Lion's Head peak seen from Cape Town with ocean below

Lion's Head Hike

Cape Town, South Africa

Nature OutdoorsAdventureWalking

Would you do this?

Duration4 hrs

EffortStrenuous

BudgetBudget

PriceFree

StyleSelf-Guided

About This Activity

Lion's Head is the conical peak that rises between Table Mountain and Signal Hill, and the 5-kilometre circular hiking trail to its summit is one of the world's great urban hikes. The path involves some scrambling over rocks and up chains and ladders near the top, but the views from the 669-metre summit are extraordinary — looking straight down on the Atlantic Seaboard, across to the Table Mountain plateau, and over the Cape Town city bowl. Full moon hikes are a beloved Cape Town tradition, with hikers setting out after dark and reaching the summit by moonlight. Start early to claim a parking spot.

See This in an Itinerary

This activity appears in 54 of our curated itineraries.

Best 3 Days in South Africa

Cape Town

Day 3 · 1 cities · 6 activities

Best 3 Days in South Africa — Walking Tours

Cape Town

Day 1 · 1 cities · 6 activities

Best 3 Days in South Africa — Budget

Cape Town

Day 2 · 1 cities · 6 activities

Best 3 Days in South Africa — Without Art & Culture

Cape Town

Day 3 · 1 cities · 6 activities

Best 3 Days in South Africa — Without History

Cape Town

Day 3 · 1 cities · 6 activities

Best 3 Days in South Africa — Without Family Friendly

Cape Town

Day 3 · 1 cities · 6 activities

More Activities in Cape Town

Table Mountain cable car with Cape Town spread below

Table Mountain Cable Car

Ride the rotating cable car to the flat summit of Table Mountain for panoramic views over Cape Town and the Atlantic

Entrance gate to Robben Island maximum security prison, Cape Town, South Africa

Robben Island Museum Tour

Take the ferry to Robben Island and tour the maximum security prison where Nelson Mandela was held for 18 years

Cape Point lighthouse perched above dramatic Atlantic cliffs

Cape Point & Cape of Good Hope

Drive the Cape Peninsula to Cape Point, where dramatic cliffs plunge into the sea at the southwestern tip of Africa

Boulders Beach African Penguin Colony

Walk among a colony of endangered African penguins at Boulders Beach in Simon's Town

Hikers on Table Mountain trail above Cape Town

Table Mountain Hike via Platteklip Gorge

Hike up Platteklip Gorge — the most popular trail to the Table Mountain summit with dramatic valley views

Kirstenbosch botanical garden with Table Mountain backdrop

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Stroll through one of the world's great botanical gardens on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, showcasing Cape fynbos

Colorful painted houses on Bo-Kaap cobblestone street

Bo-Kaap Neighborhood Walk

Wander the cobblestone streets of Bo-Kaap, Cape Town's Cape Malay quarter famous for brightly painted houses and minarets

Cape Malay spices and ingredients laid out for cooking

Cape Malay Cooking Class in Bo-Kaap

Learn to cook fragrant Cape Malay dishes — like bobotie and koesisters — in a family home in the historic Bo-Kaap quarter