| Table Bay | |
|---|---|
| Tafelbaai (Afrikaans) | |
 An aerial view of Table Bay fromBloubergstrand, to the north of Cape Town.Table Mountain is visible in the distance on the far side of the bay. | |
  Table Bay Location in South Africa | |
| Coordinates | 33°51′S18°27′E / 33.850°S 18.450°E /-33.850; 18.450 |
| Ocean/sea sources | Southern Atlantic Ocean |
| Basin countries | South Africa |
| Surface area | 100 square kilometres (39 sq mi)[1] |
| Islands | Robben Island |
| Settlements | Cape Town |
Table Bay (Afrikaans:Tafelbaai) is a natural bay on theAtlantic Ocean at the northern end of theCape Peninsula, which stretches south to theCape of Good Hope. Overlooked byCape Town, the bay is dominated by the flat-toppedTable Mountain, from which it takes its name.
The first European to explore the region wasBartolomeu Dias, who rounded the Cape of Good Hope in 1488.[2][3] The first European to anchor in the bay itself was Portuguese navigatorAntónio de Saldanha in 1503. Saldanha also made the first recorded ascent of Table Mountain.[4] The bay was subsequently namedAguada de Saldanha ("Watering-place of Saldanha").[4][5] In 1601, Dutch navigator Joris van Spilbergen renamed it Table Bay.[5]
Although famous for centuries as a haven for ships, the bay is a poor natural harbour, exposed to northwesterly storm waves. Many sailing ships seeking refuge in the bay during the 17th and 18th centuries were driven ashore by winter storms.
Despite the poor conditions, the Dutch colonists persisted with their settlement on the shores of Table Bay, as good natural harbours are scarce along this coastline. On 6 April 1652,Jan van Riebeeck established a refreshment station at the bay for theDutch East India Company (VOC).[6] The first fortification, a small fort named the Fort of Good Hope, was built on the shoreline.[7] The settlement grew into the city of Cape Town.
Other nearby bays were considered. The best of these,Saldanha Bay, lacked fresh water.Simon's Bay, while well protected from westerly winter storms and swells, was more exposed to summer southeasterly storms and was difficult to access overland from Cape Town.Hout Bay was small and exposed to the prevailing southwesterly swell.
Eventually, a modern harbour was built in Table Bay by a process ofland reclamation and protected from storm waves bybreakwaters. Construction of the first breakwater began in 1860, withPrince Alfred ceremonially tipping the first load of rocks.[8] This structure protected the Alfred Basin, the first part of the new harbour.[9] The older part of this development is today called theVictoria & Alfred Waterfront. The newer, deeper part is theDuncan Dock.[10]Robben Island, whereNelson Mandela was imprisoned for decades, is in this bay.
The bay's beaches were oiled following an accident involving the Dutch tanker Sliedrecht in November 1953. The vessel moved 96 km (60 mi) offshore to pump out 1,000 tonnes of oil that had been fouled with seawater after the initial impact.[11]
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) | This sectionneeds expansion with: other oil spills - there have been several. You can help byadding to it.(October 2025) |
Robben Island is located in Table Bay. Geologically, it is underlain by theTygerberg Formation, which is part of the Neoproterozoic to early CambrianMalmesbury Group of theSaldania Belt.[12]
Table Bay is a relatively shallow body of water, covering an area of approximately 100 km². It slopes gently from east to west, reaching a maximum depth of 35 m at the centre of its mouth.[1]
The bedrock is shales, slates and sandstone of the Malmesbury group, similar in character, dip, and strike, to the exposed rocks of Robben Island and Mouille Point. The seabed comprises large areas of partly exposed bedrock and patches of fine to coarse sand.[1]
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African seas | |
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| Oceans and seas | |
| Gulfs and bays |
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| Straits | |
| Historical seas | |
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