Cape Town's most noteworthy hike gives you one of the most stunning 360 views on earth.
Prior to visiting Cape Town, we had read and were affected by the fear-mongering write-ups. Tourists who had climbed Lion's Head only to encounter thieves who robbed them of everything. While I can certainly believe that there have been incidents, the traffic we saw on this hike leads me to believe such an occurrence is very unlikely.
We started our roughly 2 kilometer jaunt to the top of Lion's Head at about 8 AM. Parking was still relatively plentiful, so we were able to grab a spot at the trailhead.
The start of the hike is easy to identify and you'll find yourself going up a small curved grade for the first 30 minutes. It's tempting to take photos early on, but the best views are yet to come. Eventually the flat path becomes peppered with stone and the path becomes slightly more technical. At this point, you'll have sweeping views of the coast, but better to continue on.
Eventually the trail will begin to increase in difficulty, with ladders or even an optional rings portion that hikers can ascend. Its also wise to beware of falling rocks that hikers above you must displace. Once you start rock scrambling, the top looks so close, but takes substantial time to actually get it.
As you near the top, the winds pick up and hiking space begins to shrink as there is no clear path and many hikers start to bunch up. This part becomes a bit more daunting, but after seeing many less experienced hikers descending from the top, we had to go for it.
If you persevere, you'll be treated to amazing views at the top. From here, you'll get phenomenal views of Table Mountain, the coast, Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela was held as a prisoner, the ocean pools, and most of the city landmarks.
After a few blockbuster photo opportunities, head back via the path that you came. The way back down proved much easier than the ascent, so you should be able to make it back down in roughly an hour.
Know Before You Go
This is one hike that is better to attempt early in the morning. Parking quickly is tough to come by and will require tipping later in the day. You also don't want to attempt this hike when the sun is at its strongest.
Bring plenty of water. We brought about 2.5 bottles each, and quickly wished we had Brought more.
The top of the hike is very technical. Ensure that your shoes have good grip and you have enough strength/mobility to lift yourself to the next level.
Use caution at the top - there are not any guardrails to prevent you from falling.
A few dogs made it to the top. They won't be able to take the rings route, but there is a means for them to make it to the top.
Most can achieve this hike in roughly 3 hours, but you may want to plan for more if the trail is busy.
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