THESE PICS FROM THE EDGE OF TABLE MOUNTAIN WILL GIVE YOU DESK-VERTIGO

January 11, 2016

Destinations

SouthAfrica_CapeTown_CitizensoftheWorld_DominicLoneraganPhotography__MeghanMcTavish_TravelPhotography_210514_1061

SouthAfrica_CapeTown_CitizensoftheWorld_DominicLoneraganPhotography__MeghanMcTavish_TravelPhotography_220514_1074

SouthAfrica_CapeTown_CitizensoftheWorld_DominicLoneraganPhotography__MeghanMcTavish_TravelPhotography_220514_1080

SouthAfrica_CapeTown_CitizensoftheWorld_DominicLoneraganPhotography__MeghanMcTavish_TravelPhotography_220514_1085

SouthAfrica_CapeTown_CitizensoftheWorld_DominicLoneraganPhotography__MeghanMcTavish_TravelPhotography_220514_1092

SouthAfrica_CapeTown_CitizensoftheWorld_DominicLoneraganPhotography__MeghanMcTavish_TravelPhotography_220514_1107

SouthAfrica_CapeTown_CitizensoftheWorld_DominicLoneraganPhotography__MeghanMcTavish_TravelPhotography_220514_1148

SouthAfrica_CapeTown_CitizensoftheWorld_DominicLoneraganPhotography__MeghanMcTavish_TravelPhotography_220514_1170

SouthAfrica_CapeTown_CitizensoftheWorld_DominicLoneraganPhotography__MeghanMcTavish_TravelPhotography_220514_1175

It’s been 20 years since South Africa’s reform as a united democratic country. Much has been written about the struggles its had to overcome in that time and we learned a great deal about it on our journey.

From solemn walks through Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent over 20 years as a political prisoner, to visits to the poorest Townships, made up of thousands of close-knit corrugated iron camps; it’s a definitely a history that’s never far from memory.

However, South Africa is a country in constant evolution and the energy of positivity in the place is palpable, with each generation appearing more optimistic about where the nation is headed.

It helps too that Cape Town, specifically, has seen a 13% growth in tourism over the past 2 years. Easy to understand when this gateway to the African continent boasts the bounty of seemingly 5 countries in one.

There’s a wine country to rival the best in Bordeaux and there’s extreme sports on par with adventure addicted New Zealand. That’s on top of the lavish 5-star eateries and hip design hotels that take a bite out of New York City. Come with an open mind… and an empty stomach.

Table Mountain, distinctive Lions Head and its comrade Signal Hill. When these aren’t shrouded in dense fog they’re the gift that keeps on giving. Unfortunately for us, early on in the trip that’s exactly what happened.

It’s still beautiful, but like a Botticelli painting, it doesn’t have the same effect unless everyone’s naked.

Getting to the top is half the adventure though and for the equivalent of $20 you get a return trip aboard the most tricked-out vehicle you’ll ever ride in. There’s no need to even call ‘Shotgun’ because… it spins. Yes, it seems South Africa is so determined to foster a spirit of equality that even the cable car is designed so everyone can enjoy a full 360 view of its eminent world wonder.

We reached the summit wholly expecting something similar to, say, the very commercialised Peak in Hong Kong or perhaps the kind of jailhouse-esque barriers of New York’s Empire State Building. Nope.

We learned that Cable Mountain isn’t so much a desolate rock but rather an entire ecosystem. There are signs everywhere asking you to respect the rights of the local animals, including the cute little Dassies who call this place home, whiling away the days tempting fate along the sheer rock ledges.

But it’s not just the Dassies who get to the rush of tempting fate. The powers that be take a fairly moderate approach to safety barriers here and we like it.

None of this nanny-state nonsense. If you’re silly enough to step over the boundary, well then you probably deserve whatever nature has in store.

We set up our cameras to shoot the fog envelop Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa. The final sunset is looking out over the Atlantic Ocean from Signal Hill, Cape Town.

Table Mountain Cableway
+27 (0)21 424 8181
tablemountain.net
More than just a mountain, its a monolithic reminder of your own mortality. No matter how you carve your name into the conscious of civilisation, this rock will always trump you in size, beauty and legacy. It also has a great view, which is, obviously, par for the course.

7 days, 4 destinations, 3 roadside baboon families, 12 herds of elephants, 5 luxury hotels, 4 five-star restaurants, 6 donkeys, 4 time-lapses, 7 sunsets, 7 sunrises and a seriously smashing tribal soundtrack. *more below* It’s been 20 years since South Africa’s reform as a united democratic country.