Table Mountain National Park

Vital Information

What to Bring

Although the Table Mountain National Park is primarily a day-visit park there are several items that no-one should be without whether for a casual stroll or a more serious hike:

It is highly recommended that you purchase Mountains in the Sea – an Interpretive Guide to Table Mountain National Park by award winning environmental journalist John Yeld. The book comprehensively covers all aspects of the Park from biodiversity issues to popular hikes and history and will enrich any visitor’s enjoyment and appreciation of the Park.

Also essential are:

• A good map – Peter Slingsby’s maps are endorsed by the Park. Visit The Maps for more information.
• Sun hat and sun block
• As outdoor lighting in camps is limited, a torch/headlamp is required when walking outside at night
• Sufficient water
• Energy snacks
• Sturdy hiking boots
• Wet weather gear/ wind breakers
• Punch emergency number into your mobile: 0861 106 417

Visitor Safety

Table Mountain National Park is a Park within a City and its urban context presents Park staff with some unique management challenges. Two of these are these are mountain safety and security issues.

Many people think that because Table Mountain is in the middle of a City that it is simply an easy walk to the top – a serious misconception. The reality is that it is a serious mountain standing 1000 meters above sea level and offers challenging, sometimes dangerous, hikes and is characterised by inconsistent weather. These factors result in people getting lost and injured.

Also as the TMNP is primarily an open access Park from time to time there is criminal activity in some of the urban edge areas of the Park.

In answer to both these challenges the TMNP recruited and deployed Visitor Safety Officers (VSO’s) to patrol popular use zones in the Park. The VSO’s give advice to hikers as well as act as a deterrent to criminals.

For some hints and tips for a hassle free visit to the TMNP please download the Visitor Safety Brochure.

Tourism Partners

When in doubt about where to go and what to do please be sure to contact Cape Town Tourism:

• Telephone: 0861 132 2223
• Email: [email protected]
• Physical Address: City Hall VEC (Opposite Grand Parade), C/O Darling Street & Corporation Street

Park Regulations

To ensure a safe and joyful trip through our parks, kindly adhere to the Rules & Regulations as stipulated by South African National Parks.

Brochures