The wonder that is Table Mountain had another big milestone, celebrating 95 years since the first cableway started running. We look at the best moments celebrated on the mountain!

South Africa (07 October 2024) – Ninety-five years after the first visitors travelled to the top of Table Mountain in a wooden cable car, the world-famous Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC) is still bustling and doing what it does best – providing visitors from near and far with a memory and a lasting experience.

The story thus far

In the years since its official opening (on 4 October 1929), the Cableway has undergone three major upgrades and regular maintenance. Today, it is a familiar feature of Cape Town’s famous flat-topped mountain, but not many people know how and why the project first got off the ground.

The Cableway’s history dates back to the 1870s when there were proposals to build a railway along the mountain’s slopes to make it easier for members of the public to reach the summit. Although the initial plan was to build a funicular railway, the development phase of the project was halted by the advent of World War I.

There was little movement until 1926, when Norwegian engineer Trygve Stromsoe proposed the construction of a cableway. This planted the seed for what we now know as the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway.

A host of icons, celebrities and royals are among the millions of people who have used the Cableway over the years.

Talk show host Oprah Winfrey, musician Sting, actor Famke Janssen, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, and singer Kelly Rowland are just some of the famous names who have taken a ride to the top of the mountain.

“One of the lesser-known fun facts about the Cableway is that mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person to summit Everest, took a cable car up Table Mountain soon after his historic expedition,” says Hercules. “Hillary is quoted as saying: ‘There is probably no more spectacular place in the world than Cape Town and Table Mountain at the tip of Africa.’”

“A lot has changed since that first trip in 1929, but the Cableway remains one of Cape Town’s biggest tourist attractions, transporting approximately a million visitors annually and counting,” says Hercules.

Good Things Guy has shared many heartwarming stories with the mountain as the backdrop. From David Bester, who lived on top of the mountain with his family when he was a toddler, returning years later to see the magnificent wonder to Tatjana Smith, who got engaged on top of the mountain. It has played host to epic rescues and incredible animal sightings and won countless awards.

Anniversary celebrations

A lot is being planned to commemorate this big milestone in the history of TMACC, she adds.

If it is your birthday this month – whether you turn 95 or not! – then you have a free return cable car ride waiting for you. The free ticket option is available to South Africans in the calendar month in which they celebrate their birthday (SA ID required), and all the information you need is available on the various TMACC social media channels.

“As we celebrate a remarkable 95 years of bringing breathtaking views and unforgettable experiences to local and international visitors, we are excited to announce a special treat. During October, South Africans can buy a 95th Anniversary Special ticket at the special price of R195 (SA ID required). This special is only available online and must be purchased before the visit as you cannot buy a ticket on the day of your visit,” says Hercules.

The TMACC team is also celebrating the milestone by giving back.

“The golf day on 8 November at the Atlantic Beach Golf Estate will raise funds for the Volunteer Wildfire Services and the Wilderness Search and Rescue, two crucial agencies that help to keep the mountain safe,” says Hercules.

Capetonians can also support this golf day by booking a four ball or sponsoring any of the holes on the day or donating towards the event.

“We want to thank everyone who has visited us over these 95 years for being such incredible friends and supporters. We could never have been such a successful tourism operator had it not been for our frontline staff, our support teams, our industry peers and partners, and our fans from near and far.

“Thank you for 95 incredible years. We look forward to many, many more,” says Hercules.

Sources: Supplied

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Table Mountain Cableway Turned 95, Celebrating History and Celeb Visits appeared first on Good Things Guy.

The snow fairy stopped by in Cape Town, coating Table Mountain in snow, much to the delight of locals who have been fighting a rollercoaster of winter woes.

Cape Town, South Africa (29 August 2024) — It’s no secret that this winter has been a ridiculously wet and gloomy battle for South Africans in Cape Town. With the past few months underpinned by stubborn rain clouds, insistent winds, wondering whether the sun would ever show its face again and seasonal depression that not even scrolling through the memories of Dezemba at the beach could shake, it’s been rough. And just when locals thought spring might be among us (deceived as we were by the wildflowers in bloom), one of the coldest weeks of the year hit. Except, this bout of cold didn’t come without bearing gifts; the snow fairly stopped by in the City!

Context: This Winter Has Been No Wonder

@sibuleleralarala IZVUNGUVUNGU is not enough of a word to describe what is going on here #fyp #foryoupage #capetown #weather #winter ♬ original sound – Sibulele

Snow in South Africa in general is something special. But for Capetonians who can almost unanimously say that this winter had been no wonder, it was a surprise of an extra-special calibre.

