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The state-of-the-art cable car travelling up Table Mountain. Photo by Fazielah Williams.

Top 10 Outstanding Facts about the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway

The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway is a South African transportation car Cable. The system offers visitors a ride to the top of the table mountain in Cape Town, South Africa. The cableway is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Cape Town, which has about one million people using it annually.

The Cableway has an upper cable station which is located at the westernmost end of the Table Mountain plateau. It is at an elevation of 1,067 metres.

This station offers an aerial view of Cape Town. The upper station also has Amenities such as the upper free guided walking tours, and an audio tour.

Here are the top 10 outstanding facts about the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway.

1. The CableWay Was Opened By AJS Lewis In 1929

The official opening ceremony of the Table Mountain Cableway was on 4 October 1929. Left to right: Sir Alfred Hennessy (chairman), Mr J. B. Taylor, Lady Graaff, Rev. A. J. S. Lewis (Mayor of Cape Town), Photo by Uncredited photographer.

The then Mayor of Cape Town AJS Lewis opened the table mountain aerial cableway in the year 1929. The construction of the Cable Way began soon in the year 1926 when Trygve Stromsoe who was a Norwegian engineer presented his plans for a cableway.

The construction was led by the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC) and also the Former leading wire ropeway company Adolf Bleichert & Co. The construction was completed in 1929 and cost GB拢60,000.

2. The Cableway Was Proposed By Capetonians In the 1870s

Picture of the old Cableway on Table Mountain in 1929. Photon by Unknown.

In the early 1870s, the Caledonians proposed the railway to be constructed at the top of Table Mountain. However, the plans were not by the Anglo-Boer War.

The war delayed the construction of the cableway. It was a conflict between the British Empire and the two republics, the South African and the Orange Free state.

3. The Design of the Cableway was based on the Titlis Rotair Cableway

The table aerial cableway was installed by a Switzerland group called the Garaventa Group in the year 1997. The design of the Cableway was based on the Titlis Rotair cableway which is in Engelberg, Switzerland.

The table aerial cableway has a capacity of Each 65 passengers and runs on a double cable which makes them stable when there are high winds. The Cableway runs for about 4鈥�5 minutes. The floors of the cars rotate 360 degrees during the ascent or descent, giving passengers a panoramic view.

4. The Cableway Floor Rotates 360 Degrees

The Cableway cars floor is engineered to rotate at 360 degrees in all directions to give the visitors an all-around view of Cape Town. The rotation of the Floors of the cars gives Passengers a panoramic view during the ascent and descent.

5. The Cableway Welcomed Its 28 Millionth Visitor In 2019

The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway provides more than 900 000 visitors a year with a unique five-minute scenic ride to the summit of Table Mountain. Photo by Fazielah Williams.

During the International Cable Car Day in the year 2019 on January 17, the table mountain aerial cableway welcomed and celebrated its 28 millionth visitor to the mountain. Mildrid Garett visited the mountain for the first time. This after she decided to celebrate her birthday which made her famous for requesting the ticket, as she was the 28 Millionth Visitor.

The table mountain cableway receives approximately 909 000 people who visit the mountain. The number grows Each year.

6. The Floor Of The Cableway Cars Has A Water Tank

The rotating cable cars have a water tank that can carry up to 4000 litres of fresh water. The water is very important because it provides stability to the cable cars especially when there are strong winds.

The water tanks also provide drinking water to the visitors using cable cars especially when it is hot. Moreover, during the hot summer months.

7. The cableway launched A Private Cable Car

Cable car at Table mountain South Africa. photo by Ritus.

Table Mountain aerial cableway is among the world鈥檚 iconic and best natural wonders that draw millions of visitors to the slopes every year. It recently announced its new private cable car service to try and make the visit to the Cableway extra special.

The new private cable car was introduced to create an extra level of social distancing and privacy when the visitors host their private events. Special occasion or private group on top of Africa鈥檚 leading tourist attraction.

鈥淥ur commitment has and will always be to ensure memorable moments at the Cableway, which is why we鈥檙e proud to include this as part of our offering,鈥� said the executive manager of the table mountain aerial cableway, Giselle Esau.

8. The Cableway Have Been Upgraded Three Times

Mechanical engineer making some adjustments to the cable car with Cape Town in the background. Photo by Robvanvee.

Since the day the Cableway was opened it has only been upgraded three times that is, in 1958, 1974 and recently in the year 1997. During the third upgrade cable cars with 360 degrees revolving floors were introduced, the Cable cars were called Rotairs.

The cable cars take about five minutes to reach the top. At the top, there is a lounge, restaurant and curio shop.

9. The Cableway Partnered With Tractor Outdoor To Rebrand The Table Aerial Mountain Cableway

The Cableway company partnered with Tractor Outdoor, to undertake a full rebranding of Cape Town鈥檚 best iconic cable cars. Mastercard South Africa also agreed with the two companies to sponsor certain branding elements at Cableway. By this, the table mountain aerial cableway would become more attractive to the visitors.

10. The Cable Way Had Four Founding Fathers

The Cableway was founded by four people: The Norwegian engineer Trygve Stromsoe, the founder of the Cableway Company Stromsoe and his partners who were, Sir Alfred Hennessy, Sir David Graaff and Sir Ernest Oppenheimer. The Cableway was later managed by their descendants until it was sold in the year 1993.

The Cableway was upgraded by the new owners who took charge of the cableway. In the year 1997, new cable cars were introduced after full renovations.

The table aerial mountain cableway is one of the best and the only African cableway tourist attractions site. Since it was officially opened to be used by the people. It has experienced zero accident cases.

The table mountain aerial cableway has gained is famous worldwide after great leaders all over the world have travelled to visit the site. Queen Elizabeth II was among the top world leaders to visit the Cableway.