And there she is.
Table Mountain rises majestically over Table Bay, rays of sunlight bouncing off the sandstone, creating a reddish glow.
It’s a stunning introduction to Cape Town and the V&A Waterfront, where seals are basking on a pier.
The South African landmark looms large over the city and is perfectly framed by the windows of Intercontinental Table Bay Cape Town, my home for two nights.
Opened by Nelson Mandela in 1997 as The Table Bay Hotel, it underwent a multimillion-dollar transformation before reopening under its new moniker in late 2025.
The luxury hotel with Mediterranean-inspired pool is in a prime spot, connected to the massive Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre and close to all the food outlets of Time Out Market and Oranjezicht City Farm Market.
The breakfast buffet at the elegant Flint & Fennel comes with a side of water views but there’s no time for relaxing because I have a wellness date atop Table Mountain.
Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company has been providing visitors with an easy way to the top since 1929.
I’ve deliberately done no research, so I am surprised to find myself squeezed into a cable car that has a rotating bottom and a couple of open windows to give everyone a share of the view of the cliff face coming right at us. I can’t hold on to anything, except my phone, and my breath.
But that’s not even the scary part. Our enthusiastic yoga instructor Stefanie Dohrmann leads us away from the crowds to a quieter part of the mountain top. On the walk we easily spot dassies, the rat (or some might say quokka)-like creatures that are related to elephants.
Stefanie is comfortable near the edge. I most definitely am not, so need coercing to stand closer to the rest of my group.
We start our practice, and the morning sun is glorious. I’m supposed to keep my eyes closed but how can I with these beautiful views?
The tablecloth cloud effect over Table Mountain makes me feel like I am on top of the world.
Thankfully the cable car down is less scary, and I estimate it takes four minutes. On a busy day, you can wait up to three hours to catch the cable car up, about the same time it takes to hike.
We have time for a quick lunch back at the hotel’s plush Le Bistrot de Jan, a collaboration with France-based Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen, one of South Africa’s first chefs to attain a Michelin star.
It’s a chance to enjoy simple but perfectly executed fare, such as sea bass with lemon beurre blanc, fennel salad and thick cut chips.
I soon realise Table Mountain was the least of my worries. For my next challenge, we are off to “meander” in nature.
We travel in a convoy of colourful jeeps owned by Lizanne Gomes, whose Jeep Tours offers wine, dune and custom tours of Cape Town.
Throughout the drive, Lizanne shares stories about the treacherous coastline, shipwrecks and the exclusive enclave of Bantry Bay. On the slopes of the Lion’s Head, this almost wind-free neighbourhood is known for its endless summer feel and is loved by A-listers wanting to escape attention.
Our meander turns out to be climbing up an increasingly narrow trail among rocks, bushes and running water, to undertake a waterfall meditation session with clinical and eco psychologist Jeffrey Rink.
Jeffrey runs transformative retreats with the goal of utilising wilderness as a medium to integrate body, mind and soul in a therapeutic way.
Given my fear of heights, I hate this more than the cable car. But there’s no turning back.
I’m grateful to Jeep Tours drivers Marzahn Botha and Cornelius Van Der Merwe, who encourage me to keep going and stop me having a full-blown freak out.
Marzahn is a journalist, tennis coach and co-founder of Baseline Africa Tours. Cornelius is a font of information about the Western Cape’s fynbos, pointing out wild olives, lavender and asparagus.
We finally reach the waterfall and it’s time to find a comfortable spot to meditate. My mind wanders to the hike down, but it is easier, physically and mentally.
I’m not normally fond of winding roads but the drive back is nothing short of spectacular, with the wind in our hair as our Jeeps travel the scenic 9km Chapman’s Peak Drive, known for having more than 100 curves, and regular road closures due to boulder falls. It’s hard to capture in a photo; better to try for dashcam or action cam video.
There’s a final photo stop to capture our group in front of the Sleeping Rhino mountain formation near Hout Bay.
I came for wellness and discovered Cape Town is a photographer’s dream.
+ Sue Yeap was a guest of South African Tourism. They have not influenced this story, or read it before publication.
fact file
Table Mountain Cableway shuts for annual maintenance from July 27 to August 9.
sanparks.org/parks/table-mountain
facebook.com/stefaniedohrmann.inmotion
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