Table Mountain is a flat top mountain rising 1086 m (3563 ft) above sea level. It is a great destination for both young and old. The mountain is a prominent site from almost anywhere in Cape Town
There are numerous trails for the avid hiker to walk up the mountain; however, most visitors take the aerial cable car to the top. The car is quite different than most, as it has a floor that rotates 360° as it ascends the mountain. This way, no matter where you stand, you have an equal panoramic view from many different angles looking up the mountain, down to the waterfront and Table Bay, and vistas in each side of the mountain. If you prefer, you may sit or stand in the middle of the cable car and not make the circle.
At the summit there is a the flat plateau with several small trails for walking. As you walk, you will see unusual plant life. You could walk all the trails in about 45 minutes. For your convenience there is a coffer shop, restrooms, and gift shop at the top.
Table Mountain is about a 15 minute taxi ride from the waterfront.
Travel Tip: It can be cold at the top, dress accordingly. During my July, midwinter, visit it was cold due to heavy winds. Of course, there is always the possibility that the cable car will not run due to heavy winds.
For more information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_Mountain

Table Mountain rises up south of Cape Town and offers great hiking trails and stunning views over the city and its surroundings.

** SEA DRAGON
According to a legend, the mighty sea dragon Nganyamba tried to prevent Qamata, an African mythological figure responsible for the creation of the world, from creating dry land.
Djobela, a one-eyed earth goddess, assisted Nganyamba. She casted a spell that created four giants to guard the north, south, east, and west.
** WATCHER OF THE SOUTH
Many battles raged and eventually the giants were defeated. Before dying, the giants asked earth goddess Djobela to turn them into mountains to watch over the area. The Watcher of the South, Umlindi Wemingizimu, became Table Mountain.
** 50 MILLION YEARS
Scientists have another explanation. Hundreds of millions of years ago, when the Cape was part of the supercontinent geologists call Gondwana, the feature that is now Table Mountain was a flat, empty plain. As the vast landmass shifted and heaved, the plain slowly subsided under the sea.
For 50 million years, fine sediment built up, layer after layer. Then the earth's plates buckled again, and the layers of sediment were thrust upward to what are now Table Mountain, Devil's Peak, and Lion's Head.
** LIONS AND HIPPOS
The mountain nowadays is over 1,000m (highest peak = 1,087m). Once upon a time, the mountain range and surroundings used to be the home to a variety of wild animal species, from lions to hippos.
Unfortunately, they disappeared as man encroached on their habitat. Only the smaller ones remain on the mountain: the little grysbok, porcupines, tortoises, and hyrax or dassie, a creature that is the closest biological relative to the elephant.
** 1000 PLANT SPECIES
Table Mountain’s flora mountain is varied. Botanists estimate that more than 1,000 plant species are found here, ranging from Regal Protea to ground-hugging ferns.

We decided to burn off some of the rich South African food by climbing Table Mountain. We decided to take the Platelip Gorge route. It is very poorly signposted – I wonder if this is deliberate so people use the overpriced cable car (ZAR 570). The start of this hike is off the Talfelberg Road, about 1km past the lower cable-car station. The Lonely Planet guide said that you have to be reasonably fit – I would argue that you have to be very fit. My sister is a triathlete, and she found it tough. All the usual advice applies – bring enough water, sunscreen, and a jacket.

The view from the top is worth it. It’s great to feel you climbed to the top of one of Africa’s best-known landmarks. We walked across the massif to Maclear's Beacon, which is Table Mountain’s highest point at 1,084m. It took about 2 hours to climb up, but only 4 minutes down by cable car.

Cape Point juts into the southern Atlantic Ocean and forms the tip of the peninsula’s rugged mountain chain, which stretches from Table Bay, soaring out of the sea to a height of 1,087m above sea level, dwarfing the high-rise buildings of the city and its surrounding suburbs. A scenic drive leads to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, which offers hiking and mountain biking trails. The less energetic can ride the funicular to a lighthouse and superb views.

The Cape Peninsula’s most prominent feature, Table Mountain, has been a welcome landmark for travellers. Its impressive front wall, as well as the surrounding buttresses and ravines, is a spectacular natural wonder. The rock formations and twisted strata indicate turbulent geological processes that span a millions-of-years history. A mass of sedimentary sandstone and large areas of granite forms the Cape Peninsula’s mountain chain. The sandstone sediment, which forms the main block of the mountain, was deposited about 450 million years ago when the peninsula, then a part of Gondwana, lay below sea level. After the subsidence of the primeval ocean, the effects of wind, rain, ice and extreme temperatures caused erosion of the softer layers, leaving behind the characteristic mesa of Table Mountain.

Over 1,400 plant species of the 2,285 that make up the Cape Floral Kingdom of the Peninsula can be found in the protected natural habitat of Table Mountain. They include Disa uniflora (also called Pride of Table Mountain), which mostly grows near streams and waterfalls, and several members of the regal protea family. Wildlife, consisting mostly of small mammals, reptiles and birds, includes the rare and secretive ghost frog, which is found in perennial streams on the plateau.

The high plateau affords superb views of the Hely-Hutchinson reservoir, the Back Table, and southwards to False Bay and Cape Point. In 1998, extensive upgrading of the Table Mountain Cableway, as well as the lower and upper stations, resulted in special reinforced viewing platforms at strategic vantage points.

Table Mountain’s Tablecloth: An old local legend tells of the Dutchman, Jan van Hunks, who engaged in a smoking contest with a stranger on the slopes of Devil’s Peak. After several days, the disgruntled stranger had to admit defeat and revealed himself as the Devil. Vanishing in a puff of smoke, he carried van Hunks off with him, leaving behind wreaths of smoke curling around Devil’s Peak -- which is where the cloud begins pouring over the mountains -- forming the famous tablecloth.

Tips for Walkers: Several well-marked trails, graded according to their degree of difficulty, lead to the summit. All hikers must wear proper walking boots and are advised to check with the Lower Cableway Station before setting out, as weather conditions may deteriorate without warning. Winds at the top can reach over 80km per hour, so hiking on windy or misty days is not recommended.

The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company:
Daily departure at varying times.
Tel: 021/424-5148

To experience Cape Town is to be cradled by earth, sky and sea. Table Mountain, so named because its top is a large plateau, rises 3520 feet above the center of the city. The mountain and its neighboring peaks, Devil’s Peak and Lion’s Head, are part of the consciousness of the city in the way Corcovado is part of Rio de Janeiro. And like Rio, there are huge shanty towns on the outskirts on the city and beach culture is a big part of life.

This is one of the prime tourist attractions in Cape Town, and so I was a bit reluctant to go, being one of those people who take pride in getting off the beaten track. The steep vertical climb of the cable car to the summit is no joy ride for those who are afraid of heights. I learned on my way up that I was dangling from the longest continuous stretch of cable in the world. The mountain’s plateau affords 360-degree views of Cape Town and its surrounding mountains and coastline, which from this vantage point is not to be missed. The mountaintop is quite large, and lined with paths and benches, so it is quite a pleasant place to leisurely pass a few hours.