Exploring Table Mountain Cape Town+ Kalky’s & Twelve Apostles

here’s how we explored Cape Town with our baby on our world travel journey. From lunch at Kalky’s to sunset views.

Main Journey
Events
Tips for Traveling with a Baby
Local Travel Tips
Travel Reflections

Main Journey

Our 77th day of world travel with Sweetie took us from a famous fish & chips spot to one of the most iconic landscapes in South Africa — Table Mountain. We had a full plate today: local eats, dramatic coastal drives, and an unforgettable view from the top of the world.

Lunch at Kalky’s Fish & Chips

Before leaving Cape Town, we wanted one last taste of proper South African fish & chips. That’s how we found Kalky’s, a well-known local joint tucked beside the harbor in Kalk Bay.

The second we turned into the harbor, we saw the traffic jam — a sign that the hype might be real. The parking lot? Packed. The line? Out the door. But we squeezed in.

Inside, it was pure chaos: locals everywhere, no empty tables, long lines at the counter. But hey — that’s how you know the food’s good.

We ordered:

Hake & Chips
Grilled Calamari with Chips
Pickled Octopus

The fish and calamari were solid — nothing mind-blowing, but tasty and satisfying. That octopus though… whew. Very exotic. Safe to say we couldn’t finish it.

Sweetie, of course, loved it. She’s a fan of all things crispy and chewy — fries, fish, squid — so she happily munched away while the rest of us navigated the crowd.

Drive to Table Mountain… With a Detour

After lunch, we set our sights on Table Mountain, but wanted to take the scenic route: Chapman’s Peak Drive, known for being one of the most beautiful coastal roads in the world.

Except… it was closed.
A flashing “CLOSED” sign warned us, but we hoped it was wrong. It wasn’t. Fallen rocks had shut the road down for the day.

It was disappointing, for sure — especially after missing out on Tsitsikamma too — but it just gave us another reason to come back to South Africa one day.

So, we rerouted and continued toward Table Mountain the long way around.

Reaching Table Mountain

From a distance, Table Mountain already looks impressive — a flat-topped giant watching over Cape Town. But the closer we got, the more we realized how massive it truly is. It took a while to even reach the base.

Driving through Cape Town, we noticed tons of cars with a giant “L” sticker on the back — turns out it stands for “Learner Driver”. Makes sense now!

Cable Car to the Top

We finally reached the Table Mountain ticket office — and it was packed. The parking lot was full, so we left our car on the side of the road (with fingers crossed it would still be there later).

Tickets for the cable car?
510 rand per adult. Not cheap, but worth it.

The cable car rotates as it climbs, giving everyone a full panoramic view of Cape Town and the cliffs. As we rose higher and higher, the view just got more surreal.

At over 1,700 meters above sea level, the height hits you. My hands were sweating!

The View from the Top

At the summit, it was like stepping into another world.

Wide, flat landscape dotted with rugged rocks
Strange little plants growing in between cracks
A full view of Cape Town, the ocean, and the endless horizon

It’s wild — from below, the mountain looks like a solid plateau, but up close it’s full of dips and ridges.

There are three different walking routes at the top, all well-marked and safe. We didn’t have time to do them all, but we wandered enough to soak in the magic.

Sweetie ran around giggling and making faces for the camera. It felt good to let her play freely — though we kept an extra close eye on her because of the cliffs.

Sunset at Twelve Apostles

Thankfully, our car was still right where we left it. No ticket. No break-in. Sigh of relief.

Just a short drive away, we made one last stop at Twelve Apostles — the row of cliff formations that stretch along the western edge of Table Mountain.

With the sun setting behind them, the cliffs looked like ancient guardians watching the sea. It was the perfect way to end a long and beautiful day.

Events

Kalky’s Madness: Ate at Cape Town’s famous fish & chips spot, complete with crowds and chaos.
Chapman’s Peak Fail: Tried to take the scenic route, only to find it closed due to rockfall.
Sweetie’s Nap Time: After lunch, Sweetie conked out in the car — she earned it!
Table Mountain Cable Car Ride: Rotating ride up to the summit with jaw-dropping views.
Exploring the Top: Walked among strange plants and rocky cliffs on top of the mountain.
Twelve Apostles Sunset: Finished the day with a peaceful ocean view.

Tips for Traveling with a Baby

Sweetie’s been growing with this trip, and Cape Town was a big test for all of us. Here’s what worked today:

Early Lunch is Key: Going to Kalky’s before 12 p.m. would have helped avoid the chaos. Try to beat the lunch rush when traveling with a toddler.
Nap Timing: We’ve learned to plan longer drives around her nap schedule. After lunch, she dozed off just as we hit the road — perfect timing.
Safety on the Summit: Table Mountain is baby-safe if you stay on the marked paths. But with cliffs nearby, you can never relax 100%. We had to be on full alert.
Snacks & Layers: It got windy and chilly at the top, so always bring a warm layer and some familiar snacks to keep your little one content.

Local Travel Tips

Kalky’s Fish & Chips: Go early and be prepared for a crowd. Parking is limited, and seating is a grab-it-fast situation.
Chapman’s Peak Drive Status: Always check ahead online for closures. It’s often shut down for safety after storms.
Table Mountain Cable Car: Arrive early or late to avoid the lines. Tickets are pricey but worth every rand.
Parking Safety: If you park roadside, don’t leave valuables inside. Cape Town is mostly safe, but car theft can happen.
Best Sunset Spot: Twelve Apostles offers one of the best sunset views in the Cape Town area — don’t miss it.

Travel Reflections

Today was full of little hiccups and big wins. The closed road, the crazy lunch crowd — those moments could have ruined the vibe, but they didn’t. Instead, we just flowed with it.

Table Mountain completely blew us away. It’s not just a mountain — it’s a world of its own. And watching Sweetie run around up there, grinning with the wind in her hair, reminded me why we’re doing this trip in the first place.

South Africa’s nature keeps surprising us. The more we see, the more we want to return.