Moderate 4–5 hours total, incl. transfers
Table Mountain Hike via Platteklip Gorge
Sustained steep stone staircase; no scrambling.
R2,250 per person — based on 2 guests booking privately. R4,500 total.
Cape Town · Signal Hill
Lion's Head Hike Cape Town
Watch the city wake up — or the sun melt into the Atlantic — from the most loved summit in the Mother City.
- Duration
- 3–4 hours total, incl. transfers
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Trailhead
- Signal Hill Road, Cape Town
Private hike price
R1,600 per person — based on 2 guests booking privately. R3,200 total.
Fitness requirements
Suitable for reasonably active travellers. You'll need to manage steep steps and short chain sections, but no climbing experience is required.
Heights & scrambling: Steep steps with short chain and ladder sections near the top; some height exposure.
Duration shown is the published total including transfers; walking time varies with pace and conditions.
About the route
The Lion's Head Hike Cape Town is the city's signature sunrise and sunset adventure. A spiralling trail wraps the cone-shaped peak, climbing through fynbos and short chain and ladder sections to a summit with uninterrupted views of Table Mountain, Camps Bay, Robben Island and the Twelve Apostles.
Our guided Lion's Head hike is run at first light or last light to catch the most cinematic part of the day, with hotel pickup, headlamps and a local mountain guide who knows every safe line up and down the peak.
Your guide collects you from your Cape Town hotel and drives the short distance to the Signal Hill Road trailhead. The first half is a steady gravel switchback through coastal fynbos with constantly opening views over the Atlantic Seaboard.
Above the saddle the trail becomes hands-on — short chain sections and ladders on solid rock. Nothing technical, but a true adventure feel. The summit is broad and safe, with plenty of space to take in the panorama, enjoy a trail snack and let the light do its thing.
We descend the same route at a relaxed pace, normally arriving back at your hotel in time for breakfast on a sunrise hike, or dinner on a sunset hike.
- Hotel pickup included
- Sunrise or sunset options
- 360° summit panorama
- 1
Signal Hill Road trailhead
Hotel pickup, short drive, gear check and safety briefing.
- 2
Spiral ascent through fynbos
Switchbacks with continuously opening Atlantic Seaboard views.
- 3
Chain & ladder section
Short hands-on rock sections with secure chains, easily managed with a guide.
- 4
Summit panorama
360° views over Table Mountain, Camps Bay, Robben Island and the Twelve Apostles.
- 5
Descent & hotel drop-off
Same route down at an easy pace, then back to your hotel.
Safety on this route
- All hikes led by a registered mountain guide trained in wilderness first aid
- Real-time weather monitoring with route changes if conditions turn
- Private hikes — your guide looks after your group only
- First aid kit and emergency communications carried; headlamps provided where needed
All hikes are weather dependent. The guide may change the route, start time or cancel the hike if conditions are unsafe. Guests must advise fitness level, age group, medical conditions, fear of heights and any mobility concerns before booking.
What's included and excluded
What's included
- Private registered hiking guide
- Return hotel pickup and drop-off within the central Cape Town pickup area (suitable transport arranged for your group size; for 7–10 guests any additional transport costs are quoted before confirmation) — confirm your hotel when enquiring
- Bottled water
- Trail snacks
- Headlamps where needed for sunrise, sunset or low-light hiking
Not included — paid separately
- Table Mountain cableway tickets
- Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden entrance fees
- Other reserve or attraction entrance fees
- Personal travel insurance
- Meals beyond the included trail snacks
- Optional guide gratuities
- Personal hiking clothing and footwear
- Additional transport for groups of 7–10 where required
- Any separately quoted additional guide arrangements
Private Hike Pricing
Pricing for 1–10 guests
All Cape Town hikes are private guided hikes for your group only. Prices include a private registered hiking guide, bottled water, trail snacks, headlamps where needed, and return hotel pickup and drop-off within the central Cape Town pickup area — confirm your hotel when enquiring. Larger private groups are welcome and we arrange suitable transport for your group size. The published hiking rates cover 1–10 guests; for 7–10 guests, any additional transport or guide costs are quoted separately before confirmation. Groups of 11 or more are welcome and receive a custom quotation.
