Where is this camera looking from?

From a rooftop in the Cape Town CBD, looking south towards the front face of Table Mountain above the City Bowl.

Can you see the cableway on this camera?

On clear days you can make out the upper cable station on the summit and, with a good view, the cars moving up and down the line.

What is the cloud that covers the mountain?

Locals call it the “tablecloth”. It forms when the south-easterly wind pushes moist air up the mountain, and it spills over the flat top before evaporating on the way down.

City Bowl & Mountain, Cape Town

City Bowl – Table Mountain from the CBD

Table Mountain from a rooftop in the middle of the city.

Watch this view live

Cape Town’s central business district sits in the City Bowl, the natural amphitheatre formed by Table Mountain, Devil’s Peak, Signal Hill and Lion’s Head. From street level the mountain is a constant presence at the end of almost every road. This camera is mounted on a rooftop in the CBD and looks straight at it.

What you’ll see on the camera

A close, front-on view of Table Mountain rising directly behind the city, near enough to pick out the cable station, the buttresses of the front face and the ravines cutting up towards the summit. City rooftops fill the lower frame, so you get the working city and the mountain in the same shot.

Best time to watch

Morning light hits the mountain face from the east and shows the rock detail at its best. Late afternoon flattens the face but warms the whole bowl. On south-easterly days, watch the “tablecloth” form along the top edge and pour down the front. After dark the city lights come up beneath a dark mountain outline.

Things to do nearby

Ride the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway to the summit
Walk up Platteklip Gorge, the most direct route to the top
Explore the Company’s Garden and the museums around it
Browse the Bo-Kaap’s colourful streets on the slopes of Signal Hill

Frequently asked questions

Where is this camera looking from?: From a rooftop in the Cape Town CBD, looking south towards the front face of Table Mountain above the City Bowl.
Can you see the cableway on this camera?: On clear days you can make out the upper cable station on the summit and, with a good view, the cars moving up and down the line.
What is the cloud that covers the mountain?: Locals call it the “tablecloth”. It forms when the south-easterly wind pushes moist air up the mountain, and it spills over the flat top before evaporating on the way down.