Table Mountain
It doesn’t matter who you speak to or what part of the world you do it in, mention the words ‘Table Mountain’ and immediately people say Cape Town or South Africa. To say Table Mountain is an iconic destination is actually doing a disservice to this sublime piece of Mother Earth; Table Mountain deserves a higher plaudit than iconic such is its magnetic pull for many visitors both locally and abroad. A dominating feature across the Cape Town skyline, it doesn’t matter what angle you use to marvel at this flat-topped terrain; whether from Camps Bay beach, Blouberg beach, or the V&A Waterfront, every vantage point depicting this famous mountain is spellbinding and sublime.
Because of its incredible, dominating presence within the city, many folks wanting to scale its majestic heights, but who didn’t see fit to actually climb and hike the whole way up, began clamouring for some kind of transportation system that would enable them and others to reach the top of Table Mountain. These calls started as early back as the 1870s and many plans were laid out to put down a railway track, but these were knocked back by the ensuing Anglo-Boer War and then again by the outbreak of the First World War. By 1926, a Norwegian engineer suggested a cable car to transport people up the mountain and plans were soon underfoot to get the ambitious project underway; the cable car was officially opened on 4 October 1929 by the then mayor Rev AJ S Lewis and the historic event was attended by 200 people.
Today, Table Mountain is still much loved amongst all who lay eyes on her. It is a reminder to all that the Earth has many enthralling natural splendours and that as humans we need to remember our place in the grand scheme of things. The mountain has welcomed a multitude of famous guests up to the top via the cable car, all blown away by the fact that they had the entire city of Cape Town practically laid at their feet. There are restaurants at the top of the mountain and visitors can meander about enjoying the various types of indigenous Fynbos found here. Hiking is also a favoured pastime with hikers taking many moments to savour the riveting views that encase this monumental destination.
