Table Mountain
by Sepp and Doris Gumann, Zürich, Switzerland

(this report can be seen in German)

On our first stay in Cape Town we finally managed to go and see one of the most famous mountains in the world, the Table Mountain.

Because it was hot, around 30 degrees and there were no clouds in the sky, it was a perfect day.

The Table Mountain rises like an island in the sea of houses that is Cape Town and dominates the skyscape of the city.

And like Ayers Rock in Australia, it is more than just a huge, eroded sandstone and also exudes spiritual strength!

The cable car, leading us up to 1000 meters above sea level, has already carried more than 12 million visitors since its beginnings in 1929.

A state-of-the-art, modern cable car was imported from Switzerland in 1997 and thanks to it 360 degrees rotating cabin we enjoyed a fantastic panoramic views over this dream region.

Since 1957, Table Mountain is a national monument. A short while ago it was granted official national park status.

No wonder, because on its 6000 hectares 15000 different plants are growing here, more than in the entire UK!

The fauna has adapted itself to the life on the mountain: Klippschliefer, crows and even the Himalayan Thar, a mountain goat, live between the weathered sandy stones.

The otherwise characteristic cloud cap, which reminds us of overcooking milk, was missing on this fantastic summer day (Beginning of January 2000 - summer in the southern hemisphere).

A very suitable day to try out one of over 350 completely different walking trails.

Our stay on Table Mountain was so beautiful, we will never forget it.