Excursion Cape town & table mountain tour at Cape Town

No visit to Cape Town is complete without a trip up Table Mountain, the city's most celebrated landmark.

Depart from the pier and travel up Kloof Nek, the saddle between Table Mountain and Lions Head, to the Lower Cableway Station. Here, board the Swiss-engineered Rotair cable car and ascend from the Valley Station 1,190 feet (363 metres) to the Mountain Station. The journey from the base to the summit takes just under 4 minutes and there are spectacular views as the floor of the car rotates 360 degrees during the ascent and descent.

Table Mountain gets its name from the flat topped central massif of the mountain, which viewed from the city, is surrounded by Devil's Peak on the left, Lion's Head on the right, and Signal Hill in the foreground. They form a sort of amphitheatre that encloses the city centre and some of the older suburbs. Other earlier suburbs are on either side of the chain of mountains, which run like a spine through the Cape Peninsula, from Table Mountain to Cape Point - the cape from which Cape Town derives its moniker.

From the summit, the natural protected area stretching from Signal Hill to Cape Point has been managed under the custodianship of the National Parks Board. This area has one of the highest concentrations of endemic plant and animal species in any area of its size, containing a staggering 2,285 plant species, more than that of the entire United Kingdom.

Re-board the cable car for the descent, and begin the return to the ship via a short orientation tour of the city of Cape Town.

Please note: This tour requires a minimal amount of walking and it is suitable for guests with limited mobility and those who utilise a wheelchair, able to embark/disembark the coach via steps and accompanied by someone to offer assistance. Pathways may not be smooth. Wear flat, comfortable shoes and bring a sweater or light jacket if cool, as temperatures atop Table Mountain are less warm. The cable car visit at Table Mountain is strictly weather-permitting. If the cableway is closed, a visit to the South African Natural History Museum is substituted. This tour is not suitable for guests who suffer from fear of heights.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: Cape Town, Kloof Nek, Lower Cableway, Valley and Mountain Station, Cable-car Ride, Table Mountain, Devil's Peak, Lion's Head, Signal Hill, Cape Point