Lion's Head

Lion's Head rises to 669 metres between Table Mountain and the Atlantic, and the walk up is the most popular hike in Cape Town for a simple reason: the path spirals around the whole cone, so the view changes continuously - city bowl, then Table Bay, then Camps Bay and the Twelve Apostles, then the mountain wall behind. The lower section is a gravel road, then a contour path, and near the summit there is a choice: chains and metal rungs bolted to a rock face, or a longer scramble that avoids them. The Cape Doctor, the south-easter that blows through summer, makes the exposed upper section unpleasant on windy days. Full moon evenings turn the trail into a procession of head torches, and sunrise or sunset both draw crowds; the summit is small, so timing matters more than fitness here.

History

In the 17th century the Dutch called the peak Leeuwen Kop and Signal Hill Leeuwen Staart, the lion's tail, while the English called it Sugar Loaf. Gold was found on it in 1897, but the shaft, sunk more than 30 metres, closed the following year (Wikipedia, Lion's Head (Cape Town)).

What you'll find

• The spiral path - a trail that circles the cone so the view rotates as you climb.
• The chains - bolted rungs on the final rock section, with a scramble alternative.
• The full moon walk - a local tradition that fills the trail with head torches.
• The 669 metre summit - Table Bay one way, Camps Bay and the Atlantic the other.

When to go

All year. Early morning avoids both heat and crowds; the summit is small at sunset. Two to three hours return.

What to expect

The summit section is exposed with real drops, and the chains are not for everyone - the bypass adds time. Muggings have been reported on the lower path, so go in company and in daylight. Parking is limited and fills early. Wind can make the upper mountain genuinely dangerous.

Nearby

Signal Hill continues down the ridge; Table Mountain is across the saddle.

Key facts