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From its breath-taking vistas to its extraordinary array of wildlife, Table Mountain holds a special place in the hearts of South Africans. It’s up to all of us to take care of it.
Nestled in the heart of Cape Town, Table Mountain stands tall as a natural wonder, home to a rich diversity of flora and fauna.
Mandated co-custodians of this iconic wonderland for almost a century, the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC), along with its industry partners, is tasked with the mission to ensure its preservation for generations to come.
With a delicate ecosystem, home to over 9 000 plant species, most of which are endemic to the region, Table Mountain is a critical piece of South Africa’s biodiversity puzzle.
The Table Mountain National Park alone houses far more plant species than the entire UK[i]. The mountain also hosts a rich diversity of wildlife, including Cape Mountain zebras, porcupines, dassies, several magnificent snake species, and over 200 different species of birds. Assiduous environmental custodianship is therefore paramount.
TMACC’s lofty goal is to balance the imperatives of environmental custodianship with their vision to see every single South African visit the mountain at least once in their lives. The company’s progressive environmental strategy and carbon-neutral initiatives, including innovative water-saving and recycling measures, have positioned them at the forefront of the global conservation-tourism sector.
“But we cannot achieve this alone. The public’s participation in promoting environmental custodianship is crucial,” says TMACC’s Managing Director Wahida Parker.
The company has issued a call to the public to join them in ongoing environmental stewardship and responsible tourism endeavours. “TMACC invites you to join us in becoming stewards of the Mountain, and to help us safeguard its rich variety of wildlife, flora, and fauna, for generations to come,” Parker says.
“As Table Mountain’s environmental co-custodians, we ask you to treat the mountain with respect. Make sure you don’t leave any litter behind when hiking. Pack a plastic bag for rubbish and dispose of it when you’re back in town. You can also help us tremendously by removing any garbage, single-use plastic, or other discarded debris you may come across en route,” Parker adds.
“In 2022 we recycled 58.5 tons waste while sending only 5tons to landfill – meaning we recycled 92% of all the waste created at the cableway. Of the 58.5 tons, 7.4 tons was organic waste that was sent for composting,” she said.
“Appreciate the transient living beauty of the mountainside’s abundant flora, including the legendary King Protea, but never pick, disturb, or remove any plants or flowers. Please also stick to the footpaths to avoid treading on our fynbos friends,” she implores.
Parker also urges South African citizens to stand together and support custodianship efforts by volunteering for any of the litter clean-ups or hiking trail maintenance efforts organised across the city.
“TMACC is leading the charge in promoting sustainable tourism and environmental custodianship, however, the company cannot do it alone. Let’s unite to ensure that we protect and preserve Table Mountain so that we can enjoy its splendour with our children and grandchildren, and for many years to come,” Parker concludes.