We went up to the top of Table Mountain yesterday, 1085 metres high. Ascent was by cable car which only took a few minutes and was quite an experience. The whole cable car event reminded me of Florida's Disneyland only for real, but it was very well organised, but needed to be as each car contained 64 passengers and I estimated at 4 an hour. It cost more than £12 each for the "up and back down" trip. So around 250 people an hour, thats £3000.  So imagine, if its running full for 8 hours each day, that's getting on for £672000 each month….I hope they are spending it wisely! Once there, the Disney feel continued but after walking away from the throngs it was a pleasant experience and remarkably full of wildlife. The views were just amazing and on a short walk along specially marked out paths……Disney again…..we started to get away from, at least some of the crowds.  The German accents mingled with the Geordie and the French with  Southern USA drawl….. funny that they always seem to be loudest!

The first animal seen was a rare lizard, rare because the only place it can be found is here in the Cape, a Black Girdled Lizard, black to help it absorb heat on a chilly day at 3000 feet when the mountain is covered in cloud.

There were a few birds and I sat  and waiting for sunbirds to show, I could hear them and occasionally one would fly by quickly, only to disappear again in to the low scrub, but back at the cliff face, by the cable car, gift shop and restaurant,  I paused to try to photograph the myriads of swifts, thick in the air. I struggled to name the species, there were several different ones, as well as photograph them but one species that I am confident in naming was White Rumped Swift. Not a good enough photo for here but I will try again another day.  You have got to admire people that get any good photo of the aptly named swift. Suddenly I spotted the highlight of the trip for me, a male Cape Rock Thrush posing beautifully just beneath. This is a an endemic species and a lifer for me….. my £12 was well spent!!!!!

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Before our descent to ground level I photographed White necked Raven, there was a small pack. This bird had an almost bird of prey like profile and I thought thats what it was. Its a big bird with a massive beak and a bold white patch very visible. I didn't do well photographically with this species either but I have some record shots….. I apologise for the quality.

 

Oh…. did I mention the Rock Hyrax, "dassie" to the locals.  This  guinea pig like animal is a strange little beast.  They were quite numerous around the cable car station but not in other areas?  I will let the photos do the talking but just a few facts.  Scientists take great delight in telling you that they are related to elephants…..oh really?   They are very interesting though, they even have odd incisors that are reminiscent of tusks.  Cape Town's Table Mountain is one of the best places in the world to see this unusual mammal.

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