The Snow Fairy Visits Table Mountain 

Snow made its way to the Mother City as if it were Nature’s way of saying, “Here’s something pretty for your troubles.”

The star of the snow show was undoubtedly Table Mountain. As Table Mountain Aerial Cableway shared, that the natural icon of the Cape received a gorgeous layer of snow!

Snow Steps

Matt Ashwell shared this video that got the whole of South Africa talking!

It’s snowing on Table Mountain!

Check out the footage taken this morning by Matt Ashwell.@tablemountainca is set to reopen on 2 September 2024. #tablemountain #snow #thingstodoincapetown #travel pic.twitter.com/0U43RpFnmj

— Love Cape Town (@lovecapetown) August 28, 2024

Snow More Bad Vibes

Table Mountain, South Africa’s most iconic landmark in Cape Town, is now blanketed in snow.

Cape Town is experiencing cold, windy conditions with temperatures around 47°F (8°C) and mostly cloudy skies. pic.twitter.com/WeiYFQdtfF

— Africa View Facts (@AfricaViewFacts) August 28, 2024

With the ensuing cold dips, comes the reminder to support those whose biggest woe is not whether their washing will dry, but the destitute who are most severely impacted.snow fairy

There are many charities that have made the winter bearable for both people and animals in need, but they are reliant on kindness from the community to keep on keeping on! TEARS Animal Rescue, The Cape of Good Hope SPCA, Haven Night Shelter, The Hope Exchange and Mdzananda Animal Clinic are just some of the many who serve the vulnerable.

You can find a complete list of charities that support destitute people here and those helping animals keep warm here. 

Sources: Various (Linked Above)

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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Yes, even mountains need a little help from their friends! The 2024 Table Mountain clean-up (AKA Operation Rescue a Mountain) was both a big success and a reminder to be way more mindful:

Cape Town, South Africa (19 April 2024) — It’s easy to get lost in the beauty of Table Mountain. To gaze up at her with awe from down below, or hike along her trails feeling a surreal sense of wonder. So often, because of these incredible sensations we experience in her midst, Table Mountain can appear invincible. Undeterred. Like so many other mountains, struggles are not obvious. But, sometimes even mountains need to be rescued.

On Sunday last week, a community of volunteers took a hike. This was not your typical Sunday stroll experience, but an effort to rescue a mountain —Table Mountain!

As it is for many natural wonders, litter stands tall as public enemy number one. How strong, large and loved these natural beauties may be, cannot protect them from those who don’t respect them. And by consequence, the ecosystems that call them home, can become devastatingly impacted by the waste left in their midst.

The 2024 Table Mountain clean-up sought to rescue a mountain. As the Mountain Club of SA—Search and Rescue recalls, a whopping 46 volunteers were at the ready. The group were then divided into smaller teams based on their abilities and experience so that no one would put themselves in jeopardy, and soon the task was on.

Their mission? To collect as much litter as possible. Some took to the upper ledges of Table Mountain, while others cleaned up the lower cliffs. Even climbers soared down to get to those hard-to-reach areas, like Staircase Ledge.

It was an incredible effort of love for our environment in action. And, after all the climbing, hiking, searching and collecting, a total of 168.77 kilograms of litter was successfully removed.

“It’s not a joke; we really did help rescue a mountain. Well done to the hikers, climbers and nature lovers who participated in the 2024 Table Mountain clean-up!” Mountain Club of SA—Search And Rescue shared. 

Now, it’s up to all Table Mountain visitors to keep the energy, play their part, and make sure that litter does not rain on our special mountain parade!

Sources: Mountain Club of SA—Search and Rescue 

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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In a series of races where trailblazers took to the mountains with all kinds of achievements in mind, Friends of Table Mountain were celebrated with perhaps the biggest win of all:

Cape Town, South Africa (27 November 2023) – Last week saw runners and mountain lovers unite for the Ultra-Trail Cape Town (UTCT) stretches. All competitors (both seasoned and rookies) had their own purpose for conquering what, for some, meant almost two days’ worth of racing and hundreds of kilometres done and dusted.

But, there is one group of people who earned what is perhaps the biggest win of all, and they go by ‘Friends of Table Mountain’.

The Friends of Table Mountain earned the Service Award at the UTCT—a huge nod considering that the entire series of races would not be possible without their constant care for the trails everyone gets to enjoy before, during and beyond events like the UTCT.

A force of nature’s fiercest friends, the lobby group are the unsung eyes and ears of the mountain who dedicate themselves to making sure trails are free from alien vegetation, remain in the best possible condition and that footpaths are cleared, cared for and safe.

