Taking a ride down Table

 Mountain is not always cheating.

The cable car

Although I believe that to ride up Table Mountain in the cable car is definitely cheating. I also find that to take the cable car down the mountain is an experience well worth the R85 ticket fee. The rotating floor ensures that everyone on board sees all angles of the descent whilst the sheer speed and angle of the drop is amazing. The views over the city, Camps Bay and Table Bay are superb, and the sight of the sheer cliffs found on this section of the mountain are mind blowing.

The view towards the mountain, from the cablecar

The ride itself takes a couple of minutes. This following an exhausting 2 hour slog up Platteklip gorge or full days walk from the Back Table is in itself an experience.

Each cable car will carry 65 people maximum so in an hour can take around 600 people to the summit! During a good clear day in the summer it is not surprising that the top is so crowded. Reaching there after a hike on the Back Table can be a bit of a culture shock. Sometimes you see no one all day and then suddenly walk into a small area as busy as the waterfront!! On these days you might have to queue to get back down. In fact last week my husband and dogs decided to take Platteklip Gorge down and actually reached the bottom on foot whilst I was still in the queue!!

The view from Table Mountains cable car

 So whilst it may be best not to attempt to take the cable car on a perfect summers day. For the rest of the time it is an amazing way to descend the mountain.