Table Mountain National Park

The 30 000 hectare Table Mountain National Park stretches itself along the Cape Peninsula in the most spectacular manner from Cape Town to Cape Point Nature Reserve, and includes an additional 1 000 km² of marine reserve.

Aloes, Lion's Head — Aloes on Lion’s Head

Lion's Head from Kasteelspoort, Table Mountain — Lion’s Head from Kasteelspoort

Table Mountain Challenge 2010 start — Annual Table Mountain Challenge

stinkatnothing.com: testing on India Venster — stinkatnothing.com: testing on India-Venster

The cable-car photographed from India-Venster Route on Table Mountain — Cable-car, Table Mountain

"Chicks Dig It Lank" {photo: Astrid Haupt} — “Chicks Dig It Lank” {photo: Astrid Haupt}

Eland Cottage, Cape Point Nature Reserve — Eland Cottage

Lime kiln, Cape Point Nature Reserve — Lime kiln at Booi se Skerm

Snake Thistle, Cullumia squarrosa — Snake Thistle, *Cullumia squarrosa*

New lighthouse, Cape Point Nature Reserve.

The TMNP is partially fragmented by urban development and private land as it falls entirely within, and is surrounded by, the confines of the City. Capetonians are truly blessed, and should be eternally grateful to have this national heritage on their doorstep.

As such, this is South Africa’s most visited park, with over 4 million annual visits! As part of TMNP’s vision is to be “The Park for All”, access is largely free, and you will only pay at Cape Point Nature Reserve, Silvermine, and Boulders.

The TMNP is used by a number of different user groups as such: walkers, hikers, dog walkers, rock climbing (sports and trad), mountain bikers, paragliders and more.

TMNP is not without its problems, ranging from an alarming crime rate with a number of muggings taking place (due to its proximity to urban areas), to the controversy surrounding the clearing of alien vegetation.

There are of course a multitude of hiking trails ranging from casual strolls to the multi-day Hoerikwagoo Trail. Slingsby Maps have an excellent range of maps covering Table Mountain.

Additionally, there are a number of great books describing walks and hikes of every nature (Walks with a Fat Dog, Best Walks in the Cape Peninsula), as well as rock climbing guides (Western Cape Rock).