Are there animals on Table Mountain?

Despite being in the middle of a large cosmolitan city Table Mountain is still home to a wide variety of animals. Many of these have become accustomed to human activity and can be seen in the crowded area of the cable car whilst others stick to the secluded and quiet Back Table area.

Among those most commonly seen are the Rock Hyrax or Dassie.  This cheeky little animal closely resembles a rather overweight guinea pig. They live in groups and enjoy lazing in the sun. They are found all over the Table Mountain chain including the area around the cable car where they seem remarkably unpreturbed by the noisy presence of so many people.

A rock Hyrax or Dassie

A rock Hyrax or Dassie

One of the most interesting facts about the dassie is that it is closely related to the elephant!

Other small mammals found on Table Mountain are the mongoose, Cape fox, genet, porcupine and caracal. I have often seen a mongoose scuttling across the path in front of me but have never had time to lift my camera and get a picture. In general these creatures steer clear of human contact. I am sure they observe us from the bushes but they ensure we don’t see them.

There are some small endemic antelope still to be found on Table Mountain. These are extremely shy and only seen by a few very lucky people. I have been fortunate enough to see the elusive clipspringer on two occasions. On both occasions it was early in the morning in overcast conditions. This species was reintroduced to the mountain only a few years ago.

A far more common sight on Table Mountain is the Himalayan Tahr. A group of this mountain goat  species escaped from captivity early in the 1900’s and made the mountain their home. Much larger than the smaller natural antelope this animal often grazes within a few metres of people and doesn’t seem concerned at all. Remarkably nimble for their bulk I always enjoy seeing them, even if they don’t really belong here.

Table Mountain is also home to many reptiles and amphibians. On a hot day you can hardly avoid seeing the Rock Agama and Black Girdled Lizard. The lizard usually scuttles away as soon as you get close but the agama actually seems to pose for the camera.
The black girdled lizard is a common sight on Table Mountain

The black girdled lizard is a common sight on Table Mountain

A Southern Rock Agama posing for the picture!

A Southern Rock Agama posing for the picture!

There are snakes on Table Mountainwho play a vital role on the ecosystem . Most of them are completely harmless mole snakes but there are some species who could do some harm if they were to bite you. However, even seeing a snake on Table Mountain is an extremely rare occurence and I have never heard of anyone being bitten. In general the snakes are far more scared of us and disappear as soon as they hear us approach. If you do see a snake it is likely to be a puffadder. These are relatively lazy snakes and are sometimes caught sunning themselves on the paths especially early in the mornings whilst they are still warming themselves up.
A puffadder warming itself in the early morning sun

A puffadder warming itself in the early morning sun

Whilst you seldom see the Cape Chirping Frog, you will definitely hear if you take a hike in winter or when its been raining. Sometimes they call so often it is easy to confuse them with chirping crickets. Another frog found on Table Mountain is the endangered Table Mountain Ghost frog which is only found on the mountain.

Last but certainly not least are the birds of Table Mountain. These vary from the cheeky starlings to the small and beautiful sunbird to the large and rare Black Eagles. If you keep your eyes open whilst you walk you are bound to see a number of different bird species going about their business.

The above hardly begins to describe the range of animals found on Table Mountain. It is merely an introduction describing those I see often or like to keep an eye out for.