Table mountain….. and I must admit it is a magnificent mountain…. it claims a few things few other places can claim, if any…
This area forms part of the Cape Floristic Region and as such supports a high diversity of flora, much of which is rare and endemic. Protea, erica, restio and Asteraceae species, as well as geophytes, are all found in abundance. The main indigenous vegetation types are Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos and Cape Granite Fynbos, both of which are endangered and endemic to Cape Town – occurring nowhere else in the world.
Now all I needed was a visit from Jan and Stephen Roberts from New Zealand to have made this trip perfect…. I might not like the rugby team they support (although we beat them last weekend) but I do so admire Stephens landscape photography… CLICK HERE TO SEE THEIR BLOG …
Jan and Stephen ride their bicycles all over the place normally with their two dogs in tow… Jan loves a certain bakery in their area and seems unable to miss stopping there, although she never shares photos of their wares… (selfish I’d say)…
But I’m getting off the point… I needed Stephen’s eye and photos to do justice to a beautiful area… here are a few I took, and I apologise for the “stuff up”… birds are more my scene…
and a close up..
Jan and Stephen please come and visit…. Cape Town needs you…
I take bird photos and here is one I took whilst there….
The Photographic Journey of bulldog. 
Durbanites don’t like Captonians very much … it’s all about jealousy.
All they have is a mountain…. their Sharks swim in the sea constantly… ours, are good rugby players…
I love reading about these different places in your neck of the woods Bulldog. Another fascinating visit…I would love to go there but again, being afraid of heights, I’m just not sure about the cable car. Would love to have the courage to do it though, the views must be incredible.
The rides up and down are spectacular… but the city itself is a wonderful place to visit…
That cable way is pretty awesome, Rob. I think sometimes the landscape is just so gorgeous you don’t even need to worry about the photography! South Africa is such a stunning country–you prove it every time. 🙂
Thanks very much Debra… Cape Town is probably our most well known city and one wonders if you should shares. your photos as it has all been done by the pros…
Lovely article! Thanks for documenting this beautiful city 🙂 The bird is a Redwing Starling and it appears to be sitting in a Searsia (Taaibos). They eat the berries.
The bird ID is correct… the bush ID is correct.. and where have you been ? Nipped over to your blog and somehow I have stopped following you, so I have re=clicked the follow button and will have to find time to go back a bit and see what I’ve missed over there… loved your spider posts… but thanks for the comment and the correct ID’s and the visit… yes you have a beautiful city and area, one I like to visit every now and then… never keen to see when my Sharks are playing rugby against you, but still…
That is so cool! Regarding the Sharks against WP – don’t tell anyone but I am a Sharks supporter (ex-KZN girl here…)
It looks like a lovely place. Is there a way to go from one place to another other than by cable cars?
Oh yes one can climb the mountain from so many different angles… but the city hankered down below the mountain is a sight for city lovers… not bush lovers like me…
Excellent landscapes, Bulldog. Lovely compositions.
(and what a co-incidence – we have the 12 Apostles which are rocks rising up from the sea on the coastal along the Great Ocean Road in my state of Victoria).
Now that I didn’t know… thanks Vicki… the landscapes need a lot of work and of course it would be so much nicer if the damn sun would come out and lighten things a bit…
Congratulations on the rugby (it’s always good to beat the NZ team. I don’t think Aus is doing very well this year) 😉
I love the pics, but don’t know if I have it in me to ride in that cable car….
It was nice to finally beat them.. and as you know that’s is not always easy… but then with three strong teams in the southern hemisphere, night mareish…. the views from the top are magnificent as is the whole fauna and flora scene on the mountain top…
Che splendide foto panoramiche, un luogo molto bello del quale ci dai tante informazioni.
Ciao, Pat
Thanks Pat… probably not as magnificent as what you have in Italy…
I must say, these pics are stunning. They remind me of scenic views I remember from Hawaii.
Who is this Lorna that comments here .?? Thanks Lorna it is a stunning place to visit .. once in a few years I enjoy it, but far to busy for everyday life in my honest opinion… the bush is far more my scene…
I love the area I currently live in. I hope I fall as in love with the Pacific Northwest as I have the Adirondacks…
Great post, Rob.
Thanks Anneli
STUNNING!
Thanks
🙂
It’s such an impressive mountain, and the bird is really lovely. Don’t tell me that Jan and Stephen rode their bikes up there. 🙂
I wish they would come and visit and let Stephen do his photographic magic with the scenery…
What a beautiful area … How long of a drive is it from your home to Cape Town?
Cape town is probably about 1800 km or 1125 miles from us here…
Wow …. now that a long drive!
Ah, you are too hard on yourself Bulldog. I for one thoroughly enjoyed ALL the photos. What a great place to visit!
Thanks Ingrid, but I do have no illusions of my ability for landscape photography… need to get some practice in… but tend to look more for birds and animals than the scenery within which I walk…
That cable car looks a bit daunting!
It;s a great ride…
I’ll learn about/to like rugby. Mountains and sea. (and maybe not mobs of people everywhere blocking the scenery.) You’re making it very enticing, Bulldog. (the sharks and sailing is a bit tricky?)
Very very dreamily enticing
Thank you…
I like your photos bulldog! Cable Car station? Is that like zip lining? or like a gondola to catch the breathtaking view?
Diana xo
Some facts about the cable way and cable cars..
and visit this site for more fun facts about the mountain…
http://www.softschools.com/facts/wonders_of_the_world/table_mountain_facts/104/
The Cableway has transported over 23-million people to the summit of Table Mountain
Each of the two cable cars can carry 65 people
More than 800 people can enjoy the trip every hour
The floor of the circular cabin rotates to allow travellers 360° views
The cable cars’ circular shape ensures excellent aerodynamics and stability
Approximately 800 000 visitors from all over the world use the Cableway annually
Tickets can be bought online from anywhere in the world
The cable cars travel at a maximum speed of 10m per second
The cable cars take four to five minutes to reach the top of the mountain
Each of the Cableway’s cables is 1 200m in length
The cables weigh 18 tons and are attached to counter-weights weighing 134 tons each
The cable car base is a water tank with a 4 000l capacity. This provides fresh water for visitors, and is used as ballast in windy conditions
The cable cars can carry up to 5 200kg each
Wow, it seems to heavy to be on a cable…oh there goes my fear of heights again…
Cape Town and surrounding areas have always been places I would like to visit. Your photos and descriptions make them even more enticing.
Some of the most outstanding golf courses as well… and to play them when the wind blows is a real test…
Beautiful photos and informative as ever, Bulldog. Thanks!! Hope you get your visit from them!! 🙂
Thanks Skye… hope all is well with you…