Many of us will be spending our holiday outdoors this festive season, and Table Mountain National Park offers some epic views on a silver platter for those seeking a scenic adventure. With the increase in recreational visitors to all sites, SANParks encourages visitors to take note of the following information before visiting the Park:
Gate opening times are as follows:
Cape Point:
Open daily: 6am – 5pm
Visitors are encouraged to follow the directional signage that will be in place over this time frame indicating parking availability and waiting times at Cape Point.
Visitors are encouraged to visit the park early in the day to avoid midday congestion at Cape Point and the picnic sites. The beaches at Cape Point do not have lifeguards and swimming in the tidal pool or ocean will be done at your own risk.
Do not feed the baboons that are present in the park, and make sure that all food is packed away if they approach. For more information, please contact 021 780 9100.
Boulders:
Open daily: 8am – 5pm
Penguins are best viewed from the three boardwalks starting at The Boulders Visitor Centre.
Visitors should pay careful attention to tides as this limits the available space on the beach. When the beach has reached capacity the gates are closed.
The high and low tides are advertised at the entrance points daily although SANParks encourages visitors to consider this in advance when planning to visit Boulders to avoid disappointment. SANParks does not have lifeguards on duty at Boulders Beach and swimming will be done at your own risk.
No gazebos or tents are allowed on the beach, only standard umbrellas. No alcohol or smoking is permitted in the park. Selfie sticks are banned and SANParks asks that the public respect the penguins’ space.
Parking is limited at Boulders and the parking areas become quickly congested. For more information, please contact 021 786 2329.
Silvermine:
Gate 1: Open daily, 7a – 6pm
Gate 2: Open daily, 8am – 6pm
No braaing is allowed in the summer months in Silvermine at the sites around the reservoir, but picnicking is allowed all year round. The picnic sites around the reservoir operate on a first come first serve basis and cannot be reserved.
Cycling is only allowed during gate operating hours, and not at night. Day permits for cycling are available at the Gate 1 access point, and visitors wishing to use the day permits as an access option may enter at Gate 1 only.
Swimming is allowed in the reservoir but is at your own risk as SANParks does not have lifeguards on duty.
Baboons do move through Silvermine, but avoid feeding them and make sure that all food is packed away if baboons are present.
No entry is permitted after 6pm and no pass-outs are allowed.
Make sure to bring your Wildcard confirmation letter when visiting the Park. You can request Sales Office to email it to you by contacting 021 712 7471.
Tokai:
Open daily 7am – 6pm
No alcohol, music or gazebos are allowed in the picnic site. No entry is permitted after 4pm and no pass-outs are allowed. No gazebos or tents are allowed, only standard umbrellas. Make sure to bring your own grid.
Baboons do enter the picnic site on occasion. Please do not feed the baboons and make sure that all food is packed away if they are present. Fires to be made in demarcated braaing sites/areas only.
Entry at own risk and subject to the conditions of the Protected Areas Act. For more information, please contact the Tokai Picnic Kiosk on 021 715 5849.
Oudekraal:
Open daily: 8am – 4pm
No alcohol or music is allowed in the picnic site. No gazebos or tents are allowed, only standard umbrellas. Make sure to bring your own grid. No free standing braais permitted. This includes Webers (or similar), and no gas cookers are permitted.
SANParks does not have a lifeguard on duty at Oudekraal and swimming in the ocean will be done at your own risk. For more information, please contact 021 422 1601.
Newlands Picnic Site
Open daily 8am – 4pm
Freestanding braais are not permitted at the picnic sites and SANParks encourages guests to make use of the existing braai facilities.
No alcohol and no Gazebos are permitted on sites. For more information: 021 422 1601
Sales Office:
Please ensure that if you are carrying out your activity in the park such as cycling, dog walking and horse riding, that you have the requisite permit to do so. The Office in Tokai is open Monday to Friday 8am to 12:30pm and 1pm to 3:45pm for your queries (021 712 7471). For last-minute accommodation queries please book online or call central reservations on 012 428 9111.
Wild Cards and Green Cards:
Wild card and My Green card holders are reminded they need to produce proof of identification upon entering at park gates. Every adult entering with a My Green cardholder also has to produce a valid form of SA ID.
To facilitate entry at TMNP gates with your wild card, make sure to have your confirmation letter available on request. A copy of the confirmation letter can be emailed to you if you call 0861 46 9453 or 021 712 7471.
A Wild Card and a My Green Card cannot be used to enter to go fishing, cycling or to walk your dog for example. More information and sales locations are available on the website. For more information, please contact 021 712 7471.
Film and Events:
SANParks does not issue any film and event permits between December 17 and January 15. For more information, please call 021 712 7471 or visit the website.
Visitor Safety:
The Park recommends that you never carry out your activity alone and strongly recommends that you always do it in groups. Please load the emergency number into your phone before setting off 0861 106 417 or 107 or 021 480 7700 and let someone know which route you will follow and when to expect you to return home.
Make sure to prepare for all-weather temperatures, pack a hat, a weatherproof jacket and lots of water, and ensure you have a map with you. Entry to the park remains at all times at your own risk.
Fire:
- The Park recommends that you never carry out your activity alone and strongly recommends that you always do it in groups when out hiking, trail running, cycling or horse riding etc.
- Electronic proof of SA ID on the phone and certified copies of SA ID or driver’s license will be accepted.
- To carry out certain activities in the Park, you need to have either a day or an annual activity permit.
- Recreational drones in the Park are not allowed.
- Ensure you park in designated bays and that you enter and exit the Park at designated times.
- Trails are shared, so make sure to carry out each activity with extra care due to increased visitor numbers.
- Visitors are requested to pick up their litter and discard it in the surrounding bins or at home. For the love of nature: Take only photos and leave only footprints.
- We are in fire season and ask that you be vigilant at all times. Should you notice a fire anywhere on the mountain please call the TMNP emergency number at 086 110 6417 or 107 from a landline and 021 480 7700 from a mobile phone. Do not attempt to fight the fire on your own.
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Picture: Supplied