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Photo locations · Cape Town · South Africa

Table Mountain Upper Cableway View: sunrise photography forecast

The upper cableway area looks across Cape Town, Lion’s Head, the Atlantic and the Cape Peninsula, with several compositions within a short walk. Cloud spilling over the plateau can be spectacular, but it can also close the cableway.

Will tomorrow's sunrise be worth it?

Simplified forecast from the open model run. The full forecast — a second model, your exact viewpoint, the hourly cloud timeline — is in the app.

Global model, about 13 km: less certain than in Europe.

Cloud along the light path toward the sun will block most direct light.

in 18h 9m

Partly lit cloud edges

Ends

in 18h 42m

Diffused muted light · even light for details & forests

Useful cloud texture gives the local scene visible depth.

High confidence · event-time scene

Sky colors

Golden hour
Sunrise

Light corridor

Viewer's line of sight, tangent to the Earth at your locationNear-ground relative humidity6% cover — too thin to draw as cloud16% cover — too thin to draw as cloud11% cover — too thin to draw as cloud11% cover — too thin to draw as cloud5% cover — too thin to draw as cloudConnected cloud layer · 0–100% cover · 45–45% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 19–70% cover · 45–45% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 25–30% cover · 10–25% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 33–33% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintylow cloud · 38% reported, 0% resolved on a pressure surface — 38% is somewhere between 0 and 3 kmhigh cloud · 87% reported, 11% resolved on a pressure surface — 76% is somewhere between 8 and 12 kmlow cloud · 50% reported, 0% resolved on a pressure surface — 50% is somewhere between 1.07 and 3 kmhigh cloud · 100% reported, 33% resolved on a pressure surface — 67% is somewhere between 8 and 12 kmlow cloud · 38% reported, 0% resolved on a pressure surface — 38% is somewhere between 0.03 and 3 kmhigh cloud · 87% reported, 11% resolved on a pressure surface — 76% is somewhere between 8 and 12 kmhigh cloud · 45% reported, 0% resolved on a pressure surface — 45% is somewhere between 8 and 12 kmlow cloud · 78% reported, 37% resolved on a pressure surface — 41% is somewhere between 0.4 and 3 kmhigh cloud · 33% reported, 5% resolved on a pressure surface — 28% is somewhere between 8 and 12 kmhigh cloud · 26% reported, 0% resolved on a pressure surface — 26% is somewhere between 8 and 12 km-5 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light0 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light0 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light5 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light5 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light20 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch orange light20 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light20 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light50 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light100 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light

-5 km

Behind you

8/8L 38 · M 0 · H 8792%—

Your location

1070 m asl

8/8L 50 · M 0 · H 10093%—

5 km

Nearby

8/8L 38 · M 0 · H 8792%—

20 km

Near horizon

6/8L 47 · M 0 · H 4598%—

50 km

Light path

7/8L 78 · M 0 · H 3396%—

100 km

Light path

7/8L 93 · M 0 · H 2693%—

150 km

Far light path

7/8L 83 · M 0 · H 5393%—

200 km

Far light path

5/8L 43 · M 0 · H 4091%—

300 km

Far light path

6/8L 80 · M 0 · H 099%—

350 km

Far light path

6/8L 77 · M 0 · H 098%—
cloud-cover fieldinterpolation uncertaintysun directionnear-ground humiditycloud at unresolved heightmodelled underlightunderlight · height uncertainunderlight · lit on one readinglit but hidden behind nearer cloud

Terrain is drawn for illustration only — it is not used to calculate underlight or obstruction.

Clouds: Very thick cover

Very thick mid/high cover (80%) — colour likely only at cloud edges.

Cloud occupies two height bands, giving the sky useful layered structure.

Broken low cloud (50%) — expect the light to come and go.

Light corridor is blocked

Cloud at the light ray's height along the far path (58%) will block most direct light.

Sun likely hidden. Low cloud fills the horizon (93%) — the sun will probably stay behind it.

Clarity: Reduced

High humidity (94%) may soften and mute colors.

Forecast refreshed a few hours before sunrise.

Know the light
before it happens

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For photographers: shooting Table Mountain Upper Cableway View

Best months

October to April for longer evenings and more stable access; winter can bring very clear air between fronts but frequent closures.

Suggested focal lengths

16–35 mm for plateau and city; 70–200 mm for Lion’s Head, coastline and layered mountains.

Composition

Move away from the main station railings and use sandstone or fynbos as foreground. Keep a long lens ready for side light on Lion’s Head.

Recommended arrival

Take a cable car that reaches the top at least 75 minutes before sunset and confirm the final descent.

Access planning

Cableway operation is wind- and weather-dependent. Carry warm layers, follow plateau paths and never assume a closed cableway will reopen for your descent.

Parking: Limited roadside parking along Tafelberg Road; official park-and-ride or shuttle arrangements are preferable when operating.

Approach: A short paved walk from the upper station; longer plateau paths reach quieter viewpoints.

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