Cape Town’s Mesmerizing Treasure
Table Mountain: Cape Town’s Mesmerizing
Treasure
Author: Candy
Smith
Table Mountain is one of Cape Town’s main
attractions. It garnered its name because of its peculiar flat peak. Though
seemingly easy to climb from afar, hardly any people were able to climb its
peak during the late eighteenth century.
Reaching the Top
Because of its enticing guise, the people proposed to have a railway
built going to the top, but it was cut short due to the Anglo-Boer War. By the
early nineteenth century, another proposal was settled, and an engineer was
commissioned to survey the mountain. Then again, plans were stopped due to the
onset of World War I.
By 1926, plans on resurrecting “the
gate” or shall we say “the railway” to Table Mountain’s peak were
discussed--only this time a cableway was proposed. A group of local investors
were attracted to the idea. Not only would it be a convenient way to reach the
mountain’s top but would also bring profit to the town. Hence, the Table
Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC) was founded.
After
almost 80 years of operation, the cableway has transported numerous people and
even celebrities to the mountain’s top with the likes of Queen Elizabeth II,
Arnold Schwarzenneger, Margaret Thatcher, Jackie Chan, and even Oprah Winfrey,
just to name a few.
Riding the cableway is just the
beginning of the Table Mountain experience. Once you reach top, you will be
greeted by a breathtaking panorama of Cape Town. And up yonder, Table Bay and
Robben Island will greet you as if asking you, “Wasn’t the trip
worthwhile?”
Once you pamper your eyes with the exquisite
scenery, you will also see Devil’s Peak on the eastside and Lion’s Head along
the west. Not only that, there is even a restaurant that serves breakfast,
lunch, and dinner right at the top. Paired with a glass of wine or two at the
cocktail bar, your Table Mountain experience couldn’t be more relaxing as you
enjoy the beautiful sunset on the horizon.
Not
Just Any Mountain
The geographical
composition of Table Mountain (which is the sturdier type of sandstone more
commonly known as Table Mountain sandstone) makes this mountain practically a
Mecca for nature and outdoor lovers.
There are about 300
hiking paths along the mountain varying from easy, medium, and of course,
difficult, for the professional explorers. Though relatively known as a
“friendly” mountain to everyone, it is always recommended to take guides along
during hikes and climbs.
Some of the trails on Table
Mountain are even conducive to bikers. The routes are comparatively easy to
come by, and most bikers love this mountain for its natural rugged terrain
making it more challenging but never taking the fun out of the sport.
Mountain Top Accommodations
There are no places to stay in Table Mountain unless you
choose to camp overnight on the mountain, although there is a variety of Cape
Town hotels to choose from down at the city. From casino hotels for high
rollers to humble but very accommodating lodges for campers, finding an
accommodation in Cape Town is easy, so the only thing you’d have to worry about
is how to get over the beautiful sunset back at Table
Mountain.
About the Author:
Worry not where to stay on your South African
adventure, Cape Town
hotels are within easy reach--all equipped with nothing but
top-of-the-line convenience and comfort for you and your holiday
companions.
23.11.2008. 07:10
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