Table Mountain National Park Travel Guide
Experience the Beauty of the Cape

A travel guide to exploring the best known, iconic landmark of Cape Town, South Africa and the national park surrounding it - the Table Mountain National Park.

A Travel Guide to Table Mountain National Park

Access

The Table Mountain National Park covers around 30 000 hectares of land and incorporates almost all of the mountainous stretch of the Cape Peninsula all the way down to the ocean on either side. The landmark Table Mountain lies to the north of the reserve while Cape Point lies at its most southerly point.

There are a number of points of entry into the nature reserve and visitors will require a Wild Card (permit card) or alternatively will have to pay entrance fees at each point. Special permits will be required for activities such as walking with dogs and mountain climbing.

There are 12 main entry points to the reserve namely at; The Cape of Good Hope of Cape Point, Silvermine, Boulders Beach, Oudekraal, Tokai picnic and braai (barbeque spots), Newlands picnic and barbeque spots and Perdekloof. A Wild Card grants 12 free entries into the reserve from any of the access points.

Airport

Visitors can fly in to Cape Town international airport and hire a car, take a taxi or arrange for a transfer to one of the access points.

Highlights

While exploring SANParks Table Mountain National Park visitors will be amazed at the beautiful and dramatic mountain and ocean scenery that greets you from a variety of viewpoints at many different heights. The proximity to Cape Town as well as the number of easy access points makes exploring the reserve an absolute pleasure and visitors will enjoy being able to spend a day or a few days exploring the different areas and then returning to their comfortable accommodation in the evening. Aside from its breath-taking beauty, the nature reserve is also well-known for the massive diversity of flora and fauna found within the Cape Floral Kingdom. Proteas, fynbos, ericas all await in a blanket of delicate splendour.

Activities

The beauty and diversity of the nature reserve is not only found within the plant species but also in the birdlife and animal life in the nature reserve. Bird watching and game viewing are both popular activities as are hiking, mountain biking, mountain climbing and heading out on a number of different twisting and undulating scenic drives especially along Chapman's Peak and OuKaapse Weg. The most popular tourist attractions are a trip in the cable car to the top of Table Mountain and visit to the Cape Point section of the reserve. Adults and children alike will also be enraptured by the antics of the African Penguins found at Boulders Beach.

Accommodation

The centrality and easy accessibility of Table Mountain National Park accommodation means that visitors can choose from an abundance of different Hotels, Guest Houses, B&Bs and self-catering cottages or apartments when visiting the nature reserve.

The Experience

Table Mountain National Park is truly one of South Africa's crown jewels. Glittering and sparkling in all of its splendour, it is no wonder that the flat top of the mountain in the north of the reserve has become the iconic landmark and is rated as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. The colourful and delicate displays of the flowers and plants found within the reserve, combined with the azure waters lapping the shores result in a picture perfect setting for a fantastic holiday.

Whether you enjoy testing your skills at scaling up a sheer cliff face, hiking up a steep hill to the top of a peakor simply taking a leisurely stroll and enjoying a glass of delicious bubbly while gazing out at the spectacular view below, Table Mountain National Park has it all and more!

Climate

The Table Mountain National Park falls into an area that has a typically Mediterranean climate with warm, dry sunny days in summer and cold, rainy days in winter although some rain can be expected throughout the year . The Peninsula can be very windy especially when the south-easter known as the 'Cape-Doctor' blows in the summer months.

The average temperature ranges from 16°C - 30°C (60.8°F - 86°F) in summer with the hottest month being February, while in winter temperatures drop to between 7°C and 18°C (44.6°F - 64.4°F). The temperature is known to vary, sometimes quite dramatically from one area to another, especially when moving from the mountain to the coast.

Useful Information

The weather is known to change suddenly and without warning and visitors should be careful of sudden changes especially when hiking in higher mountain reaches and should always carry a warm top or jacket in case. The currents in the ocean can be dangerous and swimmers are advised to stay close to the shore and not to venture out too far when swimming.

Savanna Baboons are found throughout the nature reserve and have been known to become aggressive and to be a nuisance. Visitors to the reserve are advised to keep their windows wound up and to never feed the animals. Should food be snatched never try to retrieve it.

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