Cape Town   -   Table Mountain
 

One of the biggest attractions of Cape Town is the Table Mountain. There is a more than 500 m high steep face in the direction of the city centre of Cape Town. From this point of view the mountain look actually flat. But if you are at the top of Table Mountain you will see that it is the opposite of flat. It is not possible to see the highest point of the mountain from Cape Town becuse it is on the middle of the mountain: McLear's Beacon is 1.086 m high.

You can reach the top of the mountain on several ways: The easiest way is to drive with the cable car. It's the quickest, but also the most expensive way to go up. Besides the cable car is very susceptible to the wind, so it is possible that the cable car doesn't work. If you want to go this way you have to check first if the cable car will work. You shouldn't plan this trip a few days before, instead you shold go if the weather conditions are clear and there is no or only a little bit wind.

The way on your own feet is a little bit more difficult, but because of this it is more attractive. The best way is to go trough the Skeleton Gorge. It starts at the Kirtsenbosch Botanical Garden, so you'll have to pay the entrance fee. But therefore you have the opportunity to visit this Garden. In this garden are more different kind of plants than in the whole country of Great Britain. After this you'll have to climb up the mountain for 2,5 - 3 hours. First it is only a moderate rise but in the last third of the way it will be a little bit more dufficult. You'll have to go on wodden ladders and than through dry riverbeds. It can be very slippery when it is wet and this a dangerous. I want to warn you to go down this way, it's to difficult an risky. After this strain you'll have a great view to the southern districts of Cape Town and the False Bay. As soon as vou come to the top of Skeleton Gorge you have to go on the trail an the right hand side (not straight away, because then you wont find the way to the upper cable car station and you'll have to go down to Camps Bay). After further 45 minutes you'll reach the highest point of the tour with 1.086 m. From this point it is only 30 minutes to walk to reach the cable car. But you should plan more than one hour for this way because of the great view to Cape Town, Robben Island and the westcoast. If the cable car work it is the easiest way to go down. I think you will be a little bit tired after this walk and so it is the best possibility. If it is to windy or you want to walk down than you'll have to turn right 400 m before you reach the cable car station. This way is called Platteklip Gorge. Through this very steep gorge you'll reach the bottom of Table Mountain in 1,5 hours. But it is a very hard way and my knees and tighs were hurting after this walk for two days. But it is probably the more exciting way to go down than with the cable car.