National park · South Africa

Table Mountain National Park

Go: one day for the Table Mountain cableway or Platteklip Gorge, one day driving the Cape Point section. Enter the Cape Point gate before 9:00 to beat the tour buses; the cableway is wind-dependent, so keep it flexible.Go: one day for the Table Mountain cableway or Platteklip Gorge, one day driving the Cape Point section. Enter the Cape Point gate before 9:00 AM to beat the tour buses; the cableway is wind-dependent, so keep it flexible.

Not field-verifiedUNESCO World Heritage 2004Some areas permit-onlyChecked Sep 2026

Map to the park

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Directions

From where I am

Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.

Area

221 km²85 sq mi

approximate

Established

1998

Best months

Oct–Nov, Jan–Mar

UNESCO

World Heritage

Rules in force · 8Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive befor…

Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
Southern Africa ↗A rental car may leave its home country only with the rental company's cross-border letter, the registration papers and paid road taxes at each post; driving into Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique or Angola without them ends at the border.
Southern Africa ↗Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive before sunset: livestock, wildlife, pedestrians and unlit trucks make night driving the main cause of serious visitor accidents.
South Africa ↗Check visa and entry rules for your passport with the Department of Home Affairs or a South African mission before booking; exemptions depend on nationality, and the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is optional for most visa-exempt visitors in 2026.
South Africa ↗Travelling with children: accompanied foreign children no longer need a birth certificate, but unaccompanied minors, South African children and some passports that omit parents' names still do; check with Home Affairs and your airline before you fly.
South Africa ↗Driving is on the left. If your licence is not in English or has no photo, get an International Driving Permit before you travel; rental companies also check it.
South Africa ↗National park gates open and close at fixed times; you must be inside your camp before the gate closes, and speed limits in parks are enforced.

At a glance

Country: South Africa
Area: 221 km²85 sq mi; About 221 km² including the marine protected area along the peninsula coast (check).
Established: 1998
Best months: Oct–Nov, Jan–Mar
Permits: For some areas
Base: Cape Town

Table Mountain National Park runs the length of the Cape Peninsula, from the mountain above Cape Town to Cape Point, 50 km south. It is one park with several separate sections, and you pay at the gates you use rather than once for everything. The northern section is the mountain itself: the cableway, the Platteklip Gorge steps and the Pipe Track. The southern section is Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope, reached by car along the peninsula. In between sit Tokai, Silvermine and Boulders, where the penguin colony is fenced and ticketed separately. Fynbos covers most of it, part of the Cape Floristic Region World Heritage Site.

Decide

Why go, which months, and what lives here when

At a glance

Status

UNESCO World Heritage · 2004Cape Floristic Region, which includes the park.

Size and age

221 km²85 sq mi · national park since 1998

About 221 km² including the marine protected area along the peninsula coast (check).

This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Cape Town.

Why go

A mountain inside a city: the cableway base is 2.5 km from central Cape Town.A mountain inside a city: the cableway base is 1.6 mi from central Cape Town.
Platteklip Gorge is a real 2–3 hour climb to the flat top, no guide needed.
Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope sit in the same park, 50 km south.Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope sit in the same park, 31 mi south.
Fynbos, penguins and baboons in one day's drive if you start early.

When to go

12-month verdict

JanBest
FebBest
MarBest
AprGo
MayGo
JunCaution
JulCaution
AugCaution
SepGo
OctBest
NovBest
DecGo

JanDry, warm; start hikes before 8:00Dry, warm; start hikes before 8:00 AM
FebDry and clear; strong south-easter
MarWarm, calmer; good walking
AprMild; first rain
MayWet spells; fewer crowds
JunRain and wind; cableway often closed
JulWettest month; short daylight
AugRain; clear days between fronts
SepImproving; flowers start
OctDry, mild, long days
NovWarm and clear; busy weekends
DecHot and crowded; go early

Wildlife and nature calendar

Seasons shift by weeks each year

Wildlife and nature calendar for Table Mountain National Park
What	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Chacma baboons on the roads and trailsAll year · Used to people and quick with food; never feed them.	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
African penguins at BouldersAll year	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
Southern right whales offshoreJun–Nov · Seen from the False Bay side and from Cape Point.	no	no	no	no	no	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	no
Fynbos floweringAug–Oct	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	yes	yes	yes	no	no
Ostriches and antelope near Cape PointAll year	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes

Arrive & move

Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are

How to get there

From Cape Town city centre

Cableway base station by car or taxi, or a 1.5 km footpath up from Oranjezicht.Cableway base station by car or taxi, or a 0.9 mi footpath up from Oranjezicht.

