Tibet has the towering Chomolungma and Zimbabwe the great falls of Mosi-oa-Tunya, but Cape Town has Hoerikwaggo: the ?Mountain of the Sea?. An icon for Cape Town and, according to Nelson Mandela, a beacon of hope for political prisoners on Robben Island, Table Mountain has become one of the world?s most famous landmarks.

While millions around the world would instantly recognise the shape of this World Heritage Site, few are fortunate enough to know the mountain like the back of their hand; its hidden secrets and more obvious atractions. That?s where the ?Table Mountain Activity Guide? comes in?

The 80-kilometre spine of mountain, stretching from the city centre to Cape Point, offers locals and visitors a wide range of leisure activities; from a sedate stroll to adrenaline-fuelled aerial antics. All of which are covered in this comprehensive guide, written by well-known outdoor journalist Fiona McIntosh. With her garden leading straight onto the slopes of the Twelve Apostles she knows the mountain like, well, her own backyard?

Going up...
Obviously the most popular mountain pastime is walking, which is covered extensively in the book. The various suggestions are usefully categorised according to how strenuous an outing you might be looking for: anything from a gentle amble around the Silvermine reservoir to a rocky scramble along the precipitous Mowbray Ridge.

The book is by no means a definitive guide to all the walks on the mountain, but it does give some excellent suggestions with adequate descriptions of the route. That said, if you?re new to the mountain and are only interested in walking and hiking, then the detailed maps and route descriptions of a dedicated walking guide, such as 'Best Walks in the Cape Peninsula' by Mike Lundy, may be more suitable.

But if you're interested in more than just walking, the 'Table Mountain Activity Guide' has a range of chapters on caving, mountain biking and a whole host of extreme pursuits that you can enjoy on the mountain; many of which seem to involve climbing up it only to throw yourself off the top! At the other end of the scale are suggestions for more genteel pursuits: wine-tasting at the vineyards on the eastern slopes or enjoying a picnic along one of the scenic drives.

But for all the outdoor activities it opens your eyes to, the book also makes ample provision for those days when the north-wester brings driving rain to the Cape of Storms. Settle down at home to read about the entertaining history and myths surrounding the mountain... You don?t know about the smoking competition between van Hunks and the devil? Make sure you get a copy?

Overall the 'Table Mountain Activity Guide' is an excellent introduction to Table Mountain, and will prove both useful and entertaining for locals and visitors wanting to find out more about the mountain towering above the city. In covering such a wide range of activities it?ll open your eyes to how much there really is to see and do on the mountain.