There are so many interesting facts about Table Mountain. Here are just a few of them.

The first sailor on a Dutch East Indiaman to spot Table Mountain on the horizon was rewarded with ten guilders and 6 bottles of wine.

The first European to climb the mountain was Admiral Antonio de Saldanha. He also named Table Mountain

The first European woman known to have climbed Table Mountain was the wife of Ryklof Van Goens. (the governor general of the Indies)

The English originally named Lions Head  “Ye Sugar Loaf” and Devils Peak was called “Herberts Mount”

The first slaves arrived in the Cape in 1667.

The mountain range above Camps Bay was known in Jan Van Riebeecks time as Gevelbergen or Gable Mountain. They were renamed the 12 Apostles by Sir Rufane Donkin when he was acting governor of the Cape in 1820.

A cave in Fountain ravine was home to Joshua Penny for 14 months. An American pressed into service by the British.

Excavation of the Woodhead dam began in 1894 and was finished in 1897.

The Hely Hutchinson dam was opened in 1904.

The Table Mountain National Park, which includes the entire mountain chain from Signal Hill in the North to Cape Point was created in 1998.

The rocks that make up Table Mountain are +/- 600 million years old.

 The original San name for the mountain is “Hoerikwaggo” It means mountain of the sea.

The cableway originally opened in 1929.

King George 6th and Queen Elizabeth 2nd have both visited the top of Table Mountain

It is estimated that some 800,000 visit Table Mountain annually.

The highest point on the mountain is Maclears Beacon at 1087m.

What is the rock of Table

Mountain?

A guided hike on Table Mountain is so much more than just a walk. All our guides are knowledgeable about the natural history of the mountain and love to share this information with you.

Table Mountain in the Western Cape of South Africa is one of the oldest mountains on earth. It is 6 times older than the mountains of the Himalayas and 5 times older than the Rocky mountains. The rocks that make up the mountain are about 600 million years old, whilst the mountain itself was raised up 60 million years ago. (Numbers like these are impossible to comprehend. Sufficient to say Table Mountain is pretty old!)

The main rock type found on Table Mountain is sandstone. This was laid down underwater initially. This rock was then underlayed by a much harder layer of granite originating from molten lava. These 2 rock types are plain in the mountain today. The lower layer of granite is visible in the rounded grey rocks seen at the base of Lions Head and in the sea around the coast, whilst the upper layer of sandstone is the reddish rock we walk and climb on over most of the mountain itself.

The sandstone horizontal bands are clearly visible on parts of Table Mountain today

Initially both rock layers were found at sea level however when the continents divided, the accompanying shift of the earths crust forced the rocks to be pushed up and a mountain was formed. The subsequent erosion  of the sandstone mass has created the mountain as we know it today.

Table mountain as we know it today. Towering over the city of Cape Town

The Cape Sugarbird

On a beautiful winters day (like today) walking through the fynbos on Table Mountain one cannot miss the  whistling and chirping of the Cape Sugarbirds. (they are also around in the summer but I particularly noticed them on my walk today)

Found in relatively large numbers among any large stands of Protea bushes their call is easy to identify. The bird itself is also easy to identify as it has a particularly long tail. 

So, easy to identify by both call and sight, like any bird getting a decent photo is much more difficult. They are often low down in the branches of the Protea and apt to fly off at any disturbance.  

So I am really proud of the photo I managed to get today.

The circle of Islam around Table

Mountain

Dotted around the Cape are a number of “Kramats” These  are holy shrines and tombs of “saints and friends of Allah” many of whom were brought unwillingly to the Cape as slaves.  Many of these shrines are found at the base of Table Mountain and are said to form a circle and it is believed that anyone living within this cirle is protected from natural disasters such as flood, fire or earthquake.

It is possible to visit these shrines on many of the hikes on Table Mountain. One of the most visited is the shrine between Lions Head and Signal Hill.

The Kramat on Signal Hill road

To get to this site you can either follow the path from the main Lions Head parking area, or walk down from the Lions Head Path directly to the Kramat.

Another easily accessible kramat is found at Oudekraal. If you follow the main road from Cape Bay, as you pass Oudekraal there are a number of pathways leading up to the mountain from parking areas along the road. The walk itself is +/- 15 minutes.

