Clouds bring the best views and most dramatic settings on Table Mountain always involve a bit of cloud cover.
Hiking in the clouds
A mountain without cloud lack an essential and intrinsic ingredient to what defines mountains. It adds a sense of grandeur, mystery, solitude and eeriness. The views are dynamic rather than static; the cloud and light are in a constant state of change. The surroundings also acquire a different mood: brooding, forbidding, surreal, mystical, august. Hiking Table Mountain in these conditions showcases the terrain in all its grandeur. Clouds animate the surroundings and charges the atmosphere with energy.
The South Easter
Several climatic conditions brings cloud to Table Mountain, the main ones being the Southeaster wind, frontal systems from the northwest and fog banks from the southwest. Many Table Mountain hikes leads through areas of sculpted rock, and it’s in the areas that the presence of mist enhances the landscape, making it look more dramatic than in clear conditions.
Hiking Table Mountain delights you in so many ways
People ascend the mountain for reasons as varied as the routes. Some hike for exercise, others crave the sense of achievement gained from tackling the mountain by foot. There are those who seek communion with nature; others set out with a desire to explore and to experience the mountain on a deeper level. Among these are the adventurers and thrill-seekers, who answer the call of the heights through ascending challenging scrambling routes.
Whatever your reason, this is one mountain you want to climb. If you enjoy nature and the great outdoors, or if you have a sense of adventure and an inquisitive mind, hiking Table Mountain is a no-brainer. Conquering the mountain on foot is an exciting and rewarding experience that provides you with a true appreciation of the mountain’s size, height, grandeur and wildness. It makes for a more authentic experience of South Africa’s most famous landmark. Topping this are the intangibles: the exhilaration of discovery and adventure, the sense of accomplishment and the invigoration of immersing yourself in nature.