Table Mountain National Park is vast and while most visitors think it consists primarily of the iconic flat-topped peak hovering above the Cape Town City Bowl, the park actually spreads all the way south from there to Cape Point. In the 221 square kilometres (around 85.3 square miles) of unspoiled, protected land that is also a natural heritage site, these are some of the very few places to spend a night that’s officially within the borders of TMNP.
Smitswinkel Tented Camp is situated just across the road from the entrance to the Cape Point region of Table Mountain National Park. This beautiful site is equipped with comfortable fixed tents set beneath a Flowering Gum Plantation. There are several notable attractions nearby including Boulders Beach, Cape Point, and Smitswinkel’s Bay dramatic views.
Smitswinkel Tented Camp, Cape Point, Cape Town, South Africa, +27 21 789 0093
Slangkop Tented Camp is located metres from the turbulent waters of the Atlantic Ocean on the outskirts of the sleepy seaside town of Kommetjie. Fixed tents are located among beautiful Milkwood trees, and the iconic Slangkoppunt Lighthouse is a short scenic walk away. The campsite’s location outside Kommetjie makes it easy to pick up supplies and catch a quick surf but still feel far away from civilisation.
Slangkop Tented Camp, 46 Lighthouse Rd, Cape Peninsula, Cape Town, South Africa, +27 21 712 7471
Slangkop Tented Camp | Courtesy of South African National Parks
The Orange Kloof Tented Camp is located in an ancient and protected forest close to the suburb of Hout Bay. The Afromontane Forest, where the camp is located, is a highly sensitive eco-zone within the greater Table Mountain National Park region. SANParks limits the daily visitor numbers in order to maintain the integrity of this region, meaning that an overnight stay here is a true privilege. Hikes in the area are spectacular, but they require the company of one of the Park’s accredited guides.
Orange Kloof Tented Camp, Table Mountain (Nature Reserve), Cape Town, South Africa
Orange Kloof Tented Camp | Courtesy of South African National Parks
This remarkable guest house is located deep in the Cape of Good Hope section of TMNP. Total seclusion and easy access via a boardwalk to a stunning, isolated beach mean that overnight locations don’t get much better than this. The cottage sleeps up to six people in two sections, and there is a large patio and braai (barbecue) area for guests to use. It’s the perfect destination from which to explore this remote region of the park.
Olifantsbos Cottage, Cape Peninsula, Cape Town, South Africa, +27 21 701 8692
Eland Family Cottage, in the Cape of Good Hope Section, has earned a name as an ideal overnight-accommodation option for families. It offers a fully-equipped kitchen and sleeps up to six people. The open-plan kitchen and lounge area along with a large patio and built-in fireplace makes this an ideal overnight spot for large groups in both summer and winter.
Buffelsfontein Visitors Centre, Cape Peninsula, Cape Town, South Africa, +27 21 780 9204
The Duiker Family Cottage is the last of the accommodation options within the Cape Hope section of Table Mountain National Park. It’s a fully-equipped cottage that sleeps up to six people. It has all the facilities to make for a comfortable overnight self-catering stay. There is also a dedicated entertainment and braai area.
Buffelsfontein Visitors Centre, Cape Peninsula, Cape Town, South Africa, +27 21 780 9204
Spend the night literally on the top of Table Mountain in the aptly named Overseers Cottage. The cottage is located on the back-table section of the park, and thus visitors must hike up and down in order to reach it. There is a porterage service available for heavy items. The location on top of the mountain is one of the most isolated and pristine places in which to overnight on the mountain. There is only solar electricity and cellular reception is poor, making it the ideal place to get away from it all high above the bustling city below.
View from the DeVilliers Dam Wall, near the Overseers Cottage | © Andrew Thompson
This accommodation is located in beautifully-restored washhouses on Table Mountain’s slopes just metres from the Cape Town City Bowl. It sleeps up to 24 people in separate four-bed units, some of which have televisions. They offer all the facilities guests might require, including a fully-equipped self-catering kitchen and communal braai area. This is easily the most accessible of the accommodation options located within the confines of Table Mountain National Park, and yet it still has a quaint charm that makes it a remarkable place to stay.
Platteklip Wash House, 25 Bridle Rd, Oranjezicht, Cape Town, South Africa, +27 21 712 7471
Platteklip Washhouses | Courtesy of South African National Parks
The Mountain Club of South Africa has rights to a spectacular-overnight Cape Province Mountain Club hut located on top of Table Mountain. The hut is just a short walk away from the popular Kasteelspoort and near the Woodhead Reservoir and De Villiers Dam. The hut is rustic, simple, and sleeps 16 people in two rooms. With an emphasis on the location rather than the actual facilities, this is one of the best places to overnight on the mountain. Reservations are only open to members of the MCSA, and interested people can sign up on the MCSA website.
Cape Province Mountain Club, Table Mountain (Nature Reserve), Cape Town, South Africa, +27 83 995 2041
Mountain Club of South Africa Hut | © Andrew Thompson
