Hike to Lion's Head in Cape Town

Explore the road less travelled on this scenic hike to Lion’s Head.

A lesser-known path that leads along the spine of Cape Town’s mighty Table Mountain National Park, navigate the raw and rugged landscape of this scenic outcrop – following the contours of the escarpment across vertiginous terrain. The reward? Unobstructed views towards the Cape of Good Hope and the Twelve Apostles mountains…

Location
Lion’s Head is a mountain between Table Mountain and Signal Hill. Lion's Head summit sits at 669 m as part of Table Mountain National Park. There are two trails Lion’s Chains and/or the Spiral route that are 5,5km long respectively.

Activity
Meet your guide in Cape Town for this scenic hike to Lion’s Head. After an introduction by your guide to the history of the summit, begin climbing the gravel path – choosing either the Chains or Spiral Route at sunrise, afternoon or sunset. Unlike other hikes in Table Mountain National Park, Lion’s Head is not a stroll in the park – it includes rock climbing via rock divots, ladders and handholds. Don’t be fooled by Lion’s Head height. The Lion’s Head trail is a steep 2-hour hike up to 669m with magnificent views of the city and ocean. Along the way, look one way to see Cape Town’s harbour and Robben Island, and the other way to see Table Mountain and the Twelve Apostles continue into the distance. Once you reach the top, enjoy some free time to explore the unique plant life and snap photographs before you begin the hike back down to the bottom of the mountain (4 hour round trip). Back at the base of Lion’s Head, your transfer will be waiting to transport back to your hotel.

Conditions
The steep trail climbs 669 meters up the Lion’s Head hiking trails on ledges and well-worn paths. Lion’s Head distances 5.5km round-trip while the trail provides a dramatic (and dizzying height) to view the rugged coast. Lion’s Head trail difficulty is easy to moderate – with different trails available for all ages and abilities.