Tackle Lions Head if you are first timer to hiking

Hiking Trail: Lions Head
Name of Reserve / Area: Table Mountain National Park, Lions Head
Nearest Town: Cape Town CBD and Camps Bay
Province: Western Cape
Country: South Africa

Best time to go: All year. Go early in summer. No shade during mid day.



You do not need a guide book or a map. The route is straight forward as long as you continue to go in an upwards direction. There are other paths running down along side the mountain.

Fresh Water: No water, bring your own.

Difficulty: Easy walk for the whole family, no exposure to hights. Will work up a light sweat.

Pets: You can take your small dog all the way, but you can not take your large dogs further than the steel step ladder. Small dogs need to be lifted up and down at some places. Please remember that your dogs also need water given to them whilst hiking. If you get thirsty, the chances are that they are about double as thirsty. The doberman did not want to drink water, we had to force him to drink on another hike as he was not used to drinking from a strange bottle. My dogs do drink from the bottle, because I have trained them to do so, which is not a problem for me when I go with them.

How safe is it: It is not recommended that you go alone. Keep a mace spray on you for extra
protection. Do not display your gadgets publically. Muggings have taken place here in broad daylight inbetween the crowds.

Directions to get there:From Cape Town city centre, drive up Buitengracht, which becomes Kloof Neck right to the top. As you are about to go down the hill, turn right into Signal Hill drive. Soon you will see the entrance to Lions Head on your left.

Pics taken by: Alex Aitkenhead, Juanita Welgemoed.

Hikers Ratings: Juanita - This was also one of the first hikes that we went on. As for for the first time it was a real treat to enjoy the stunning views of Cape Town City and surrounding subburbs this short walk had to offer us. Ive been on so many nice walks since this walk, I will only go back to this if someone asked me to join them. (been there, done that, yawn) Its very short and very busy, sometimes too busy. Trainstation comes to mind on a busy day.

There are some steel step ladders to climb and also a chain for those who want to take the short cut.

The alternative route is just as easy and there is no need to be concerned that you might miss out on anything.

People often go up to watch the sun set. Something I will not attempt unless Im in a large group, as there are many muggings along this route.

The pic above is a pano shot of the view from Lions Head towards Robin Island, Signal Hill, Cape Town and Table Mountain.