The NPO also work with the SANParks Honorary Rangers who provide important oversight for all those who roll up their sleeves to keep Table Mountain National Park the beacon of public joy it’s loved across the world as.

The Service Award embodies so much more than those who made the races as beautiful as they were daunting, but the spirit of a community determined to take matters into their own hands.

However, FOTM’s achievement is also a nod to what can be done with a little more help from their friends through national support. In a recent statement by Chairperson Andy Davies, concerns about financial support for Table Mountain National Park were shared.

The post Friends of Table Mountain Honoured as Nature’s Trailblazers appeared first on Good Things Guy.

A man has dedicated an epic run of 100 km, that’ll cross mountains, to a little cancer fighter’s project which makes sure cuddles, hope and strength continue uplifting children facing health battles in South Africa.

Cape Town, South Africa (09 November 2023) — After being disheartened when a marathon didn’t go as planned, the opportunity to tackle an even bigger race and give it an even greater purpose came about. 100km across mountains takes a lot, but for Fourie Rossouw, it’ll give even more to a project that helps children summit their own mountain-like challenges.

Earlier this year, Zhara’s Little Lamb Project hopped onto GTG’s radar of extra special humans. Since we learned of cancer warrior Zhara Du Toit’s ambitious project that has seen knitted and crocheted lambs fill up spaces in young hearts fighting health battles across the country, love has been tangible. Children have felt less alone. And lamb plush toys have become symbols of how much a small act of kindness can mean.

Now, someone else is lacing up to go the extra mile for the lambs to make sure that they continue snuggling up to the little fighters who need them. This after Fourie Rossouw’s initial 75km race from Franschhoek to Stellenbosch over mountain terrain didn’t go according to plan after getting sick.

“In the backseat of the Uber back to the parking lot at the jump-off, I was licking my wounds like a ‘pavement special’ street burglary,” he shared.

A friend of Zhara’s family, the mountain that she and her family have had to climb puts things into perspective for Fourie.

“While I’m sitting and licking, I’m thinking of my friends whose little girl also has a mountain to climb… Just the thought of her and her parents rips me out of my self-pity. A few times through the course of the afternoon I want to marinate myself in my disappointment, but then I think again about her (and so many others) whose life path is significantly more challenging than a DNF on a nice mountain adventure in Stellenbosch. “

So, when Zhara’s father Johan Du Toit encouraged Fourie to enter one of the last big races of the year (the RMB Ultra-trail) and run it with Zhara as inspiration, Fourie accepted the challenge.

The kilometres ahead will see him cross the tough terrain of Table Mountain as part of the away jump of the ultra trail, set for 25 November. With each kilometre he puts behind him, he edges closer to his fundraising goals for Zhara’s Little Lambs so that more love and soft sidekicks can go around.

“So now I ask you, what’s your mountain and what’s your 100?” Fourie asked others, reminding us all that while we might not be able to conquer a mountain for another, we can certainly make the journey smoother.

You can support the project here.

Sources: Zhara’s Little Lamb Project; Fourie Rossouw 

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Have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

https://youtu.be/7uvQZtAQ__k
Mountains mountains

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Table Mountain National Park Rangers got more boots on the ground recently in the most literal sense!

Cape Town, South Africa (22 August 2023) — In the life of a ranger, being kitted out with the correct clothing means a lot more than looking the part. For many rangers, like the Table Mountain National Park Rangers who walk kilometres upon kilometres during patrols, boots matter a lot. So, when 135 pairs of ranger trail boots made their way to the rangers who need them most, it was a cause worthy of celebration.

As Megan Taplin, TMNP’s Manager shared, the donation “will make a huge difference to our rangers in their daily work as they patrol up and down the mountains, through fynbos, forest and along the coasts on over 800km of trails in the park.” 

The donation was made by a longtime advocate of conservation entities, Jim Green Footwear and all the shoes (known for being ready to rumble when it comes to demanding footwork) are locally produced.

Without the rangers and their hard work (from patrols to law enforcement, biodiversity management, safety checks and conservation efforts), Table Mountain and all her trails would hardly be the oasis they are.

Meanwhile, in other conservation good news, multiple rhinos were engulfed in community support after a health scare in Limpopo sent alarm bells ringing. What could’ve been a fatal situation became a story of protection thanks to the emergency vaccine fundraising goal that wasn’t just reached, but surpassed. 

Sources: SANParks 

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google. 

Have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post More Boots on the Ground for Table Mountain National Park Rangers  appeared first on Good Things Guy.