One of our goals for our stay in Cape Town was to visit the top of Table Mountain, a whopping 3,563 feet above sea level! It’s one of the oldest mountains in the world—older than the Alps, the Andes, the Rockies, and even the Himalayas. The mountain got its name from its flat summit, and it’s recognized as one of the “New Seven Wonders of Nature.”Table Mountain is often covered in clouds, as it was yesterday when we arrived. Our plan was to go up if the skies were clear, and this morning they were! We grabbed an Uber to the Cable Car Station Here we were faced with two options:
Pay $30 USD per person and wait in a 2½-hour line, or
Pay $65 USD per person for the 15-minute Fast Track route.
We wisely chose the Fast Track option.
The cable car ride itself took only about 10 minutes, and the floor slowly rotated as we climbed, giving everyone panoramic views. The scenery from the top was absolutely breathtaking!
At the summit gift shop, I couldn’t resist buying another T-shirt. I always say I’m going to stop, but I think over the years Debbie’s shopping habit has rubbed off on me! 🤣 Believe it or not, some visitors actually hike all the way to the top. An employee told us it takes two to three hours. I joked that it would take me two to three days! After our mountain adventure, we Ubered to Victoria Wharf for a much-needed lunch—and it did not disappoint. Debbie and I both had sesame-crusted tuna steaks with wasabi mashed potatoes, while Douw went with the catch of the day, grilled kingklip. Table Mountain from the Victoria Wharf Debbie found one of her favorites at the Wharf. At the Wharf, there is a huge shopping mall and a lot of restaurants. A great place to spend a few hours. We are coming back later in the week.
Side note: The U.S. dollar goes a long way here. The current exchange rate is about 1 USD to 17.50 rand. Our Uber rides were only $5 USD each way, and after lunch we stocked up on groceries for the evening (we’re hosting appetizers and wine for some of Douw’s friends). We filled three shopping bags for just $30—back home, that would have easily been $100!
