- 1. Table Mountain is an iconic flat-topped mountain that majestically overlooks the vibrant city of Cape Town in South Africa. With its distinctive silhouette and breathtaking views, Table Mountain is part of the Table Mountain National Park and is recognized as one of the New7Wonders of Nature. Rising approximately 1,086 meters (3,563 feet) above sea level, it offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding landscapes, including the Cape Peninsula and the Atlantic Ocean. Visitors to the mountain can explore an extensive network of hiking trails that wind through its rich biodiversity, home to over 1,500 species of plants, many of which are endemic to the region. The peak can also be accessed by a modern cableway, which provides an exhilarating ride and allows easy access for those who prefer not to hike. The summit is often adorned with a blanket of clouds, affectionately known as the 'tablecloth,' which adds to its mystique and allure. Both a symbol of natural beauty and a prime tourist destination, Table Mountain holds cultural significance for the local communities, offering a serene escape into nature and a space for various recreational activities. Its stunning sunsets and unique geological formations make it a photographer's paradise, while its rich history and indigenous flora contribute to its status as a treasured heritage site.
What is the height of Table Mountain?
A) 1,200 meters
B) 900 meters
C) 1,086 meters
D) 1,000 meters
- 2. What city is Table Mountain near?
A) Johannesburg
B) Durban
C) Port Elizabeth
D) Cape Town
- 3. What type of ecosystem is primarily found on Table Mountain?
A) Savanna
B) Desert
C) Rainforest
D) Fynbos
- 4. Which cable car operates on Table Mountain?
A) Sky Cabin
B) Cable Express
C) Table Mountain Aerial Cableway
D) Mountain Lift
- 5. When was the Table Mountain National Park established?
A) 1998
B) 1990
C) 1985
D) 2000
- 6. What is the primary rock type of Table Mountain?
A) Basalt
B) Granite
C) Sandstone
D) Limestone
- 7. What is the most common form of transportation to the top of Table Mountain?
A) Bicycle
B) Train
C) Cable car
D) Bus
- 8. What is the highest point on Table Mountain?
A) Maclear's Beacon
B) Devil's Peak
C) Signal Hill
D) Lion's Head
- 9. Which cultural site is located near Table Mountain?
A) District Six Museum
B) Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden
C) Castle of Good Hope
D) Robben Island Museum
- 10. What is the name of the popular walking trail on Table Mountain?
A) Cecilia Forest
B) Skeleton Gorge
C) Platteklip Gorge
D) India Venster
- 11. What is the main threat to the ecosystem of Table Mountain?
A) Invasive species
B) Overgrazing
C) Tourism
D) Mining
- 12. Which of the following is a common animal found on Table Mountain?
A) Kangaroo
B) Dassie
C) Tiger
D) Bear
- 13. How many people can the cable car hold at a time?
A) 75
B) 40
C) 65
D) 50
- 14. What is the flat top of Table Mountain called?
A) The plateau
B) The summit
C) The peak
D) The cliff
- 15. Which activity is popular on Table Mountain?
A) Hiking
B) Skiing
C) Cycling
D) Surfing
- 16. What type of climate does Table Mountain experience?
A) Mediterranean
B) Tropical
C) Desert
D) Continental
- 17. What year did the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway first open?
A) 1929
B) 1950
C) 1945
D) 1935
- 18. During which season is Table Mountain usually the most visited?
A) Autumn
B) Winter
C) Spring
D) Summer
- 19. Which organization manages Table Mountain National Park?
A) World Wildlife Fund
B) Cape Nature
C) National Geographic Society
D) South African National Parks
- 20. What is the local Khoekhoe name for Table Mountain?
A) Tafelberg
B) Huriǂoaxa
C) Kaptein Berg
D) Suidpunt
- 21. What percentage of plant species on Table Mountain are fynbos?
A) 60%
B) Around 80%
C) 90%
D) 50%
- 22. What geological period do the rocks of Table Mountain date back to?
