10 February Table Mountain

Having just spent three hours climbing up and down Lions Head we felt we'd earned the right to take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain. The mountain is over a 1000m and visible to ships (on a clear day) 40 miles out to sea.

Hout Bay harbour in distance

towards Hout Bay

Arriving mid afternoon there was a short queue for tickets and no queue to get on the cable car. The car is an unusual design; as it rises the car rotates 180° around the central control section. You begin looking up and at the top you're looking down the mountain.

We were lucky with the weather; clear skies and a light breeze. Heavy winds close the cable car. The views are spectacular. We took the longest path around the edge of the plateau, 45 minutes maximum, looking each way and down into the gorge that separates it from Devil's Peak. I don't know what I expected the top to be but it is flat and covered with low level bushes and heathers, birds, viewing platforms and seats where you can sit and contemplate.

Cape Town

Devil's Peak to right

By 5 o'clock the queue to take the car back down the mountain was snaking along the path so we popped in to the cafe for a coffee and to shelter from the cool evening breeze.

Red winged starling

Lions Head with Robben island centre of picture