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Lion's Head Hike: Iconic Cape Town Views
5.0
67 Ratings
Cape Town
Experience the breathtaking beauty of Cape Town from the top of Lion’s Head. Hike to the summit for a 360-degree panorama of the city and enjoy a stunning sunset view. Join a small-group tour for an authentic and personal experience.
Experience the breathtaking beauty of Cape Town from the top of Lion’s Head. Hike to the summit for a 360-degree panorama of the city and enjoy a stunning sunset view. Join a small-group tour for an authentic and personal experience.
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
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Lion’s Head Hike Parking - Experience the most iconic view of Cape Town from the summit of Lion’s Head Instagram rock, offering breathtaking 360-degree vistas.
The trail ascending Lion’s Head is a spiral, allowing hikers to circle the mountain and enjoy views in every direction. At a certain point, the path becomes rugged, requiring the use of…
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Lion’s Head Hike Parking - Experience the most iconic view of Cape Town from the summit of Lion’s Head Instagram rock, offering breathtaking 360-degree vistas.
The trail ascending Lion’s Head is a spiral, allowing hikers to circle the mountain and enjoy views in every direction. At a certain point, the path becomes rugged, requiring the use of hands to scramble over rocks. The hike then continues steeply upwards to the first ladder, followed by a traverse to the left along a ledge with a chain handrail. Upon reaching a fork, hikers can choose to veer left to bypass two rock pitches or turn right to climb them. For those who prefer to avoid vertical rock steps, continuing left is advisable, allowing the path to pass by large stone pine trees and reach the crest of the southeast ridge.
At the summit, enjoy a 360-degree view of Cape Town, one of the three iconic peaks framing the city, with Table Mountain as a backdrop. It is located in the smallest yet richest floral kingdom in the world. As the city lights gradually turn on/off, a new view emerges for the descent, where a headlamp will be provided.
What's Included
- Transport (when option selected)
- Head Lamp
- Registered adventure hiking and culture tourist guide
- First Aid kit
- Coffee on sunrise hike only
- Photos & video
- Transport (when option selected)
- Head Lamp
- Registered adventure hiking and culture tourist guide
- First Aid kit
- Coffee on sunrise hike only
- Photos & video
What's Not Included
- Transport when option not selected.
- Transport when option not selected.
Additional Information
Lion’s Head offers breathtaking 360-degree views of Cape Town. It is one of the three iconic peaks that frame the city, standing as the most renowned landmark after Table Mountain. Conveniently located just fifteen minutes from the city, the summit can be reached within an hour. With Table Mountain as its backdrop, Lion’s Head is nestled in one of the…
Lion’s Head offers breathtaking 360-degree views of Cape Town. It is one of the three iconic peaks that frame the city, standing as the most renowned landmark after Table Mountain. Conveniently located just fifteen minutes from the city, the summit can be reached within an hour. With Table Mountain as its backdrop, Lion’s Head is nestled in one of the world’s smallest yet richest floral kingdoms. Hiking Lion’s Head at sunset is a cherished tradition among Capetonians, as the evening sun often casts a golden glow over the ocean and Cape Town’s coastline, creating a warm and serene ambiance. Alternatively, hiking at sunrise offers a magical and peaceful atmosphere, with the changing sky colors providing stunning photo opportunities. A small-group tour, limited to a maximum of 7 people, ensures a more authentic and personal experience. For those traveling with friends, a private hiking option for up to 7 people is also available.
- The hike up Lion’s Head is weather dependant
- Closed shoes (Takkies, running shoes)
- Bring your camera
- Pack a bottle of water to stay hydrated
- Have a warm top it can get a little chilly at the peak after sunset.
- Minimum age 10 years old.
- Near public transportation.
- Not recommended for travelers with fear of height
Location
Lion's Head Hiking
Signal Hill Road
Meeting point is at Lion's Head car park on Signal Hill road, next to the coffee truck.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(67 Ratings)
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Kirstenlx7412fp
Jul 18, 2025
- Patrick was absolutely phenomenal! Would recommend to anyone I know!!
I am so thankful for his dedication, time, photo taking skills, and not to mention the most delicious coffee!!
