In 7th Heaven: the History of the Table Mountain Cable Car

Table Mountain is an undeniably iconic silhouette on the southern tip of Africa, and for more than 80 years the Table Mountain Cableway has allowed the mountain's biggest fans to ascend her jagged cliffs and feast their eyes on the views from above. That's a tall order, if you'll excuse the pun, so we're taking a look at the history of the Table Mountain cable car.

Having celebrated its 86th birthday on Sunday, 4 October, the Table Mountain cable car history actually stretches back to the late 1870s when it was proposed that a railway be constructed to provide easy access to the famous flat-topped summit of the mountain. Several options were investigated: among these, a funicular railway was envisioned, which would run through Platteklip Gorge from Oranjezicht. However, none of the ideas were implemented until 1926, when Trygve Stromsoe, a Norwegian engineer proposed the construction of a cableway.

Table Mountain cable car history was initially made on a small scale, literally. Trygve built a model of his idea and took it to Sir Alfred Hennessy, who got fellow investors Sir David Graaff and Sir Ernest Oppenheimer on board. These businessmen then formed the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company and for two years, construction of the cableway took place on the rugged cliffs of this instantly recognisable landmark.
In 1929, the Cableway opened its doors to the public and has been safely transporting visitors from across the globe up the slopes of our iconic Table Mountain, which overlooks the city bowl and the luxury 5-star Table Bay hotel.

Did you know? Fun facts about the history of the Table Mountain cable car

1. On average, 909 000 visitors from all over the globe enjoy a trip on the Cableway annually.
2. More than 24 million people have enjoyed the view from the top of Table Mountain using the Cableway.
3. The Cableway has been completely accident-free since opening on 4 October, 1929.
4. Throughout the history of the Table Mountain cable car, periodic upgrades have been implemented, these in 1958 and 1974. In 1997, the Rotair cable cars were installed. These advanced cable car systems are one of three such systems which are in operation worldwide. The cable cars, which can each carry  65 people, have rotating bases, so you can catch an amazing 360° view of this natural wonder.
5. The journey from the base of the Cableway to the summit of Table Mountain takes roughly 4 to 5 minutes, travelling at a maximum speed of 10m per second. The cables from the base to summit are each 1 200m in length.
6. One of the biggest highlights in the Table Mountain cable car history is the New7Wonders of Nature campaign, which was launched in 2007. The campaign ran until November 2011 and more than 100 million votes were cast in deciding the top seven natural wonders. Table Mountain was officially recognised as one of the world's New7Wonders of Nature and claimed its place among these incredible sites: South America's Amazon, Vietnam's Halong Bay, Igazú Falls which overlap Argentina and Brazil, South Korea's volcanic Jeju Island, Komodo in Indonesia, and the visually striking Puerto Princesa Underground River in the Philippines. Table Mountain is also the only site which is situated within an urban area.

Located on the V&A waterfront, The Table Bay hotel is just a stone's throw away from Cape Town's top attractions, including Table Mountain. Should you wish to visit the Cableway, make use of our luxury transfer and tour services, and be sure to bookend your visit to the mountain with the famous high tea in The Lounge, where you can feast your eyes on a sunset view of Table Mountain through the massive picture window.

Looking for 5-star accommodation, cocooned in a sumptuous suite which also boasts magnificent views of Table Mountain? Look no further than The Table Bay hotel. With a baby grand piano, spacious living room, a fully fitted kitchen and opulent four-posted bed in a king-size bedroom, the Table Mountain Suite also includes a butler to ensure you enjoy a luxurious stay in Cape Town.

For more info on the history of the Table Mountain Cable Car as well as details on opening times and bookings, follow the Table Mountain Cable Car on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.