Schedule Table Mountain for the morning, when the wind is least likely to blow. It’s a relatively easy two-hour walk up along Platteklip Gorge, the oldest, most direct route, following a well-constructed trail up the front face of the mountain, but the five-hour Skeleton Gorge route that starts from Kirstenbosch Gardens is far more scenic albeit challenging.
To ascend by cable car, purchase the ticket online, dated for the day of your arrival; this single-use ticket is valid for one week and can be refunded during that week if the cable car is unable to operate. If you are here during peak season it is definitely worth purchasing a Fast Track ticket for R950 return and skip the queues. Note that the cableway usually closes for maintenance from mid-July to end-August.
The cable car starts running at 8am in summer and 8.30am in winter. How long you spend exploring the top is entirely up to you but it can be done in an hour or you can combine it with several wonderful hikes that include burbling streams and a dam dips – best do this with a seasoned Table Mountain guide like Riaan Voster, owner of who will tailormake the walk around to your interest and fitness level.
If you want to see a different angle on how Table Mountain dwarfs the city, head to the Waterfront to visit Robben Island where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of the 27 years he was imprisoned. Be sure to get to the Nelson Mandela Gateway, the Robben Island ferry departure point, 30 minutes before departure. Note that it is essential to prebook, and that you must take some form of identification with you. Tours depart 9am, 11am, 1pm and this is a three-hour trip (including an approximate one-hour round-trip by ferry).