A) Triassic
B) Ordovician
C) Cretaceous
D) Jurassic
- 23. What natural phenomenon often covers the top of Table Mountain?
A) Rainclouds
B) Orographic clouds
C) Fog
D) Mist
- 24. In which hemisphere is the constellation Mensa visible?
A) Southern Hemisphere
B) Western Hemisphere
C) Northern Hemisphere
D) Eastern Hemisphere
- 25. What is the elevation of the Pipe Track at Oudekraal Ravine?
A) About 300 m
B) About 400 m
C) About 470 m
D) About 320 m
- 26. Who made the first recorded ascent of Table Mountain in 1503?
A) Hendrik Biesheuvel
B) Van Hunks
C) António de Saldanha
D) Sir Thomas Maclear
- 27. What weather conditions can descend without warning on Table Mountain?
A) Dense mist, cold weather, or extreme heat
B) Strong winds
C) Snow and ice
D) Heavy rain and thunderstorms
- 28. Which constellation is named after Table Mountain?
A) Orion
B) Ursa Major
C) Cassiopeia
D) Mensa
- 29. What was the outcome of the Quagga Project launched in 1987?
A) A foal considered to be quagga-like due to reduced striping was born on January 20, 2005
B) The project was abandoned after a decade
C) No significant results were achieved
D) The quagga was successfully reintroduced into the wild
- 30. What is the name of the mountain that lies to the east of Table Mountain?
A) Devil's Peak
B) Lion's Head
C) Signal Hill
D) Hout Bay
- 31. When can the constellation Mensa be seen around midnight?
A) Mid-March
B) Mid-October
C) Mid-January
D) Mid-July
- 32. What is the name of the formation that was once on top of Table Mountain but has eroded away?
A) Pakhuis Formation
B) Malmesbury shales
C) Cape Granite
D) Graafwater Formation
- 33. What does the Dutch word 'bosch' mean?
A) Tree
B) Forest
C) Mountain
D) Wood
- 34. What type of climbing is allowed on Table Mountain?
A) Sport climbing
B) Free soloing
C) Bolting
D) Traditional climbing
- 35. What is the original name given by António de Saldanha to Table Mountain?
A) Cape Giant
B) Ocean's Peak
C) Taboa do Cabo
D) Majestic Cape
- 36. When was the last lion in the area around Table Mountain shot?
A) Circa 1802
B) Around 1700
C) During World War II
D) In the 1900s
- 37. Which group of people were the dominant local inhabitants when Europeans first arrived in Table Bay?
A) !Ora nations
B) Khoe-speaking peoples
C) !Uriǁʼaekua (Goringhaiqua)
D) !Ui speakers
- 38. What was one of the reasons early European settlers felled indigenous forests on Table Mountain?
A) To create grazing land
B) To build residential areas
C) To clear land for agriculture
D) For fuel for lime kilns during construction
- 39. What is the legend associated with the 'table cloth' of cloud on Table Mountain?
A) A competition to build the highest cairn
B) A race to climb the mountain
C) A battle between two ancient tribes
D) A smoking contest between the Devil and a local pirate called Van Hunks.
- 40. Which orchid is relatively common in the perennially wet areas of Table Mountain and blooms from January to March?
A) Aulax umbellata
B) Protea grandiceps
C) Disa uniflora
D) Leucospermum vestitum
- 41. What is the name of the formation that consists of maroon-colored mudstones?
A) Peninsula Formation Sandstone
B) Graafwater Formation
C) Malmesbury shales
D) Cape Granite
- 42. What is a key factor in maintaining fynbos diversity on Table Mountain?
A) Regular fires
B) Soil composition
C) Frequent rainfall
D) High altitude
- 43. Which invasive plant is considered one of the worst invaders on Table Mountain's eastern slopes?
A) Cluster pine
B) Port Jackson
C) Black wattle
D) Rooikrans
- 44. Which side of Table Mountain does Kasteelspoort overlook?