| Guests | Total Private Hike Price | Price Per Person |
|---|---|---|
| 1 guest | R2,500 | R2,500 pp |
| 2 guestsPrice shown on hike cards | R3,200 | R1,600 pp |
| 3 guests | R3,900 | R1,300 pp |
| 4 guests | R4,400 | R1,100 pp |
| 5 guests | R5,000 | R1,000 pp |
| 6 guests | R5,700 | R950 pp |
| 7 guestsTransport & guide arrangements quoted separately | R6,650 | R950 pp |
| 8 guestsTransport & guide arrangements quoted separately | R7,600 | R950 pp |
| 9 guestsTransport & guide arrangements quoted separately | R8,550 | R950 pp |
| 10 guestsTransport & guide arrangements quoted separately | R9,500 | R950 pp |
| 11+ guests | Custom enquiry — no published price | |
1 guest
Total R2,500
R2,500
pp
2 guests
Total R3,200
Price shown on hike cards
R1,600
pp
3 guests
Total R3,900
R1,300
pp
4 guests
Total R4,400
R1,100
pp
5 guests
Total R5,000
R1,000
pp
6 guests
Total R5,700
R950
pp
7 guests
Total R6,650
Transport quoted separately
R950
pp
8 guests
Total R7,600
Transport quoted separately
R950
pp
9 guests
Total R8,550
Transport quoted separately
R950
pp
10 guests
Total R9,500
Transport quoted separately
R950
pp
11+ guests
Custom enquiry
For 7–10 guests, additional transport arrangements and any necessary guide arrangements are quoted separately and are not included in the totals above.
- Headlamps are provided where needed for sunrise and sunset hikes.
Exclusions: Table Mountain cableway tickets, Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden entrance fees and other reserve or attraction entrance fees are not included and are paid separately by guests. Also excluded: personal travel insurance, meals beyond the included trail snacks, optional guide gratuities, personal hiking clothing and footwear, additional transport for groups of 7–10 where required, and any separately quoted additional guide arrangements.
Safety: All hikes are weather dependent. The guide may change the route, start time or cancel the hike if conditions are unsafe. Guests must advise fitness level, age group, medical conditions, fear of heights and any mobility concerns before booking.
Prices are shown in South African Rand and are subject to final confirmation before booking.
Weather & preparation
Best time of year
Year-round. Summer (Nov–Apr) gives clearer skies and earlier sunrises. Winter sunrises are slightly later and cooler — bring a warm layer.
What to bring
- Trail or hiking shoes with grip
- Light rain or wind layer
- Sunhat, sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen
- Small daypack (bottled water and trail snacks are provided)
- Camera or phone for the views
Lion's Head Hike — Sunrise & Sunset, answered
Related hikes
Easy 1.5–2 hours total, incl. transfers
Kloof Corner Sunset Hike
Short steady climb with a couple of short chain sections.
R1,200 per person — based on 2 guests booking privately. R2,400 total.
Moderate 5–6 hours total, incl. transfers
Kasteelspoort Hike — Twelve Apostles
Sustained climb with no scrambling; the optional Diving Board detour sits above steep drops.
R2,800 per person — based on 2 guests booking privately. R5,600 total.
Ask about this hike
Send us your dates to check availability for the Lion's Head Hike — Sunrise & Sunset. Our team will reply as soon as possible.
About the Lion's Head Hike Cape Town
The Lion's Head Hike Cape Town is one of the most rewarding ways to experience Cape Town's mountain landscape. South African Adventures runs it as a private, guided experience — with a private registered hiking guide, hotel pickup within the central Cape Town pickup area (larger groups welcome, with extra transport arranged as needed), and a route built around your fitness and the day's conditions.
Pair this hike with our Cape Point day tour, Constantia wine tour or any of our other Cape Town hiking tours to build a full Cape adventure itinerary. Get in touch on WhatsApp and we'll plan it with you.
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