See Table Mountain in South Africa with VisitAfrica.com

The flat plate-shaped top that earned Table Mountain its name is one of South Africa's best known symbols. It rises over the city of Cape Town offering incredible view of the surrounding area. With its numerous activities and beautiful setting Table Mountain makes a popular tourist attraction for visitors worldwide.

A trip on the Table Mountain Cableway is both an easy way to get to the top and an enjoyable ride. The cable car leaves from the lower cable station and it's opened all day from 8:00 in the morning to 22:00 at night. Once you land on the upper cable station you can watch the hole of Robben Island, Cape Town and the bay area.

If you belong to the fitter, devoted hikers, you may decide to skip the cableway and hike to the mountain top instead. There are many sorter and longer routs in different levels of difficulty. Remember that you are ascending to an altitude of over 1000 meters (3000 feet) and weather at the top of the mountain can be quite different from what it is at the bottom. Be prepared to face both heat and chill along the way and make sure to carry water as there are not many places to get drinks along the way. If a few hours of steep ascending aren't enough to exhaust you, try the four Hoerikwaggo Trails. These are proper treks under the supervision of the South African National Park, that take anywhere between 2 and 6 days.

Rock climbing is another popular activity available on the mountain. The sandstone walls are perfect for traditional climbing (the only type of climbing allowed in this area) and while some of them are challenging, the view seen from the top is more than a fair reward. Professional and beginner climber alike will find varied levels of climbing options, and you can always join one of the many organized groups. For more rock climbing info, visit the CapeTourism.co.za for more detailed facts.

Table Mountain consists one part of the Table Mountain National Park. Also included in the park are Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope which both make great viewpoints.

Many unique wildlife can be found on Table Mountain including, the rock hyrax (dassie), tortoises and porcupines. If you walk quietly and don't make a fuss, you can see them on your hiking. Try to obey instructions by not feeding these magnificent creatures.