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Table Mountain Cableway Wi-fi Lounge in Cape Town
Stay connected 1085m above the Atlantic Ocean at this epic new FREE wireless internet hotspot
There isn’t much one needs to say about the Mother City’s most iconic landmark. Standing 1 085m tall (at its highest point, Maclear's Beacon) and forming part of the Table Mountain National Park, the flat-topped mountain speaks for itself offering breathtaking panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, harbour and city of Cape Town and surrounds from the top of its rocky edges. Recognised as one of the oldest mountains in the world, Table Mountain offers an abundance of hiking trails (for all levels of fitness) as well as scenic trips up its side via the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (for the more leisurely folk).
And as if that wasn’t enough to attract the approximately one million visitors a year, the newest member of the New 7 Wonders of Nature has now opened a brand new Table Mountain Cableway Wi-fi Lounge situated at the Upper Cableway Station. Officially opening its doors in April 2016, the Lounge offers FREE wireless internet connection, numerous plug and USB points and seating areas as well as a small on-the-go-styled café available to all.
Located at the same space that once hosted The Summit Lounge, the Wi-fi Lounge opens its doors as the first cable car comes up – this is usually between 8am and 8:30am and closes with the last car’s departure – between 5:30pm and 9pm (depending on the time of year).
Open and spacious, the Lounge comprises beautiful natural light owing to the many windows boasting spectacular views of the city scape and ocean as well as two view decks and a balcony where visitors can sit back and enjoy the free connectivity and majestic sights. The Lounge also has a large number of seating arrangements ranging from tall cork stools at communal high counters and normal height shared tables to more private desks and chairs and even comfy sofas and benches.
With numerous plug and USB points, the connective hub provides all visitors with the opportunity to connect their devices to the FREE Wi-fi network (TABLE_MOUNTAIN) as well as to charge their cell phones, tablets and laptops while soaking in the magnificent views of the Mother City, of course.
Available to everyone – from locals and tourists to cable car riders and hikers, as mentioned the Wi-fi Lounge also houses an on-the-go-styled café complete with yummy morning and afternoon treats as well as various hot and cold beverages. Visitors can expect to find an array of breakfast options including brekkie rolls, oats and various omelette cups as well as a wide selection of various lunch options including gourmet rolls, muffins, scones and other snack items such as biltong, nuts and biscuits, to name a few.
The foodie bar also serves a selection of hot brews such as coffee, tea and hot chocolate and even has a wide range of cold refreshments on offer including wine and sparkling vino options. Not to mention, as of Tuesday, 3 May 2016 the Table Mountain Café – Table Mountain’s official restaurant offering self-service meals and snacks will only open at 11am, therefore the Wi-fi Lounge is the perfect hotspot for early morning visitors to enjoy a delicious breakfast or warm beverage while delighting in the comfy hotspot.
What’s more, forming part of the Table Mountain National Park, which is globally recognised for its biodiversity and contains truly unique fauna and flora – another major Table Mountain attraction, the Lounge follows the ethos of Table Mountain and the Cableway’s eco operations.
In doing so, the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway has appointed a full-time, in-house recycler to ensure that the maximum amount of recyclable waste is removed from the general waste system. They have too increased the number of recycling bins located at the top of the mountain as well as have installed soda fountains and beer on tap – all drinks are served in recyclable PLA cups in the Table Mountain Café resulting in a drastic reduction in the use of glass, cans and plastic bottles. As a result, over the past year the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway has reduced the amount of waste they send to landfill by 52% and has increased the amount of recycling done by more than 950%. An excellent feat keeping our beautiful attraction green and clean.
So, no matter whether you are a tourist (or local) needing a hotspot to post and share your marvellous Mother City snaps, a non-office bound freelancer looking for an inspiring office workplace for the day (all you’ve got to do is get to the top of the mountain) or a hiker in search of a little something to refuel their body before heading down – the Table Mountain Wi-fi Lounge invites all to sit down, recharge and reconnect while taking in its incredible location and glorious views.
What an outstanding addition to our already out-of-this-world landmark.
WI-FI NAME: TABLE_MOUNTAIN
NOTE: The cableway is wheelchair accessible as well as some parts on top of the mountain too (check out the Wheelchair Map on the Table Mountain website). The Wi-fi Lounge will have wheelchair access via a lift from November 2016.
Tip: Enjoy year-round access to Table Mountain and the Wi-fi Lounge (and save!) by signing up for a Cable Card. Cable Card members have FREE entrance to the cableway (valid for one year from date of purchase and limited to one return trip per a day). Members also qualify for discounts on selected items at the Shop at the Top and at the Table Mountain Café.
Opening Hours: The lounge opens as the first cable car comes up and closes with the last car’s departure.
Entrance to the Lounge: FREE
First Car Up: 8am or 8:30am
Last Car Up: Between 4:30pm and 8pm
Last Car Down: Between 5:30pm and 9pm
*The Cableway operates weather permitting and exact times depends on the period of year. For updates and more information, it is best to visit the Table Mountain website or call +27 (0) 21 424 0015.
Ticket Prices: Visitors can buy tickets online or at the Lower Cableway Ticket Office.
Adult: Return: R240 | One-way: R125
Child (four – 17 years of age): Return: R115 | One-way: R60
SA Senior Citizens (Fridays only at Ticket Office): Return: R100 | One-way: R53
Student (Fridays only at Ticket Office): Return: R130 | One-way: R70
Cable Card Tickets: Visitors can buy tickets online or at the Lower Cableway Ticket Office.
Adult: R565
Child: R300
Adult and Child Combo: R670
The Café Bill: The Cableway Wi-fi Lounge Breakfast Menu comprises a selection of brekkie rolls for R34, oats (plain) for R15, oats (flavoured) for R20, health breakfast cups for R26.50 and a selection of omelette cups for R20. The Snack Menu comprises gourmet rolls from R29.50, a selection of muffins and scones for R20, apple crumble tartlets for R22, cheese boards for R41.50 and various biscuits, biltong and nuts from R16. Hot beverages (coffee, tea and hot chocolate) will cost you from R15.50 and cold refreshments (fruit juice, water, energy drinks and sparkling grape juice) from R18. The café also serves a selection of wine and sparkling vino options ranging from R47 a glass.
Table Mountain Aerial Cableway | Upper Cable Station | +27 (0) 21 424 0015 | www.tablemountain.net
by Krysia Gaweda
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DISCOVER OTHER EXCITING NEW SPOTS IN THE CITY:
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Looking for some other FREE Wi-fi spots or some other really cool places you wouldn’t expect to find Wi-fi in the Mother City? Here are also some awesome fun facts and myths and legends about our iconic landmark Table Mountain. Enjoy!
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