One of the Kramats on the Western slopes of Table Mountain

Other sites with kramats are; Robben Island, Zandviet farm and on Tokai Rd in Constantia.

Kids hiking on Table Mountain

A hike on Table Mountain is a perfect way to keep the kids entertained during the school holidays

If you are wondering what to do with the kids during the June/July school holidays look no further than Table Mountain. A hike on Table Mountain offers the kids an opportunity to burn off some steam and have a lot of fun, as well as learn about the natural history of the area.

There are a number of different options to choose from depending on the ages of the cjhildren. A full days hike to the dams and waterworks museum offers a great day out for older children. Whatever your age the sight of a steam train on top of the mountain cannot fail to fascinate.

Inside the museum on top of Table Mountain

Alternatively a hike up Lions Head offers the excitement of the chains and you can be up and down in half a day.

We made it to the top of Lions Head

Another favourite is the steep and challenging Platteklip Gorge. This takes you to the cable car so it is possible to cheat and ride down.

Almost at the top

 Or even take the cable car both up and down and enjoy an easy hike to Maclears Beacon. This is a hike fun for even the very young. During the school holidays the cable car has a number of specials available for families, from special prices to treasure hunts to kids meals. Have a look at their site.

http://tablemountain.net/visitor_info/kidz_season/ 

For guided hikes for the whole family contact Binny 082 522 6056. We offer guided hikes for individuals and groups. All our guides are fully qualified in safety and first aid.

When is the best season for a

Table Mountain walk?

Unlike many mountains and hiking areas the weather on Table Mountain in Cape Town does not have a huge difference between seasons. This is not to say that the weather is exactly the same throughout the year. It is just that we do not have the extremes of season as for example the Alps or the Pyrenees. So walking up Table Mountain is never replaced by skiing or snowboarding!

The window on the India Venster route up Table Mountain

Having said that there are differences that you should take into account when planning to go on a hike on Table Mountain.

The Southern hemisphere summer is between the months of November and March. Cape Town enjoys a Mediterranean climate and thus has “warm dry summers”  The average day time temperatures during the summer months are around 27 degrees C. We do get days, especially towards the end of summer when temperatures can reach the mid 30′s. Therefore in the summer it is best to begin hiking as early as possible so as to avoid the afternoon sun as much as possible. It is also important to take plenty of drinking water throughout the summer.

Cape Town winters are relatively mild. The average day time temperature is around 17 degrees C. The months with the most average rainfall are June, July and August. However walking is certainly not impossible during these times. Between the cold fronts which bring the rain Cape Town experiences some wonderfully bright and sunny days. During this time of year the mountain streams and waterfalls are all flowing with clean drinkable water and the hiking is superb especially on the East side of the mountain (above Kirstenbosch gardens) .

Wind is the weather phenomenon that occurs throughout the year in Cape Town. The strong South East wind which dominates the wind direction especially during the summer months is called the “Cape Doctor” as it blows any pollution away and ensures the air in Cape Town is some of the cleanest in the world. Although wind in itself should not effect your walking, if you are planning to take the cable car you should be aware that this closes when the wind reaches over +/- 35 km per hour. You would also want to steer clear the cliff path or India Venster type routes when the wind is too strong. 

To summarise. Any time of year is a good time of year for a Table Mountain walk. In the summer take a hat and plenty of water. In the winter check the forecast and plan a walk for one of the many dry days.

A view from Smuts Track

Hiking on Table Mountain with a

strong South Easter

If you are a regular hiker on Table Mountain, you will have hiked in a howling South East wind at some stage. The only reliable thing about the weather in Cape Town is that it is unreliable……and that the wind will blow for at least a couple of days a week. Of course the South East wind is our friend. Locally called the Cape Doctor this wind brings clean air to the city and clears out any lingering pollution.

You can certainly not allow the wind to put you off a walk but do need to be aware of it. If you are planning to take the cable car down the mountain this may be impossible in strong winds. (the cable car closes down once the wind reaches speeds of +/- 35km hour) Similarly the wind can bring cloud cover to the mountain in a couple of seconds. This obviously impacts on visibility and on temperature.

Clouds moving in on Table Mountain

Some routes such as India Venster are not advisable in gale force winds for the obvious reason that you don’t want to get blown off balance at other stage! Other routes such as those above Kirstenbosch can be pretty sheltered on the way up.

