South Africa recorded 991,696 international tourist arrivals in July 2026, representing a 12.5% increase compared to July 2025, according to Statistics South Africa. Total international arrivals for the first seven months of 2026 reached 6,576,169, up 12.4% year on year. African markets grew 14.3%, while overseas arrivals increased 5.7% during this period.
TMACC Introduces New Visitor Access and Ticketing Options
The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC) has expanded visitor access by improving ticketing options, real-time visitor information, and overall accessibility. TMACC recently launched WhatsApp ticket sales through Webtickets, enabling visitors to purchase standard return and one-way tickets valid for seven days. Unused WhatsApp tickets can be refunded
within this period. Concession and special-offer fares remain available through other channels, not WhatsApp.
TMACC’s website and mobile app supply live updates on operating status, weather conditions including temperature, visibility, wind, cable car departure times, and estimated waiting times at both Lower and Upper Stations. This information aims to help visitors plan around weather-related operational stops caused by Table Mountain’s rapidly changing conditions.
Accessibility Improvements Including Universal Access Walkway
TMACC opened the Universal Access Walkway in April 2026 in cooperation with SanParks. The walkway provides wheelchair, pram, and mobility aid users with a dedicated route to the edge of the summit plateau, extending accessible areas. The
company has also introduced disabled parking bays at the Lower Station, priority ticket office access, wheelchairs available on request, and mobility scooters at the Upper Station, subject to safety assessment.
Summit facilities include ramps at TEN67 Eatery and a lift serving the VIEWS by De Grendel wine bar and restaurant. TMACC provides a summit route map indicating accessibility for wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Managing director Wahida Parker emphasized the physical limitations inherent to a natural environment but stressed transparency and ongoing accessibility improvements.
Ticket Concessions and Special Offers for Diverse Visitor Groups
Child tickets for ages 4-17 cost R230 for online return and R270 at the Ticket Office from
July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. Children under four travel free. South African senior citizens aged 60 and above pay R130 for return tickets any day with valid ID. Students, local and international aged 18+, are charged R320 for return or R200 for one-way tickets, available at the Lower Station Ticket Office.
South African residents can claim a free return ticket during their birthday month at the Ticket Office or Visitor Information Centre with valid ID. The Local is Lekker special runs until October 31, 2026, offering return tickets at R265 for adults and R135 for children with South
African ID. Regular visitors may use the Virtual Cable Card available for adults, children, and South African pensioners aged 60+.
Educational Program and Visitor Convenience Measures
TMACC’s environmental education initiative, Class in the Clouds, serves over 15,000 Grade 1 to 12 learners annually, with more than 367,000 participants since its inception in 2001. The program runs weekdays until October 30, 2026, excluding school and public holidays. It offers learners the opportunity to explore Table Mountain’s ecology, history, and geography firsthand.
A free Park & Ride shuttle operates from the Lower Tafelberg Road parking area to the Lower Station. The Table Mountain Cableway schedule runs from 8:30
a.m. for the first car up, with last cars ascending at 6:00 p.m. and descending at 7:00 p.m., providing flexible access throughout the day and aiming to minimize visitor wait times.
TMACC Official Comments on Access and Tourism Growth
Wahida Parker, TMACC managing director, stated, “Table Mountain serves two audiences at once. It is often the first experience an international visitor has of Cape Town, and it is a mountain that Capetonians treat as their own.” She added, “For us, access means looking at the whole visitor journey. It is about making it easier to plan a visit, access tickets, understand operating conditions, reach more of the summit
and, where possible, make the experience affordable and available to different groups.”
Parker acknowledged the mountain’s weather volatility, saying, “Mountain weather can change quickly, and operating responsibly means that sometimes the Cableway has to stop. Providing people with accurate information in real time means they can plan around that rather than arriving without knowing what to expect.” She further noted the physical challenges of accessibility in a natural environment, underscoring TMACC’s commitment to transparency and ongoing improvements.
Regarding tourism growth, Parker commented, “Tourism growth brings opportunity, but it also raises the standard we need to meet. That applies as much
to the Capetonian coming up for a sunset as to the visitor who has planned this trip for a year. Both should be able to check conditions before they leave, choose the ticket option that works for them and know what the mountain can and cannot offer them on the day.”