15–25 min

Open the page →

From Cape Town to Cape Point

Drive the M3 and M65 via Muizenberg and Simon's Town, or the west coast road via Chapman's Peak.

1.5–2 h

From Simon's Town

Metro train from Cape Town to Simon's Town, then a taxi or tour to the Cape Point gate.

1 h 10 min by train

From Cape Town airport

Car hire at the airport, then the N2 and M3 to the mountain or the M65 south.

30 min to the cableway

Open the page →

Zones and sectors

Zones of Table Mountain National Park
Zone	What is there	Access
Table Mountain north section	The cableway, Platteklip Gorge, the Pipe Track and Signal Hill.	Open; cableway ticketed, trails free.
Tokai and Silvermine	Forest and mountain-bike trails in the middle of the peninsula.	Open; some trails need a permit or a fee (check).
Boulders and Simon's Town coast	The penguin colony and the beaches around it.	Ticketed; boardwalks only.
Cape Point section	Cape Point, the Cape of Good Hope, Dias Beach and the cottages.	Ticketed at the gate; open in daylight hours.
Marine protected area	Water and shore from Mouille Point round to Muizenberg.	Controlled; restricted no-take zones.

Sketch map

Approximate — not for navigation

Approximate positions along the peninsula, for orientation only.

1Table Mountain cableway base station · Ranger station≈-33.953, 18.403Map ↗
2Table Mountain summit · Summit≈-33.957, 18.403Map ↗
3Lion's Head · Viewpoint≈-33.935, 18.389Map ↗
4Signal Hill · Viewpoint≈-33.918, 18.403Map ↗
5Boulders Beach · Beach≈-34.197, 18.451Map ↗
6Cape Point · Viewpoint≈-34.357, 18.497Map ↗
7Cape of Good Hope · Viewpoint≈-34.358, 18.472Map ↗
8Olifantsbos cottages · Sleep≈-34.267, 18.394Map ↗

See & do

Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking

Top experiences

TrailsHard2–3 h up, 1.5–2 h downPlatteklip GorgeSteep stone steps from Tafelberg Road straight up the face; no shade, no water on the route. Down is harder on the knees than up.

ViewpointsEasy1.5–2 h on topTable Mountain cablewayRotating car to the top; closes in high wind, so check before you commit a day to it.Booking: Book a timed slot online in peak season

TrailsEasy2–3 h returnPipe TrackFlat contour path above Camps Bay, starting from the Kloof Nek side; good when the cableway is shut.

ViewpointsEasyHalf dayCape Point and the Cape of Good HopeFunicular or a 15-minute walk to the old lighthouse; the walk west to the Cape of Good Hope takes about 1 h each way.

WildlifeEasy1 hBoulders Beach penguinsBoardwalk over the colony; swimming beach next door is separate and free.Booking: Ticket at the gate

BeachesModerate1–2 hDias BeachBelow the Cape of Good Hope; strong currents, swimming is dangerous.

Practical

Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong

Entry fees and permits

ZAR ranges · check

Fees for Table Mountain National Park
Item	Range	Per	Note
Cape Point section entry (Cape of Good Hope gate)	ZAR 400–500	adult	2026 estimate; South African residents pay less on proof of ID (check).
Boulders Beach penguin colony entry	ZAR 200–250	adult	2026 estimate; separate ticket from the Cape Point gate.
Table Mountain cableway return	ZAR 400–500	adult	2026 estimate; one-way and child fares lower; online booking is cheaper than the gate (check).
Cape Point funicular (car park to lighthouse)	ZAR 100–150	adult	2026 estimate; the walk up is free.
Overnight conservation fee at Cape Point cottages	ZAR 100–200	person per night	On top of the cottage rate (check).

Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.

