't hurt you much, but will steal food and any other thing that might smell of food, whether or not you are holding it in your hands or in a pack. If one approaches you, walk backwards slowly, facing the baboon, but be aware that there will usually be others around. When driving past in your car or stopping nearby, close all windows!
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Table Mountain National Park into what it is today.
The Khoekhoe people were the inhabitants of the Western Cape before the arrival of European explorers. In 1488 the Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias was the first European to round the Cape of Good Hope, so named because it offered a route to India. In 1652 the Dutch established a settlement at Cape Town that served as a refreshment station for their ships plying between Europe and the Far East. The first lighthouse, at 238 m above sea level, was built at Cape Point in 1859. Even though the southern part of the peninsula had been a game park for may years, Table Mountain itself was first declared a national park in the 1960's under the care of the Table Mountain Preservation Board. Over the years other parts of the peninsula were added to the national park and today it incorporates a large part of the peninsula. Since 2004, the property has been included as part of the UNESCO Cape Floristic Region World Heritage Site. Were it not for the Cape Flats, a "beach" of aeolian sand between the Cape Peninisula , Tygerberg, and the Hottentots Holland Mountains, the Cape Peninsula would be a rocky island with Table Mountain, close to its northern limit reaching an altitude of 1084 m above sea level, 50 km from north to south and up to 10 km located some 30 to 40 km off the African coast. Geologically, the peninsula consists of a sandstone cap above a substrata of Cape Granite and Tygerberg sedimentary rocks....
Climate
The peninsula has a warn Mediterranean climate with mild, wet winters and dry, warm summers. Average January maximum and minimum temperatures are 26° and 10°C respectively and average July maximum and minimum temperatures are 17° and 7°C respectively. Temperatures seldom drop below zero. Due to the mountain, the is considerable variation in rainfall with an annual average of 1500 mm in the Cape Town suburb of Newlands, but only 500 mm in Camps Bay (9 km away). The bulk of the rain falls during the winter months (April to September). Most sections of the park do not require any fees to be paid, specifically Table Mountain cable car: first car up at 8:30AM, last car up 4:30PM-9:30PM depending on the time of year. Ticket prices, return/one-way (valid until 20 Sep 2017): The easiest way to see the park is by car. Most major international car hire companies have offices in Cape Town.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsNot available...
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
The easiest way to see the park is by car. Most major international car hire companies have offices in Cape Town. Traffic drives on the left, distances are given in kilometres and road signs are generally compatible with European road signs. Roads are sealed and are usually well sign-posted. The principal railway line in the area is the suburban that links -33.921318.42431 Cape Town and -34.186718.42512 Simonstown. This line is designed to handle commuter traffic, but does provide a link to Hout Bay and Simonstown. Trains may not be running all the way to Simon's Town There are also two cable-hauled transport systems within the region, both of which are oriented towards the tourist traffic: Be wary of approaching chacma baboons at Cape Point. They regularly attack tourists. They usually won't hurt you much, but will steal food and any other thing that might smell of food, whether or not you are holding it in your hands or in a pack.
Where to Stay
Be wary of approaching chacma baboons at Cape Point. They regularly attack tourists. They usually won't hurt you much, but will steal food and any other thing that might smell of food, whether or not you are holding it in your hands or in a pack. If one approaches you, walk backwards slowly, facing the baboon, but be aware that there will usually be others around. When driving past in your car or stopping nearby, close all windows!
Money & Budget
Be wary of approaching chacma baboons at Cape Point. They regularly attack tourists. They usually won't hurt you much, but will steal food and any other thing that might smell of food, whether or not you are holding it in your hands or in a pack. If one approaches you, walk backwards slowly, facing the baboon, but be aware that there will usually be others around. When driving past in your car or stopping nearby, close all windows!
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Be wary of approaching chacma baboons at Cape Point. They regularly attack tourists. They usually won't hurt you much, but will steal food and any other thing that might smell of food, whether or not you are holding it in your hands or in a pack. If one approaches you, walk backwards slowly, facing the baboon, but be aware that there will usually be others around. When driving past in your car or stopping nearby, close all windows!
Glimpses of Table Mountain National Park
green and brown mountain beside blue sea under blue sky during daytime
green grass near body of water during daytime
brown rocky mountain under blue sky during daytime
a small building on a cliff
silhouette of mountain near body of water during sunset
a group of people standing on top of a mountain
green and brown mountain beside blue sea under blue sky during daytime
blue sea near brown mountain under blue sky during daytime
View of Table Mountain and the 12 Apostles from the top of Lion's Head. Overlooking Camps Bay and just one of the most spectacular views of the Western Cape.
aerial view of city near body of water during daytime
green and brown mountain beside blue sea under blue sky during daytime
green grass near body of water during daytime
brown rocky mountain under blue sky during daytime