Hiking to Lions Head
Ultimate guide
The top of Lions Head has one of the most beautiful views over Cape Town, Table Mountain, and the ocean. So, it’s something you should do when you are in South Africa! And it’s a great adventure as you will be climbing on chains and ladders to get to the top! The hike to Lions Head is something I won’t forget and you will enjoy it as well, I’m sure of that!
Keep on reading to figure out how to hike to the top of one of the most beautiful places in South Africa!
You might also like: Everything you need to know about Table Mountain
For your information, all these pictures were taken in December 2022.
Table of Contents
Summary (one-way)
Length
2.6 kilometers
Duration
90 minutes
Height difference
400 meters
Difficulty
Medium
Some information about Lions Head
Lions Head is a mountain peak, located in the middle of Cape Town in South Africa. It’s part of the Table Mountain National Park and is a very popular hiking destination among national and international travelers from around the world. Lions Head offers stunning views over the city, the Atlantic Ocean, and the surrounding mountains like Table Mountain.
The peak of Lions Head is 669 meters (2195 feet) above sea level. This mountain got this name because it resembles a lion’s head. The rock is composed of several layers of hard sandstone and is estimated to be around 540 million years old.
The hike to the summit is considered moderate to difficult because of the climbing you need to do. It takes approximately 2 – 3 hours to complete the whole hike (one way and back). Keep in mind that the hike involves some steep sections and some chains/ladders, but is generally safe with proper precautions. Many people prefer to hike at sunrise or sunset because of the spectacular view.
How to get to Lions Head?
There is a pretty large car park next to the road at the start of the trail, but it can get quite crowdy if you arrive later on. Besides that, it is free of charge so that’s something you don’t need to worry about. We arrived around 2h before sunset and we found easily a parking spot, but that was before peak season.
By car: You can find the parking lot at the start of the trail. The parking is free of charge.
With public transport: If you’re leaving from V&A Waterfront or Camps Bay, you’ll need to get off the bus at the bust stop ‘Kloof Nek‘ and walk for around 10 minutes to the start of the hike.
When is the best time to visit Lions Head?
The best time to go to Lions Head depends a lot on your preferences and what you want to do there. For example, during the summer months (December to February), the weather will be much better, but there will be much more crowds.
But fear not, we went in December and it wasn’t that crowdy at the top. We still had a lot of opportunities to take pictures and enjoy the sunset. Just wait your turn or be a bit creative to get a good picture.
But if you want to sweat less, I would recommend going during the cooler months (April to September). And if you want lesser crowds, go between April to June as this is outside peak season.
How to hike to the top of Lions Head?
You’ll start your hike at the parking, which is located at the start of the hiking trail. The hiking trail is marked and easy to follow. There are two ways to get to the top of the mountain: with or without using chains.
For both routes, the hike starts pretty much with a path that goes around the hill of Lions Head. As you get closer to the top, it gets more difficult, because there are a lot of rocks you need to climb over. The two paths divide at some point and it’s indicated with a sign.
The route without chains is relatively straightforward and is much easier than the hike with chains. It’s a bit longer, but it offers a more gradual ascent without the need to use chains if you’re not comfortable with that. Know that you still need to use two ladders, but they are much easier. They don’t involve any chains and are the regular ladders you have at home!
The other route on the other hand is with both chains and ladders. This one is more challenging and requires a bit more strength and agility. It involves a part where you will need to climb up steep rocks using chains and ladders bolted to the rocks. If you don’t have a fear of heights and you are comfortable with hiking, this is not the most difficult thing on the hike. You just need to take your time. We took this route for both ways!
My experience about the hike
I was a bit scared of this hike at the beginning. Especially of the chains, but everyone is nervous I guess. But I like a good challenge and I don’t want to stand in the way of a small fear I have. But afterward, I was so glad I did it! I took my time with the chains and Mel was behind me to tell me if I put my foot wrong or to help me. When I was at the top, it was much easier than I imagined it to be. You just need to take your time with where you put your feet and you will be alright.
The whole hike, I was sweating so much as it was so hot in the late afternoon. That’s why I would suggest hiking this in the early morning instead so you can avoid this. But I would still do this hike in a heartbeat! I loved the views from the top of Lions Head so much. And as a bonus, I love a good hike where you need to climb a bit! This was also a small preparation for a big hike that was to come in South Africa: Tugela Falls!
Other things to do near Lions Head
There are a lot of great things in Cape Town that you can do. For example, you can visit Boulders Beach and see real-life penguins. Or, you can visit Table Mountain, which is one of the 7 new world wonders in the world!
But, South Africa has so much more to offer than just Cape Town!
Read about these places in the other blog posts for more inspiration:
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Hello, I’m Ellen and welcome to this blog! I’m in love with exploring the world and hopefully I get to inspire you with these blog posts and pictures to feel the same. You will find detailed itineraries, hidden gems, tips and so much more!
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