Cape Point section entry permit or guide

Pay at the Cape of Good Hope gate on the M65; keep the ticket for the day.

Table Mountain cableway no permit

Book a timed slot online in December–January; walk-ups queue.

Overnight in park cottages permit or guide

Book through SANParks; Olifantsbos, Eland and Duiker cottages sleep 4–6.

Diving or fishing in the marine protected area permit or guide

A permit is needed for any extractive activity; several zones are no-take (check).

Park rules

Drones, guides, camping and more

Baboons: Do not feed them and do not carry food in the open. If one approaches, walk backwards facing it, no eye contact, and close car windows.
Drones: Not allowed without a SANParks permit (check).check
Fires: No fires or braais outside designated spots; summer fire risk is high and the mountain burns.
Dogs: Allowed only on certain listed trails and must be on a lead (check).check
Litter and plants: Take everything out; picking fynbos is illegal.

Where to stay

In the park

Olifantsbos Cottage

Cape Point section, sleeps 6, plus a small annex; the only way to sleep inside the southern section.

In the park

Eland and Duiker Cottages

Cape Point section, sleep 4–6; simple SANParks houses.

In the park

Wood Owl Cottage

Tokai Forest, sleeps 3–6; forest setting, 20 min from the city.

Near the park

Cape Town city bowl

Hotels and hostels of every level, 15–25 min from the cableway.

Near the park

Simon's Town and Kalk Bay

Guesthouses on the False Bay side, close to Boulders and the Cape Point gate.

Safety

Cableway closed by wind medium

Check the status the morning you plan to go; keep Platteklip Gorge or the Pipe Track as a backup.

Crime on isolated trails medium

Walk in groups, avoid the lower slopes alone at dawn or dusk, and take only what you need.

Heat and exposure on Platteklip Gorge high

Start before 8:00 in summer, carry 2 L of water per person, and turn back if cloud comes in.

Baboon raids medium

Keep food in a closed bag, not in your hand; do not run.

Cold water and currents high

Swim at Boulders or a lifeguarded beach, not at Dias Beach or the Cape Point rocks.

Accessibility

The cableway, the top station and the Cape Point funicular suit wheelchairs and strollers.
Boulders boardwalk is level and step-free.
Platteklip Gorge, the Pipe Track and the Cape of Good Hope walk are rough and steep.

Visiting lightly

Stay on the trail; fynbos regrows slowly and off-trail walking spreads weeds.
Do not feed baboons or penguins, and keep bags closed at viewpoints.
Use the cableway or a shared shuttle rather than driving a second car up Tafelberg Road.
Buy the SANParks conservation fee at the gate; it funds the park, not a private operator.

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to enter Table Mountain National Park?

There is no single park-wide ticket. The Cape Point section charges about R400–500 per adult at the gate, and Boulders Beach about R200–250, both 2026 estimates. Walking on the mountain trails is free; the cableway is a separate R400–500 return. South African residents pay less on proof of ID.

What are the best hikes in Table Mountain National Park?

Platteklip Gorge is the classic 2–3 hour climb to the top. The Pipe Track is a flat 2–3 hour contour walk above Camps Bay. At Cape Point, the walk from the lighthouse to the Cape of Good Hope takes about an hour each way. Lion's Head is a shorter, steeper alternative with chains near the top.

When is the best time to visit Table Mountain National Park?

October to March for dry, warm weather and long days, with April and May as a quieter shoulder. June to August is the wet, windy season: the cableway closes often and trails are slippery. Whatever the month, start early — the mountain makes its own cloud by midday.

Do I need a car?

For the Cape Point section, yes, or join a tour. The mountain itself is reachable by taxi or bus from the city, and a metro train runs to Simon's Town for Boulders. Driving the peninsula in one direction and returning the other way is the usual plan.

Is the cableway always open?

No. It closes in high wind and for maintenance, sometimes with little notice. Check the status on the morning, and keep Platteklip Gorge or the Pipe Track as a backup plan.

Can I sleep inside the park?

Yes, in a handful of SANParks cottages: Olifantsbos, Eland and Duiker at Cape Point, and Wood Owl at Tokai. They sleep 3–6 and book out far ahead in summer.

Deep dive

Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go