A) Southern Suburbs side
B) City side
C) Atlantic side
D) North face
- 45. What is the starting elevation of the Contour Path at Constantia Nek?
A) 470 m
B) 320 m
C) 400 m
D) 250 m
- 46. How many blockhouses were ordered by Major-General Sir James Craig in 1796?
A) Three
B) Four
C) Two
D) Five
- 47. What is the area in square kilometers that comprises Table Mountain and the Back Table?
A) 30 km2
B) 57 km2
C) 100 km2
D) 75 km2
- 48. Who recommended that SANParks be appointed to manage the CPPNE in 1995?
A) Nelson Mandela
B) James Craig
C) Prof. Brian Huntley
D) Frank Kahn
- 49. What is the name of the mountain that forms part of Table Mountain's flanking peaks to the west?
A) Lion's Head
B) Devil's Peak
C) Hout Bay
D) Signal Hill
- 50. What is the official name for the quagga-like zebras born from the Quagga Project?
A) Rau quaggas
B) Rhodes quaggas
C) Cape quaggas
D) Zebra hybrids
- 51. Which trail can be joined from below by at least five paths from Kirstenbosch?
A) Smuts Track
B) Bridle Path
C) Contour Path
D) Pipe Track
- 52. What is a popular pastime on Table Mountain?
A) Stargazing
B) Mountain biking
C) Rock climbing
D) Caving
- 53. Where is the best place to view Disa uniflora blooms on Table Mountain?
A) Near Skeleton Gorge
B) On Devil's Peak
C) At Maclear's Beacon
D) In the 'Aqueduct' off the Smuts Track
- 54. What is the name of the trail that traverses the front of Devil's Peak and Table Mountain at 500 m?
A) Upper contour path
B) Pipe Track
C) Lower contour path
D) Apostles Path
- 55. What is the elevation of Tafelberg Road where Platteklip Gorge starts?
A) About 400 m
B) About 320 m
C) About 470 m
D) About 250 m
- 56. How often do intervals between fires promote the proliferation of larger Protea species?
A) 30–35 years
B) 20–25 years
C) 10–15 years
D) 5–7 years
- 57. In what year was Table Mountain named one of the New7Wonders of Nature?
A) 1989
B) 2006
C) 1998
D) 2011
- 58. What happened to the Verreaux's eagle nest near the cable station in 2006?
A) It was abandoned
B) It was destroyed by human activity
C) It produced a record number of chicks
D) It was relocated by conservationists
- 59. How many breeding pairs of Verreaux's eagles were reported to fledge a chick each year during the period 1950–1990?
A) One pair
B) At most two pairs
C) Five pairs
D) Three pairs
- 60. What is the length of the Cape Fold Mountain range that includes Table Mountain?
A) 70 kilometres
B) 30 kilometres
C) 90 kilometres
D) 50 kilometres
- 61. What is the width of the Cape Fold Mountain range?
A) Roughly three-to-five-kilometre-wide
B) Roughly ten-to-fifteen-kilometre-wide
C) Roughly six-to-ten-kilometre-wide
D) Roughly fifteen-to-twenty-kilometre-wide
- 62. What is the meaning of the Dutch word 'hout'?
A) Tree
B) Wood
C) Shrub
D) Forest
- 63. What type of vegetation is fynbos adapted to?
A) Flood
B) Fire
C) Drought
D) Cold
- 64. Which species was wiped out on the Peninsula by more frequent fires?
A) Aulax umbellata
B) Leucospermum vestitum
C) Protea grandiceps
D) Protea burchellii
- 65. Which family do the silky-haired pincushion and red sugarbush belong to?
A) Orchidaceae
B) Asteraceae
C) Rosaceae
D) Proteaceae
- 66. Which species' decline is believed to be linked to the dassie population crash?
A) African fish eagle
B) Peregrine falcon
C) Booted eagle
D) Verreaux's eagle
- 67. How many Verreaux's eagles were observed on the Peninsula in early 2017?