The Table cloth is a feature of the South East wind. Having blown across False Bay collecting evaporating water along the way. The air is forced to rise over Table Mountain, and bingo. The air condenses and forms clouds. It can beautiful sunny weather everywhere else but on the mountain.

The tablecloth of Table Mountain

Despite the cloud, hiking on Table Mountain in these conditions can be fun. It is cool and the cable car area is less crowded. The clouds are very mobile often opening for 30 seconds to reveal the wonderful views.

Maclears Beacon in the clouds

 For some reason the tip of the mountain right where the cable car station is often remains out of the clouds.

The cable car station clear of cloud

 Therefore you can still hike up Platteklip Gorge. Enjoying the cooling clouds for the last part of the climb. And then enjoy the views from the uncrowded view spots.

Looking up Platteklip gorge on a windy day

Schools hiking on Table Mountain

The subject “Life Orientation” which is taught as part of the National Curriculum is an interdisciplinary subject. It is designed to be taught alongside scientific and technical subjects with the aim of providing children with the necessary skills, values and attitudes that will enable them to live as decent, law abiding, compassionate and peace loving human beings.   

Ridgway Ramblers has developed a number of products that can be incorporated into a schools curriculum as part of their Life Orientation class.

One of the most popular involves a days outing to the Silvermine Nature Reserve. Here the students are divided into teams and have to find their way using map reading skills to the Elephants eye Cave overlooking the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town.

Enjoying the view from Silvermine Nature Reserve

After a break at the cave, the students (still in their teams)  follow a series of clues to find a number of items hidden around the area. Finally the teams need to use the items they have found in order to complete a specific task  

A treasure hunt team in action

 This is a fun filled day in which such technical skills as map reading are learned. In addition the students are required to work as a team in order to solve problems and complete instructions.

Teams completing the final challenge

The Woodhead Tunnel on Table Mountain

The Woodhead Tunnel is a 640 metre tunnel that goes right through Table Mountain between Orange Kloof and Slangholie Ravine. It was built between 1888 and 1891 in order to divert the water from the Disa river to the Pipe Track and hence to the Molteno reservoir in Cape Town.

Although it has been out of use for some time parts of the Molteno tunnel can still be seen. The entrance is found in Orange Kloof and is not barred.

Climbing out of the Woodhead Tunnel in Orangekloof

Once inside the tunnel is about 1.5 metres high and once you have taken a few paces inside pitch dark. I have heard of people who have explored far into the tunnel but I have usually exited fairly quickly. Even with a torch you bang your head at regular intervals on the uneven roof above.

Inside the Woodhead Tunnel

 The other end of the tunnel at Slangholie ravine is blocked. This is sensible as this end of the tunnel is visible from the Pipe Track so visited by far more people.

The Tunnel exits the mountain at Slangholie Ravine

The presence of this tunnel and the reservoirs on Table Mountain which were built shortly afterwards give fascinating insight into the history of Table Mountain and of Cape Town.

Get off the tourist route on Table Mountain

Christmas and New Year in Cape Town are a hectic time. We have tourists from all over Europe as well as much of the population of Gauteng and KZN down here for the holiday period. Kloof Nek and Table Mountain road become impossibly blocked whilst the queue to get onto the cable car to get to the top of Table Mountain can sometimes mean waiting for over 2 hours. Once on top the views are of course worth every moment of the wait but the crowds detract from the true mountain experience. I have overheard many tourists standing in line for the return cable car journey down the mountain commenting about the spoiled wilderness experience.

The cable car area of Table Mountain can be very crowded

But wait……there is a way to escape the crowds on Table Mountain!! The entire area of Table Mountain is some 57km square. The area that most people who have taken the cable car up the mountain visit is about 500m square. There is therefore a huge area of Table Mountain still in its natural and pristine state.  Even just the 1 hours to walk to Maclears Beacon takes you away from the crowds and allows you to experience Table Mountain as a mountain, not just another view spot. Wander a little further on the back of Table Mountain. Take one of the paths up the mountain from Kirstenbosch or Camps Bay and you will seldom see more than 2 or 3 other groups of hikers. The water is pure, the air clean, the sounds of nature refreshing.

Most of Table Mountain is a pristine wilderness area

So if you have the time to explore Table Mountain while you are visiting Cape Town, get away from the crowds and experience the wilderness and wildness that remains on much of the area.