By far the best way to see the sights of the city is to do it on the City Sightseeing bus. Easy! Not only do you not have to look for parking at every stop, but you don’t have the hassle of packing up the pram and putting baby in and out the car. Relief! Today we have boarded the Red City Tour bus. Baby is having her morning nap. Our host has secured her pram using special long seat belts. I use the opportunity to sit downstairs and listen to the onboard commentary. As we travel through each of the various stops, I listen to facts and folklore about the Mother City. Interesting! There are 14 languages to choose from and even an English kids channel. Kids are also given a free activity book and pencil to keep them busy. Fun! So sit back, relax and enjoy the ride – I did!

Saturday 17th October 2009. CitySightseeing Cape Town Red City Tour, Stop 13, Cape Town Aerial Cableway & Table Mountain, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa.

It’s a beautiful spring day so we decide to get off at the lower cable station to take a trip up the mountain. Excitedly we wait in line to purchase our tickets. Tickets are R160-00 return for adults. If you’re local and have a Wild Card, the ticket price is reduced to R128-00. Kids under 18 are half price and kids under 4 free. (I think this offer ends at the close of October). Fridays are special rate days for pensioners and students. The cableway runs different specials throughout the year, in the summer months tickets are half price after 6pm. Sundowners! Tickets are also available at the upper cable station for those who decide to climb up one of the paths or hiking trails. Energetic! The cashier hands me the tickets, an information pamphlet and directs me to the wheelchair/pram access point. Each car can carry up to 65 people, so there’s plenty of room for all. Up, up and away! The cable car is aerodynamically designed for the Cape winds. It also rotates giving you a 360o view as you travel up the mountain. Baby gets a birds eye view for a change! As the car approaches the upper cable station, it slows down and stops turning. We watch wide-eyed as we appear to be heading straight toward the rock-face of the mountain. Scary! The cable car eases into the station where we disembark. The weather on top of the mountain can change rapidly. Thankfully we have brought our jerseys. Extra blankets and a beanie for baby too! Baby loves the wind on her face, even though today it’s icy and quite strong. We are warned that the cable car doesn’t operate in winds stronger than 45km per hour. But, the hooter will sound if we need to return to the safety closer to sea level. For now we can enjoy the mountaintop.

Tami and Ruth-Anne stroll with the pram on the pebbled path on top of Table Mountain near the Table Mountain Café on a windy but sunny and beautiful day in the Cape. It was Ruth-Anne's 1st trip to the top of Table Mountain and she just loved the wind blowing on her face.

There are several viewing points for baby and me to see the vistas of Cape Town. These are all easily accessible using the paved pathways and boardwalks. We walk past a group of artists sitting at the Twelve Apostles Terrace. Individually they capture their own interpretation of the view, collectively sharing wine. You are allowed to take all your own food and drink up to the top and enjoy a picnic on the mountain. Or, you can dine with a difference at the Table Mountain Café. The menu always includes something traditionally South African and something Continental with a choice of salads and vegetables. Meals are charged by the plate. Pricing ranges from R28-00 for a side plate to R90-00 for a large plate. A selection of pizzas and burgers are also available and made on order. The Café has a good selection of cool drinks, ciders, beer and wine on sale to complement that lovely meal. If you’re just after a hot cuppa, the Coffee Bar has a selection of speciality teas and coffees and some truly delicious pastries to choose from. Seating is available both indoors and under the covered terrace.

Tami and Ruth-Anne pose for a photo with 'Big Boetie' Elijah-Robert as they stroll with the pram on the pebbled path on top of Table Mountain near the Table Mountain Café on a windy but sunny and beautiful day in the Cape. It was Ruth-Anne's 1st trip to the top of Table Mountain and she just loved the wind blowing on her face.

Ruth-Anne enjoys the moment.

Every aspect of the mountaintop is environmentally friendly. The plates in the Café are compostable (100% biodegradable) and quite chewy too, as Baby discovers. They are made from sugar cane pulp and are recycled to the compost heap along with any leftovers. No need for washing up, so it saves water! Bins are labelled for different waste items so they can be recycled. There’s even a can crusher. Nice! Any water used to ballast the cable car is also reused. Toilet facilities use paper and cleaning products that are bleach free. There is a baby changing facility and the attendant is very friendly, making Baby smile. A saved environment!

Tami and Ruth-Anne stroll with the pram on the pebbled path on top of Table Mountain near the Table Mountain Café on a windy but sunny and beautiful day in the Cape.

Tami and Ruth-Anne pose on top of Table Mountain near the 12 Apostles Terrace and take a look at the incredible and scenic view. The 12 Apostles stretch away in the background. It was a windy but sunny and beautiful day in the Cape. It was Ruth-Anne's 1st trip to the top of Table Mountain and she just loved the wind blowing on her face.

As much as we are enjoying our time up here, it’s starting to get too chilly for baby. We make our way back down with the cable car. Amazing weather greets us, not a breath of wind! Oh well! Before we hop on the bus, we browse the curio shops at the lower station. It’s time to get back on the bus and finish our tour around the city. The pram gets strapped in and Baby enjoys a biscuit and juice. The bus follows the road down to Camps Bay and all along the coast via Seapoint back to the V & A Waterfront. We end our journey where we began outside the Two Oceans Aquarium. Once again the friendly host assists us in getting safely off the bus.

There is a Gratuity Bowl at the exit of the bus, don’t forget to show yours!

Tami and Ruth-Anne pose on top of Table Mountain near the 12 Apostles Terrace and take a look at the incredible and scenic view. The 12 Apostles stretch away in the background. It was a windy but sunny and beautiful day in the Cape.

Baby-In-Tow is a mom who enjoys outings with her little one. We would like to let you know about the fun places we have recently visited so that you can enjoy them too. In particular, we visit places that have access for prams and cater for small children. Good service is good, but great service gets rave reviews!

Experience Cape Town and Table Mountain. City Sightseeing Cape Town’s blog tells you the stories behind the best attractions and events in Cape Town, South Africa.
Get your tickets at www.citysightseeing.co.za/cable-way