Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC) is celebrating its 96th birthday this October, marking the company’s unofficial start to the end-of-year festive season in Cape Town. Since its inauguration on 4 October 1929, the Cableway has provided more than 32 million visitors with safe, accessible, and unforgettable journeys to the summit of one of the New7Wonders of Nature.
As the team prepares for the peak summer months that are just around the corner, they are inviting locals to celebrate their milestone birthday before the December and January influx of visitors. Final checks and preparations are underway to ensure everything is in top shape to welcome the tens of thousands of excited local and international tourists expected in the Mother City for the holidays, and this includes the anticipation that the 33 millionth visitor will soon also be welcomed to the mountain.
Cape Town’s tourism sector is anticipating another record-breaking festive season, a trend highlighted by strong growth earlier in the year. Data from Cape Town International Airport has previously shown significant year-on-year growth in passenger arrivals, and the momentum is expected to continue.
- In 2024, Cape Town welcomed over 2.4 million overnight visitors, contributing an estimated R24.5 billion to the local economy.
- More recent trends show the city recording a 6% year-on-year growth in international arrivals and a 5% rise in bed nights sold, signalling strong demand.
- The overall outlook for South Africa’s tourism for the year suggests the industry could well surpass pre-pandemic 2019 visitor numbers.
TMACC looks forward to playing its part in this thriving sector, welcoming visitors to the world-renowned summit.
To thank the local community for their enduring support and to encourage South Africans to explore their own backyard, TMACC is rolling out the Local is Lekker special.
Running for the entire month of October 2025, South African citizens can enjoy significantly discounted return tickets to the summit:
- R250 for adults
- R100 for children (ages 4–17)
“This 96-year milestone isn’t just about reflecting on our history; it’s about sharing the mountain with the people who call this country home,” says Wahida Parker, managing director of TMACC. “The Local is Lekker special is our way of sharing the iconic New 7 Wonder of Nature with all South Africans and encouraging locals to be tourists in their own city before the summer rush begins.
“It has been our privilege and honour to transport millions of visitors to the top of our beloved Table Mountain, and we could not have done it without the incredible support of countless partners, suppliers, industry colleagues, and of course our teams of volunteers and staff members. Thank you Cape Town for 96 great years, and we look forward to an even better future,” she says.
