Table Mountain National Park

Table Mountain National Park, formerly known as the Cape Peninsula National Park, covers approximately 22,000 hectares along the Cape Peninsula.

The park is internationally recognised for its exceptional biodiversity. Around 2,200 plant species occur on Table Mountain, including about 1,470 floral species, many of which are endemic to the mountain. This rich plant life forms part of the Cape Floristic Region, the smallest yet most diverse of the world’s six floral kingdoms.

At the eastern foot of Table Mountain lies the renowned Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, established in 1913. Covering roughly 1,300 acres, the garden features indigenous plant collections as well as a conservatory displaying flora from different regions.

The park’s most distinctive natural feature is its fynbos vegetation, which thrives in the area’s unique climate and soils. The varied terrain of valleys, streams, and mountain slopes supports a remarkable range of plant and animal life, making the park an important ecological refuge close to Cape Town.

Geologically, parts of the park contain Stromatolite formations. These layered rocks are created by cyanobacteria and represent some of the earliest fossil evidence of life on Earth. Two known stromatolite formations occur within the park.

The coastline also contains several shell middens, archaeological mounds left by early coastal inhabitants. These deposits include mollusc shells, West Coast rock lobster remains, abalone ornaments, and ostrich eggshell beads. Some middens along the shoreline are more than 1,400 years old, providing valuable insight into the region’s early human history.

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Table Mountain history

Table mountain Cableway

reservations@tablemountain-nationalpark.co.za

Important numbers to have when visiting Table Mountain National Park venues

• Emergencies:021 480 7700
• Medical emergencies from a cellphone:112
• Table Mountain National Park: 021 957 4700/ 0861 106 417
• Wilderness Search and Rescue: 021 948 9900

All visitors are required to fill out an indemnity form at the gate