01/12/2012
Thought to be one of the oldest mountains in the world, Table Mountain is approximately 260-million years old. By comparison, the Andes are about 250-million years old, the Rockies are about 60-million, the Himalayas are 40-million and the Alps are 32-million years old. Prehistoric people first left evidence of their lives on Table Mountain more than 600 000 years ago.
António de Saldanha (a 16th century captain) made the first recorded ascent of Table Mountain in 1503. He named it Taboa do Cabo (Portuguese for Table of the Cape).
After nearly 40 years of discussion and planning, plus interruptions by two wars, the first Table Mountain Cableway opened for business on October 4, 1929. Since then it has transported over 20-million people to the summit.
It is the most popular tourist destination of Cape Town, attracting over 800 000 people each year.
Table Mountain on Google Maps