10 Reasons why Table Mountain is Africa’s Leading Tourist Attraction

The 28th World Travel Awards recently named Cape Town as Africa’s Leading City Destination for 2021 and in addition to that, it also named Table Mountain as Africa’s Leading Tourist Attraction.

Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC) managing director, Wahida Parker said these awards came at the right time.

“As South Africa is finally removed from the UK’s red list, we definitely expect to see more tourists from all over the world coming to experience Africa’s leading tourist attraction.”

Here are 10 reasons you need to add Table Mountain to your bucket list if you have not experienced it yet:

The views

From the mountain, you have 360-degree views of the Cape Peninsula, you can see the stunning beaches around Clifton and Camps Bay, you can see the City Bowl, the harbour and the V&A Waterfront, the Table Mountain range and the unspoilt wilderness of the Table Mountain National Park.

The views from atop Table Mountain are simply spectacular.

The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway

The Aerial Cableway is an experience in its own and the cable cars are the only ones of their kind in Africa, rotating as they climb. They boast views across the harbour, the mountain and even Robben Island.

Both one-way and return tickets are available and you can skip the queues at the ticket office by getting your tickets online.

Mountaintop grub

The Table Mountain Café at the top boasts daily specials, as well as self-service meals and snacks to enjoy while you take in the incredible views. Apparently, they also do great breakfasts and there is even a wifi lounge if you really need to catch up on social media over a cup of coffee and a snack.

Free tours

30-minute-long guided tours take place on the hour from 9am to 3pm daily, allowing you to get the most out of your experience. The tours are family-friendly and fun.

Table Mountain ‘Birthday Month Special’

South Africans can get a free aerial cableway ticket in the month of their birthday, allowing you to celebrate your birthday on top of the mountain. All you need to do to qualify for the free ticket, is to show your valid South African ID, drivers’ licence or birth certificate at the cableway.

ALSO READ: Cape Town wins yet another travel award despite the effects of lockdown

Special plants

It is said that more than 70% of the plants found on Table Mountain are endemic, which means they cannot be found anywhere else.

Heaven for hikers

Table Mountain has more than 350 trails that lead to the top for all kinds of hikers – from casual strollers to adventurous and more experienced hikers. Many of these hikes commence in Camps Bay.

Hiking in the Table Mountain National Park is mostly free, with the exception of some areas where conservation fees are applicable, like the Kirstenbosch Gardens, Cape Point or Boulders.

Meet people from all over

Seeing that it is such a popular tourist attraction, chances are that you will meet many foreigners and likeminded people while hiking up the mountain or waiting for the aerial cableway.

One of the New 7 Wonders of Nature

The mountain was recently voted as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. Its main feature – the level plateau of approximately 3km from side to side – is one of the reasons so many people from all over the world add the attraction to their bucket lists.

A constellation named after Table Mountain

Table Mountain is the only natural site on the planet that has a constellation of stars named after it. The constellation is called ‘Mensa’ which means table in Latin.