Table Mountain and the Mother City
“During the many years of incarceration on Robben Island, we
often looked across Table Mountain at its magnificent silhouette…
To us on Robben Island, Table Mountain was a beacon of hope. It
represented the mainland to which we knew we would one day return.”
– Nelson Mandela
When I think back to our time in Cape Town, Table Mountain dominates my memories much the same way that it dominates Cape Town’s sky line. It cradles the city and protects it, while it rises above the city and inspires.
View of Table Mountain from Robben Island - the island where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years in incarceration
You can catch glimpses of Table Mountain from many neighborhoods in town. It is not off in the distance; its presence is immediate. Its flat top is often covered with a thick fog, which Cape Townians dubbed the “tablecloth.”
View of Cape Town from the plane
View from town
You can tell that Cape Town residents are proud of their mountain; everyone we met asked us if we had gone to the top yet. A couple of days after we arrived, we took the revolving cable car up to the top, adding it to the list of mountains we have summited in our lifetime. (Yes, our definition of summit is very liberal; don’t judge us). We spent a few hours exploring the mountain’s flat top and peeking over the sides to see the city and ocean below.
Cable car going down with view of Signal Hill in the background
One of the many gorgeous views from the top
Sean and me at the top, with a view of Green Point Stadium, which was built for the World Cup, and the neighborhood of Green Point, which is where we stayed.
Cape Town’s position of being nestled between Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, not to mention its cosmopolitan restaurants, shops and cafes or its temperate climate (it was supposed to be winter while we were there, for crying out loud!) makes Cape Town definitely live up to its hype.
I am most impressed with the blueness of the skies in Africa so far. Being atop Table Mountain must feel like being in a little bit of heaven. Beautiful.
We are just now in Table Mountain and haven’t seen the top yet. It has been cloudy every single day. 🙁 We went to Robben Island today and didn’t get nearly as gorgeous of shots as you did. We’re hoping that the weather clears either today or tomorrow because then we are leaving for our overland journey.
I’m sad that we missed you in South Africa. I think y’all must have left here not too much before we got here.
Hi Akila! Hopefully the weather will clear for you soon. Just be careful on the top of Table Mountain if you hear the hooter – you’ll see what I mean.
It would have been great to meet up. Maybe at some point our paths will overlap! I’ve been referring to your Japan posts all day – we’re planning the next couple of weeks there.
We’re excited to read about your overland journey – Sean wanted to do something overland, but it got nixed somewhere a long the way of everchanging plans. Enjoy Africa!