Table Mountain National Park

From penguins and dolphins to dassies, baboons, and mountain zebras – Table Mountain National Park offers an entirely different take on the traditional safari. Forget the Big Five and the vast savannah; here, you’ll discover an array of small mammals and ocean creatures (including the Marine Big Five!). Adventure has never been more accessible, with spectacular hikes and a variety of water and adventure sports to choose from.

The park boasts unparalleled scenic beauty, with mountain ranges, forests, oceans, and beaches spread across its 221 square kilometers. The iconic Table Mountain, magnificent backdrop to the bustling city of Cape Town, stands as the park’s most famous landmark (which is also South Africa’s most photographed landmark!). Originally called the ‘Mountain in the Sea’ by the KhoeSan people, today you can hike or hop on a fun cable car ride up the mountain, spotting dassies along the way. While you won’t experience a typical safari, rest assured – you won’t be bored for a second!

Table Mountain

Iconic landmark of Table Mountain National Park, this flat-topped mountain covered by a tablecloth of clouds is a paradise for walkers and hikers. Not in the mood for a hike? No worries, you can hop on a rotating cable car for a fun 5-minute ride to the summit. On the way, you’ll get to see the rare fynbos vegetation of the mountain chain and may spot dassies basking in the sun (Fun fact: the closest relative of this cute groundhog-like creature is the elephant!). Once at the top, you’ll be greeted with spectacular panoramic views over the bustling city and coastline, leaving you feeling like you’re on top of the world!

Cape of Good Hope

With its rugged cliffs and dramatic scenery, Cape of Good Hope is the most southwestern point of the African continent. Located at the meeting point of two main ocean currents, this area boasts an abundance of marine life. You’ll get to spot whales, seals and dolphins along False Bay, nicknamed the ’Serengeti of the seas’, and ostriches and baboons on land. Take a ride on the Flying Dutchman funicular, named after a legendary ghost ship said to haunt the waters around the Cape, to reach the viewing point and enjoy panoramic views of the edge of the world.

Boulders Penguin Colony

If you picture the frozen deserts of Antarctica when thinking of penguins, you will be surprised to learn that there is a thriving colony in South Africa! Nestled in a sheltered cove with large granite boulders and clear waters, Boulders Beach is internationally renowned for being home to one of the few colonies of African penguins, an endangered specie (Fun fact: did you know these penguins are also known as ‘Jackass penguins’ due to their donkey-like braying?). You can admire these waddling cuties up close from boardwalks, but beware of their sharp beak!

Activities in Table Mountain National Park

A paradise for hikers, hobby-botanists and animal-lovers, Table Mountain National Park offers the best of both worlds – land and sea. With something for everyone, the park features beautiful trails, adrenaline-pumping adventures, as well as more relaxed activities.

• Birding
• Hiking
• Mountain biking
• Rock climbing 
• Horse riding
• Paragliding (Table Mountain, Lion’s Head and Signal Hill)
• Whale watching (False Bay)
• Beach access
• Scuba diving
• Wreck diving
• Snorkelling
• Fishing
• Tow-in surfing
• Windsurfing
• Kiteboarding
• Visit to Silvermine waterfall
• Visit to Rhodes Memorial on the lower slopes of Devil’s Peak
• Visit to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens

How to get there

Table Mountain National Park is easily accessible from Cape Town and features 12 entrance gates. Some of them are free (but at the Boulders Beach and Cape of Good Hope entrance you will pay a conservation fee), which makes Table Mountain National Park the only ‘open access’ national park in South Africa, allowing free access to many outdoor attractions.

By air: There are daily national and international flights into Cape Town International Airport.

• From Johannesburg: 2h10 flight
• From Port Elizabeth: 1h25 flight
• From Durban: 2h15 flight

By car: Table Mountain National Park is just a short drive from Cape Town. Inside the park, a few areas allow private vehicle access on designated roads (Cape of Good Hope section and Signal Hill), while other areas such as Silvermine, Newlands and Oudekraal offer parking within the gates.

By railway: If you are looking for a scenic ride, there’s a railway service running from Cape Town along the False Bay coastline to Boulders Beach.

Climate

The Cape peninsula enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with long, warm, dry summers and short, wet, cool winters. Summer stretches from December to February, while winter occurs between June and August. Cape Town is known for its year-round windy conditions. If you visit the park in summer, you’ll experience the south-easterly wind, responsible for the distinctive tablecloth of clouds spilling over Table Mountain. Locals call this wind the ‘Cape Doctor’ because it blows away the city’s pollution and brings water and a refreshing breeze to the landscape and wildlife during the hottest months of the year.

Keep in mind that the weather can change quickly due to the park’s mountain topography, often resulting in a hot, clear day in one area and rainy, misty conditions in another.

Best time to visit Table Mountain National Park

The park is attractive most of the year, although it’s best to avoid visiting during winter, the wettest and windiest season, and from December to February, when little is in flower. The period between August and October is ideal for whale-watching, as southern right whales and humpback whales migrate along the coast on their annual break from the icy Antarctic waters.

Please note that the cableway leading to the summit of Table Mountain closes each year for a short period of time in the winter months for maintenance.