UpToWhereWhat can you see from Table Mountain?
Africa's oldest landmark at 240 million years, a flat-topped giant dominating Cape Town's skyline.
From Table Mountain, the terrain-limited line of sight reaches up to 201 km. The single farthest piece of visible terrain lies 201 km to the north-northeast (bearing 18°), at 1,712 m elevation. These results account for Earth's curvature and standard atmospheric refraction, computed from 30-meter resolution Copernicus GLO-30 elevation data across 2,076,807 terrain samples.
Open the interactive visibility map →Visibility by direction
The horizon is most open toward the north-northeast, where sightlines run 158 km on average; terrain closes the view down fastest to the east-southeast, at 52.4 km.
| N | 107 km | |
| NNE | 158 km | |
| NE | 111 km | |
| ENE | 83.4 km | |
| E | 62.8 km | |
| ESE | 52.4 km | |
| SE | 87.0 km | |
| SSE | 126 km | |
| S | 122 km | |
| SSW | 121 km | |
| SW | 126 km | |
| WSW | 126 km | |
| W | 126 km | |
| WNW | 126 km | |
| NW | 126 km | |
| NNW | 120 km |
Farthest named landmarks in view
159 named peaks, hills and headlands stand inside this viewshed. These are the farthest ones you could pick out on a clear day:
| Landmark | Visible distance | Direction | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shadow Peak | 188 km | NNE · 22° | 1,876 m |
| Langberg | 188 km | NNE · 22° | 1,825 m |
| Middelbergreeks | 183 km | NNE · 20° | 1,300 m |
| Sneeuberg | 175 km | NNE · 23° | 1,966 m |
| Duiwelskop | 171 km | NNE · 21° | 1,463 m |
| Soldaatkop | 163 km | NNE · 18° | 978 m |
About Table Mountain
Table Mountain stands 1,085 metres above sea level and dominates the northern end of Cape Peninsula overlooking Cape Town and Table Bay. The main feature is its level plateau roughly three kilometres across, flanked by Devil's Peak to the east and Lion's Head to the west. At 240 million years old, it ranks among the world's oldest mountains. The plateau hosts 2,285 plant species, roughly 80% fynbos, making it exceptionally biodiverse. Visitors reach the summit by cable car or hiking; it attracts 4.2 million visitors annually to Table Mountain National Park.
Did you know?
- The cable car, opened in 1929, added rotating cabin floors in 1997 so riders get a full 360-degree view during the five-minute ascent.
- Locals call the cloud that spills over the plateau's edge the 'Tablecloth' — legend blames it on a smoking contest between a Dutch pirate and the Devil.
- The mountain's most common resident, the dassie or rock hyrax, looks like an oversized guinea pig but is, remarkably, the elephant's closest living relative.
- Cecil Rhodes bequeathed land on the mountain's slopes that became Kirstenbosch, one of the world's great botanical gardens, founded in 1913.
- The plateau's fynbos vegetation depends on periodic wildfire to regenerate, with many of its plant species only germinating after a burn.
Frequently asked questions
How far can you see from Table Mountain?
On a clear day the terrain allows a line of sight of up to 201 km from Table Mountain. The average visible distance across all 360 directions is 111 km. Atmospheric conditions (haze, humidity) usually reduce practical visibility below the terrain-limited maximum.
What is the farthest point visible from Table Mountain?
The farthest terrain visible from Table Mountain lies 201 km to the north-northeast, at an elevation of 1,712 m. Earth's curvature and atmospheric refraction are accounted for in this calculation.
How high is Table Mountain?
The observation point at Table Mountain sits at 1,085 m above sea level (Copernicus GLO-30 elevation model).
How is this visibility map calculated?
UpToWhere traces lines of sight in 360 directions from the observer using 30 m-resolution Copernicus terrain data, correcting for Earth curvature and standard atmospheric refraction. You can run the same analysis for any point on Earth with the free calculator.
Run your own analysis
Want to know what you can see from your house, a summit you're planning to climb, or a plot of land? UpToWhere computes the same 360° viewshed for any point on Earth in seconds — free.
Try the viewshed calculator
