When you hear “Table Mountain views,” you probably picture that iconic, postcard-perfect silhouette from Blouberg Beach—the flat-topped giant, rising alone against a blue sky.
Ta-da; there she is!
But that’s just one perspective. There’s another side (literally) to this mountain and it’s wilder, greener, and it’s the place we call home.
The Vineyard Hotel sits at the base of Table Mountain’s eastern slopes. And no, we don’t mean a vague general direction. These slopes are a world of their own: steep, jungle-like, and streaked with waterfalls in winter. They’re the untamed, defiant counterpart to the mountain’s well-groomed and well-loved front.
The eastern slopes receive the most rainfall in the Cape Peninsula, which means dense indigenous forests, hidden streams, and a level of biodiversity that feels like it belongs in Jurassic Park. Walk through its trails, and you’ll find indigenous birds, reptiles, and, if you’re lucky, caracals slipping through the undergrowth. The ancient rock formations here tell a story dating back over 500 million years, from deep-sea sediments to magma-born granite.
The Southern Afrotemperate Forest is unique to Table Mountain’s eastern slopes
So, where exactly are we?
Despite living on the edge of an untamed wilderness, we’re not stuck in some remote corner of the city. The Vineyard Hotel is just 10 minutes from Cape Town’s buzzing city centre and the V&A Waterfront, and five minutes from our eastern slopes neighbour, the legendary Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, which connects directly to Table Mountain National Park.
We’re also less than half an hour from both the Atlantic and (warmer) Indian Ocean beaches. We’re also right at the gateway to the Constantia Wine Route.
How about a hike?
If you want to get up close and personal with the eastern slops, be warned that the hiking here is no joke! Starting at Kirstenbosch, Skeleton Gorge is a steep, shaded climb through thick forest, past waterfalls and ladders, all the way up to Maclear’s Beacon, the highest point on Table Mountain. You’ll need solid fitness levels, but the reward? A hidden “beach” at the top, next to one of Table Mountain’s dams. Yes, a beach. On top of a mountain.
For a (slightly) easier ascent, Nursery Ravine offers another way up through the forest, delivering epic views over the Constantia Valley once you break through the treeline.
Experience views with a difference when you stay at The Vineyard
So when we say The Vineyard Hotel has “views of the eastern slopes of Table Mountain,” we don’t mean a distant postcard scene. We mean waking up to mist curling through thick forest, watching waterfalls appear overnight, and stepping straight into some of the most spectacular hikes in the country.
This isn’t the Table Mountain you’ve seen before; it’s the side that most visitors never get to know. And honestly? That’s exactly why we love it.
MUST-WATCH: This aerial view shows the sheer size and scale of the flat top of Table Mountain, giving a whole new understanding to this natural wonder of the world.
The eastern slopes of the 1800s
Painting: Charles Rolando (Italian/Australian 1844-1893)
A View of Devil’s Peak and the Eastern Slopes of Table Mountain