February 21st, 2009 Table Mountain National Park in South Africa
Many visitors to Cape Town are captivated by the appearance of Table Mountain and find themselves making the trek to the national park to get a close up view of the mountain. Formerly known as Cape Peninsula National Park, it includes both Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope as well as the other mountains in the Table Mountain Chain.
The area was declared a national park in 1998 in order to protect the natural environment of the mountain range. This was especially important for the preservation of the very rare fynbos vegetation that grows on the mountains. Other mountains in the park include Signal Hill, Lion’s Head, and Silvermine. The park is broken up by areas of urban and residential development on the lower terrain between the peaks.
To reach the top of Table mountain, visitors can make the Table Mountain Cableway or take a scenic hike. The peak is always open, but the Cableway does close at night, so visitors need to be aware of the schedule for the final descent each day. Weather is also something to investigate as the mountain top sometimes has very different weather conditions and temperatures than the city. The various Cape Town five star hotels can provide information on cable schedules, park fees, and weather conditions before visitors begin their trip to the Park.
Table Mountain National Park is part of the Cape Floristic Region World Heritage Site. Most of the park is free, but the Cape of Good Hope, Boulders, and Silvermine require an admission fee.
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