A) A single female
B) Three
C) A pair
D) None
- 68. What structure did the Portuguese navigator carve into the rock of Lion's Head?
A) A map
B) A great cross
C) A ship
D) A flag
- 69. Which blockhouse on Table Mountain is still in good condition today?
A) None of the blockhouses
B) The Prince of Wales blockhouse
C) The Duke of York blockhouse
D) The King's blockhouse
- 70. What was used to ferry materials and manpower to the top of Table Mountain during the dam construction?
A) A road
B) A tunnel
C) A cable car
D) A ropeway ascending from Camps Bay via Kasteelspoort ravine
- 71. Where is the well-preserved steam locomotive from the dam construction period housed?
A) In the Rhodes Memorial
B) In the Waterworks Museum near the Hely-Hutchinson dam
C) In the Cape Town Museum
D) In the SANParks headquarters
- 72. When did the Cape Peninsula Protected Natural Environment (CPPNE) area get established?
A) In 1935
B) In 1998
C) In 1995
D) In 1989
- 73. Who was appointed to reach consensus on a plan for rationalising management of the CPPNE after the 1991 fire?
A) Brian Huntley
B) Attorney General Frank Kahn
C) Nelson Mandela
D) António de Saldanha
- 74. Which organization was recommended to manage the CPPNE in 1995?
A) SANParks
B) The British government
C) The Khoe-speaking peoples
D) The Cape Times
- 75. Who was suspected of starting the January 2006 fire on Table Mountain?
A) An American tourist
B) A South African official
C) A local resident
D) A British man
- 76. Which company was awarded the original cableway construction?
A) Cableway Construction Ltd.
B) Doppelmayr Garaventa Group
C) Adolf Bleichert & Co. of Leipzig, Germany
D) Garaventa AG – CWA
- 77. Which company manufactured the 'Rotair' gondola introduced during the significant reconstruction?
A) Cableway Construction Ltd.
B) Garaventa AG – CWA (Doppelmayr Garaventa Group)
C) Rotair Gondola Corp.
D) Adolf Bleichert & Co.
- 78. What feature allows passengers to have a panoramic view during their journey?
A) The gondolas rotate through 360 degrees
B) The cableway has a glass floor
C) The cableway stops at scenic points
D) The cableway has large windows
- 79. What type of accommodation is available at the Smitswinkel Tented Camp?
A) Hostel dormitories
B) Self-catering with communal facilities
C) Private cabins
D) Luxury hotel rooms
- 80. Which trail on the Cape Peninsula Mountain Chain is no longer undertaken with an official SANPARKS guide?
A) Hoerikwaggo Trails
B) Kasteelspoort
C) Platteklip Gorge
D) Bridle Path
- 81. What is the starting point of the Bridle Path or Jeep Track?
A) Constantia Nek
B) Cecilia Park
C) Kirstenbosch
D) Newlands Forest
- 82. Which trail starts from Kloof Nek and runs at an elevation of about 300 m?
A) Kasteelspoort
B) Bridle Path
C) Pipe Track
D) Contour Path
- 83. What is the starting point of the Hoerikwaggo Trails?
A) Kirstenbosch
B) Constantia Nek
C) Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
D) Cape Point
- 84. Which trail is known for its ascent from the Southern Suburbs side and is named after a South African statesman?
A) Bridle Path
B) Smuts Track
C) Platteklip Gorge
D) Kasteelspoort
- 85. What is the name of a very steep jeep track on Table Mountain popular among mountain bikers?
A) Plum Pudding Hill
B) Cape Point
C) Lion's Head
D) Signal Hill
- 86. What activity is offered commercially from the upper cable station on Table Mountain?
A) Hiking
B) Mountain biking
C) Abseiling
D) Rock climbing
- 87. What type of caves are most commonly found in the world?
A) Marble caves
B) Granite caves
C) Sandstone caves
D) Limestone caves
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