Book him now!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ele_p
Jun 13, 2025
Sunrise coffee on top of Lion’s head mountain - If we could choose more than 5 stars we would rate it 10. Lets start from the beginning, Patrick picked us up right on time, he guided us to an awesome adventure to the top of the lion’s head mountain making the climb enjoyable and entertaining as you couldn’t imagine. He did take care of us all time and it was pleasantly surprising us with coffee and tea at the summit while watching the stunning sunrise and the 360 deg view of the entire Cape Town city.
We highly recommend this trekking with Patrick.
Review provided by Viator
Ericx01
Jun 6, 2025
Easy hike, amazing views, wonderful tour guide - Wow--what an amazing experience! This was our first time in Cape Town, so of course we had to hike Lion's Head. There is a small area for street parking at the trail head (approximately 300m above sea level). The first half of the trial is very easy with a gentle incline and no scrambling required. The second half becomes a little steep and requires some scrambling. Between the sunrise and sunset hike, I would recommend doing sunrise as the scrambling required for the latter half of the trail is safer to do in the dark on the ascent (before sunrise) than on the descent (after sunset). Views at the top are magnificient--Cape Town, Table Mountain, Devil's Peak, and more. We stayed in Cape Town for a few days and this was easily the highlight of our stay. Patrick was an incredible tour guide who gave us a little bit of history and lay of the land during the hike and even offered to drive us back to our hotel. We will absolutely book again with Patrick and highly recommend him to anyone else looking to visit Lion's Head!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Faith_and_me
May 23, 2025
Fun and Rewarding...oh and the view's pretty good too! - Had a great hike up for sunrise with Frank (the swiss mountain goat). Although not experienced at 'scrambling', Frank guided as well and the reward was spectacular! What a way to start your day!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Wanderer03180015516
May 4, 2025
Amazing! - Patrick is very nice man. He makes sure you are properly equipped and informed. He caters the hike to your group needs and wants. It was really an amazing experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Faith_w
May 1, 2025
Stunning! - Frank picked us up from our hotel and took us to signal hill to start the hike. We met with another hiker, got our torches set up and we set off. The first half is quite sedate, but then you get into scrambling and ladders. It was fun and when the sun came up the views were amazing, especially with the way the light was playing with the heavy fog that was around. Finished with a warm cup of coffee.
Frank was great with us and very knowledgeable about the route and conditions.
Thanks
Review provided by Viator
Alixc426
Apr 6, 2025
Magic 🤩 - Great hike with Patrick for the Sunrise at Lion’s Head, I had a magical time: beautiful scenery, super guide, little cafe with views. Hats off to Patrick, who maintained the release even though I was the only one registered, very Pro I enjoyed it very much.
Thanks again, I recommend 100%!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aerielle_p
Mar 27, 2025
Amazing! - Our sunset hike up Lion’s Head was absolutely amazing! The views were breathtaking—watching the sun dip below the horizon with Cape Town spread out beneath us was an unforgettable experience. Our guide, Patrick, was fantastic—knowledgeable, patient, and so helpful throughout the hike. He made sure we felt safe and comfortable while also sharing great insights about the area. If you’re visiting Cape Town, this hike is a must-do, and I highly recommend going with Patrick for the best experience!
Review provided by Viator
Leslie_z
Mar 22, 2025
It was a great... - It was a great experience! Patrick was very friendly and he was taking care of me during all the trail. Amazing views of the city.
Review provided by Viator
Mangl83
Mar 3, 2025
Incredible Sunrise Hike - We really enjoyed our sunrise hike with Patrick. Initially we booked a sunset hike, but changed to the sunrise option due to strong winds being predicted for the evening of our booking.
The hike begins in the early hours and is timed so that sunrise occurs shortly after reaching the summit. Patrick collected us from our hotel and, along with a couple of other guests, we began the hike from Signal Hill. The hike itself is likely manageable for those with moderate fitness/mobility levels, and does involve some scrambling up and over short, sharp inclines at various points. These were managed really well by Patrick, who kept us informed on what to expect on the hike throughout.
Reaching the summit and sipping coffee provided by Patrick as the sun emerged over table mountain was a beautiful, truly memorable experience, and you can get a clear, 360 degree, expansive view of Cape Town from this vantage point. It was worth the time and effort to get there, and the whole experience was, throughout, an enriching one.
In terms of guidance, Patrick was a gentleman. Pleasant, polite, calm, knowledgable and informative, he was a reassuring and vigilant presence on the hike and ensured that our experience was fully realised. We would strongly recommend this hike to anyone curious about it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
