10 Tips for Visiting the Table Mountain Cable Car
Parking at Bacini’s (where we thought we were going for dinner), I looked up at the mountain and said to Al-John, “Do you want to go up the cable car?” Looking at one another he said, “why not?” Reversing out, off we went.
Every day I watch the cars lined along Table Mountain from my office block and enthusiastically agree with my colleagues that we wouldn’t want to be in the queue.
You could imagine my surprise when I found myself on the top of Table Mountain this past Sunday, particularly because it took me less than 30 minutes to park, buy my Table Mountain cable car ticket and get to the top!
As a local, we’re able to visit for free during our birthday month, which means I’ve found myself on the mountain a few times in Octobers as my husband celebrates his birthday then. It’s just a great thing to do and it never gets old.
10 Tips for Visiting the Table Mountain Cable Car
- Tickets are more affordable online. I literally bought my ticket for R370 (instead of R460) in the queue while my husband claimed his birthday ticket from the kiosk (which can now also be done online, but we didn’t know. Ensure you have your SA ID).
- Tickets are now more affordable in the latter half of the day and sunset is hands down the best time to visit. It took us all of 5 minutes to get a ticket and 5 more minutes to hop on the car and start our ride.
- There are still road works happening on the mountain so drive carefully as with busses also complicate where to go so go slowly and you’ll be ok.
4. Once inside, the cable car turns, so don’t hang onto the sides or you may endanger yourself.
5. As someone who gets motion sick, the ride is very short so you’re not likely to feel unwell (there’s also lots of cold air as the cable car is half open).
6. There’s a restaurant at the top which includes a restaurant section and kiosk with wine, tequila, Aperol, etc. on sale so you can have a toast to being on top of the world.
7. A slow siren will fire up warning guests that the cable car will be leaving in due course. Make sure you don’t miss the last car as you are NOT going to want to walk down!
8. Always bring a jacket. The mountain is a stroppy mistress and the wind loves to blow in Cape Town. Also, if you want to loo through the viewfinder, bring R5 coins as they’re required for use.
9. And if you love animals, don’t forget to look out for mongoose, the dassies (rock hyrax), ripples in the sea are often dolphin pods and even whales – if you’re lucky.
10. If there are clouds in the sky, don’t be put off. They actually create the most incredible dimensions and the sunsets in Cape Town can be phenomenal – especially when there are clouds in the sky.
Last Thoughts
Cape Town is only going to get busier and busier so visit sooner rather than later (November – January is very busy). If you want to enjoy the mountain with a fair amount of space (something South Africans love!), head up between Monday and Friday with the 95 birthday celebration where SA citizens can get a ticket for R195 if pre-booked. Have a blast!
