Table Mountain or Lion's Head Guided Hike, Cape Town

Lion's Head

Lion's Head is the conical 669-metre peak between Table Mountain and Signal Hill, and its path spirals round it, giving views in every direction as you climb. The trail starts on Signal Hill Road, follows an easy gravel track and then steepens through rock bands, with a short stretch of staples and chains near the top that can be bypassed on an alternative path. The summit is bare rock with the city, Table Mountain, the Twelve Apostles, Camps Bay and Robben Island spread beneath you.

The sunrise hike begins in darkness: you climb by headlamp at a steady pace so that the group reaches the top as the sky lightens. Most people take about an hour to an hour and a half up and a little less down, so the outing lasts about three and a half hours including pickup. Going with a guide makes the dark start and the scramble straightforward.

Sunset on Lion's Head

The sunset option on this page starts about two hours before the sun goes down. You reach the summit roughly an hour before sunset, take in the view while the light is still strong, then drop to a lower ledge away from the crowds to watch the sun sink into the Atlantic and the lights of the city come on. Headlamps are provided for the descent in the twilight.

Which is better, the Lion's Head sunrise or sunset hike? Sunrise is cooler, calmer and quieter on the path, with the city waking up below; sunset has warmer light on Table Mountain and is easier for guests who do not want a pre-dawn start. Both depend on the season: start times shift with the sun, so the exact time is confirmed when we book your date.

Table Mountain via Platteklip Gorge

Platteklip Gorge is the direct route up Table Mountain, a cleft in the front face that has been used since the first recorded ascent in the sixteenth century. The trail leaves Tafelberg Road east of the lower cable station and climbs steadily on hundreds of large rock steps, gaining about seven hundred metres in roughly two and a half hours. It is not technical, but it is steep and relentless, so a reasonable level of fitness is needed.

At the top the path emerges onto the summit plateau a short distance from the upper cable station, where you can rest at the café and enjoy the viewpoints before riding the cable car down; the ticket is bought at the top and is not included. If the cableway is closed for wind, the group hikes back down the same route, which adds about an hour and a half. Start early in the morning, when the gorge is in shade.

Table Mountain via India Venster

India Venster is the adventurous alternative, starting right behind the lower cable station and climbing the front of the mountain beneath the cable car line. The route involves rugged, uneven ground, rock scrambling and a few exposed sections with staples and chains fixed to the rock; the reward is far fewer people and constant views over the City Bowl, Lion's Head and the Atlantic. It takes about three and a half hours to the top with a guide who knows the line and the safest holds.

This route is for hikers who are comfortable with heights and basic scrambling; our guide will not take anyone with a fear of heights or low fitness on it, and may redirect to Platteklip Gorge if conditions are poor. Like the direct route, it ends at the upper cable station, with the cable car down if open. Wear shoes with good grip and keep your hands free.

Signal Hill, Tafelberg Road and the trailheads

Both mountains are reached from the roads that ring the City Bowl. Lion's Head hikes start from the car park on Signal Hill Road, about ten minutes by car from the city centre; Table Mountain hikes start from Tafelberg Road, either at the Platteklip trailhead or at the lower cableway station. How to get to the trailheads: on the default option we pick you up at your hotel, while on the meeting-point options you make your own way by car or taxi and meet the guide there.

The mountains are part of Table Mountain National Park and the weather on them changes fast: clear skies can turn to cloud in minutes and the wind on the summit is often far stronger than in town. This is why we hike with registered guides, who carry first-aid kits and know when to turn back. Bring layers, water and snacks whatever the forecast says.