Lion's Head Hike | Story

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Lion’s head is the most iconic feature of Cape Town’s skyline. It’s also one of the most hiked peaks in the world. Around 250,000 people climb Lion’s Head each year, you might also come across a legend that says the number is somewhere close to a million.

$Lion\x27s Head$ Lion's Head

I have been living in Cape Town for a year now and I can confidently say that Lion’s Head is my favourite hike in Cape Town, because of its accessibility and the views it has to offer. This hike is a little more difficult than the Kloof Corner Hike, but totally worth it.

Lion’s Head stands at 669 metres (2,195 ft), above sea level. The hike itself is not very difficult. The hike starts on Signal Hill Road, and goes around the hill. 60% of the hike is like walking on a contour path around the hill, the first 10% and last 30% are a push, but still not something anyone cannot handle. It can take anywhere from 40-90 mins to reach the summit depending on how much time you spend appreciating the view on your way up.

$Devil\x27s Peak from Lion\x27s Head$ Devil's Peak from Lion's Head

Cape Town City Center at Sunrise

I would recommend carrying a 750ml water bottle and a small snack to have at the top, just so that you worry less about your body giving up on you and focus just on the view.

Hiking up the mountain you get a taste of the best views of the Central Business District, the Atlantic Seaboard, and the Table Mountain

$Table Mountain from Lion\x27s Head$ Table Mountain from Lion's Head

Due to a recent fire, the normal pathway to the summit has been closed off, but SANParks has marked a path for you, that lights up at night (and looks amazing from a distance).

Even though it is recommended not to deviate from the marked pathway, if you are feeling particularly adventurous and are good with dealing with cops, you might wanna take your chances and visit Wally’s cave. There is no official pathway to the cave, you need to do your research, and trust your instincts to get to the cave, but once you get there, you’ll realize that it’s totally worth it.

To sum it all up, all I can say is, you cannot plan a trip to Cape Town and not hike up Lion’s Head. It’s a sin if you visit Cape Town and not bless yourself with a hike up Lion’s Head.

$Wally\x27s Cave$ Wally's Cave

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