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.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
221 km² (85 sq mi)85 sq mi (221 km²)
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 km² (85 sq mi)85 sq mi (221 km²)
- 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 km² (85 sq mi)85 sq mi (221 km²) · 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 (1.6 mi) from central Cape Town.A mountain inside a city: the cableway base is 1.6 mi (2.5 km) 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 (31 mi) south.Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope sit in the same park, 31 mi (50 km) south.
- Fynbos, penguins and baboons in one day's drive if you start early.
When to go
- 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
| 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
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Cape Town city centre
Cableway base station by car or taxi, or a 1.5 km (0.9 mi) footpath up from Oranjezicht.Cableway base station by car or taxi, or a 0.9 mi (1.5 km) 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
| 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
- 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 ↗
Take the points offline
8 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions along the peninsula, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Point section entry (Cape of Good Hope gate) | ZAR 400–500 (≈ US$25–30) | adult | 2026 estimate; South African residents pay less on proof of ID (check). |
| Boulders Beach penguin colony entry | ZAR 200–250 (≈ US$12–15) | adult | 2026 estimate; separate ticket from the Cape Point gate. |
| Table Mountain cableway return | ZAR 400–500 (≈ US$25–30) | 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 (≈ US$6–9) | adult | 2026 estimate; the walk up is free. |
| Overnight conservation fee at Cape Point cottages | ZAR 100–200 (≈ US$6–12) | 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
Table Mountain cableway no permit
Overnight in park cottages permit or guide
Diving or fishing in the marine protected area permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- R 400–500≈ US$25–30
- R 200–250≈ US$12–15
- R 400–500≈ US$25–30
- R 100–150≈ US$6–9
- R 100–200≈ US$6–12
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on SANParks — Table Mountain National Park before you go.
Park rules
- 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
Crime on isolated trails medium
Heat and exposure on Platteklip Gorge high
Baboon raids medium
Cold water and currents high
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
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