It’s a rare visitor to Cape Town who doesn’t ride the cableway to the summit of Table Mountain. But from July 15 until early September you’ll have to lace up your shoes and tackle a hiking trail – try one of these local favourites – if you want to admire the views from the summit.
That’s due to the annual maintenance closure that allows technicians to grease the wheels and give this iconic attraction a vital once-over. Usually the maintenance closure – always done in the quieter winter months – lasts for just two weeks, but this year the Cableway is undertaking the largest maintenance project since 1997!
With specialised technicians flown in from Switzerland, and heavy-duty winches helicoptered to the mountain summit, the Swiss-made system of two rotating cable cars –each holding up to 62 guests – will enjoy a major overhaul in 2024 that includes replacing all four steel cables – each 1.5-kilometres in length – as well as maintenance of the hanging and running gear, followed by a comprehensive nuts-and-bolts overhaul.
During the closure, the Cableway, as well as all commercial and public operations at both the Upper and Lower Stations, will remain closed. This includes shops, restaurants, and ablution facilities.
‘But the mountain itself is still accessible to hikers,’ says Andries de Vries, Technical Executive at the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company. ‘Most of the routes and walkways will still be accessible, and you can still climb to the summit. However, the hiking trails directly under the pathway of the cables will be closed as there will be extensive work happening overhead.’
And if you’re worried about missing out on your free Cableway ticket during the month of your birthday? Not to worry… the free birthday ticket promotion remains valid. South Africans (ID, driver’s licence or birth certificate required) whose birthdays fall within the 2024 annual maintenance shutdown period can still claim their free Cableway birthday ticket any time during September 2024.
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