It’s official
and as a Capetonian I couldn’t be more excited – my favourite mountain is now one
of the Seven New Wonders of the World, chosen from a list of over 400 entries.
As I gaze out of my window at the famous Table, it’s easy to see why – the
majestic mountain rises up in the middle of the city and for many residents,
including myself, it’s synonymous with home. Gorgeous fynbos adorns the rocky
cliffs and in the distance I can see the cable cars moving up and down the
steep slopes.
My mountain
goes through many mood swings, sometimes it’s surrounded by clear, blue skies
and sunshine, but at other times a thick mist rolls over its imposing incline,
covering it in a dense, cloudy tablecloth. Occasionally the thunder crackles
and dazzling streaks of lightning flash like fireworks, illuminating the craggy
hills. I remember a good few years back, when the entire mountain face was
covered in uncontrollable, raging flames, like a million glowing candles
leaping against the starry night’s sky.
The top of
the Table is one of those sights you just have to add to your bucket list. The
ride up in the cable car is wonderful – you go at a gentle, steady pace and can
gaze out through the 360 degree glass window, watching as the city below you
gets smaller and smaller.
At the top, enjoy striking vistas of one of the
world’s most attractive cities, while immersing yourself in the spectacular
indigenous floral kingdom surrounding you. There are numerous walkways and
trails to discover and the tranquil serenity and pristine natural beauty of the
mountain is good for the soul.
The movement was established by the
Swiss-based New7Wonders Foundation and involved an intensive, three year,
global elective campaign run via social networking sites, with millions of
people voting from over 220 countries. In November 2011, international voting
closed and Table Mountain’s provisional status was changed to official and the
whole of South Africa celebrated.
The New7 Wonders winners are:
- · Table Mountain, South Africa
- · Puerto Princesa Underground River, Philippines
- · Komodo Island, Indonesia
- · Jeju Island, off the southern coast of Korea
- · Iguaza Falls in Brazil/ Argentina
- · Halong Bay, Vietnam
- · Amazon Rainforest
Cape Town’s Mayor, Patricia de
Lille, had this to say about the auspicious new title: “a great accolade
for a unique wonder of nature that belongs to all the people of Cape Town, South
Africa, Africa and the world.”
Many people are visiting the vibrant city to catch a glimpse of the
amazing landmark; luckily there are many wonderful accommodation options to
choose from, including stylish Cape Town holiday rentals and self-catering apartments.
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