HIKING IN CAPE TOWN
OUR TOP 10 HIKING TRAILS
Cape Town has recently been voted the best city in the world for the 7th year in a row. There is no doubt that the Mother City has a special magic in the air – it is a creative hub, birthplace of award-winning restaurants, art and fashion. What makes Cape Town so special is that it strikes the perfect contrast with cosmopolitan, urban chic experiences and beautiful natural surroundings. City lovers and outdoor enthusiasts come together to make the city so special.
We thought we’d celebrate this achievement by putting together our top 10 hiking trails in Cape Town, because sometimes you need a new perspective to truly appreciate how wonderful something is.
1. Lion’s Head
Lion’s Head is one of the most popular hiking trails in Cape Town, with some locals frequenting this iconic mountain peak almost every weekend when the weather is good. Sitting next to Table Mountain, Lion’s Head has magnificent panoramic views of the city, Atlantic Ocean and Table Bay. This hike is so popular that there is even the Lion’s Head Full Moon hike, when you can spot hundreds of little torch lights moving up and down the slope.
Starting Point: Signal Hill Road, at the base of Forestry Road.
Duration: 2 – 3 hours
Distance: 5km / 3 miles
Difficulty level: Beginner. There is some climbing required, however chains and ladders are there to assist you. If you have a slight fear of heights and want to avoid the climbing, there is a roundabout route. This will add approximately half an hour to the hike.
Things to note:
- Lion’s Head is described as a relatively easy hike. However, there are tricky parts to summit. It is essential that you take water, wear proper hiking or walking footwear and wear sunscreen.
- It’s also worthwhile to check the weather. We would avoid hiking if there is any chance of mist or rain.
2. The Pipe Track
The Pipe Track is one of the less strenuous hiking trails in Cape Town. It’s a flat walk and extremely beautiful. It has an interesting history as well, it was originally built to service the pipeline that supplied Cape Town with water from the Table Mountain dams. The hike takes you along the Atlantic coast, overlooking Camps Bay and has many magical spots to stop along the way and enjoy the views.
Starting Point: The junction of Kloof Nek road and Tafelberg Road.
Duration: 3 – 4 hours (1.5 – 2 hours each way)
Distance: 6km / 4 miles
Difficulty level: Beginner. There are a few steep hills, but nothing too difficult or strenuous.
Things to note:
- This hike has a lot of sun exposure, so make sure to wear sunscreen and a hat, and take water.
- We recommend hiking in the morning or evenings during summer, when there is more shade.
3. India Venster
India Venster is one of the more exciting and thrilling hiking trails in Cape Town. It is not for the fainthearted and does require a relatively good fitness level. There are a number of rock faces along the route that require climbing (luckily, there are stable and grooves in the rocks to help!). The challenge is all worth it, as the trail in ends with breathtaking views of the 12 Apostles and Atlantic Coastline. A lucky bonus is that after a short walk from the summit, you can catch the Upper cable car down.
Starting Point: The Front Table, the northern slopes of Table Mountain.
Duration: 3 hours
Distance: 3km / 2 miles
Difficulty level: Challenging. There is some climbing required, however staples are there to assist you.
Things to note:
- We recommend starting this hike in the early morning, especially in summer.
- If you have a slight fear of heights or walking along the edge of cliffs, we recommend trying one of the ‘flatter’ hikes, like the Pipe Track or Constantia Nek to Kirstenbosch.
4. Constantia Nek to Kirstenbosch
This is our favourite hiking trail in Cape Town if you’re looking for a family-friendly route. More of a walk than a hike, it takes you along dirt roads and wooden tracks, through the beautiful greenery of Cecilia and Newlands forests. This picturesque trail has the added plus of ending in the beautiful Kirstenbosch gardens, where you can treat yourself to breakfast or lunch at the gardens’ restaurant.
Starting Point: Constantia Nek
Duration: 2 hours (one way)
Distance: 5km / 3 miles
Difficulty level: Beginner.
Things to note:
- We recommend going in two cars and leaving one at Kirstenbosch, so that you don’t have to walk all the way back to Constantia Nek.
5. Devil’s Peak
This is also one of the most iconic hiking trails in Cape Town. It is an exhilarating hike, with the Saddle (the connecting point between Devil’s Peak and Table Mountain) being the most exciting part of the trail. There are three routes to the Saddle. The Tafelberg Road route is the easiest and best for beginner hikers. For expert hikers, there are the options of the ascent via Mowbray Ridge or the Newlands Ravine.
Starting Point: Tafelberg Road /Rhodes Memorial / Newlands Forest
Duration: 4 hours
Distance: 8.5km / 5 miles (from Tafelberg), 13km / 8 miles (from Rhodes Memorial)
Difficulty level: Beginner (Tafelberg route), Advanced (Mowbray route / Newlands Ravine)
Things to note:
- It can get quite windy towards the top, so be prepared to hold onto your hats!
6. Skeleton Gorge
Another popular Cape Town hiking trail, Skeleton Gorge, despite its rather ominous name, is one of the most well-maintained and signposted hikes. This hike takes you from one side of Table Mountain to the other, ending at Maclear’s Beacon, the highest point on Table Mountain. It starts off in the picturesque Kirstenbosch Gardens, and as you ascend the mountain, you’ll encounter a stream, endemic fynbos and striking rock formations. It is quite a steep hike, so it’s best for those with good fitness levels.
Starting Point: Kirstenbosch Gardens
Duration: 2 – 4 hours (depending on fitness levels)
Distance: 6.5km / 4 miles
Difficulty level: Challenging
7. Chapman’s Peak
Chapman’s Peak is another one of the more popular hiking trails in Cape Town due to the relatively short distance and easy terrain. This is one of the most beautiful spots in Cape Town with breathtaking views over Fish Hoek and Hout Bay and mountains protruding out of the bays. The trail has mixed terrain, with a few steep sections here and there. However, it isn’t so strenuous that you can’t enjoy the incredibly beautiful surroundings and views along the way. From June to December, you might even be lucky enough to spot whales.
Starting Point: Chapman’s Peak toll booths.
Duration: 1 – 2 hours
Distance: 5km / 3 miles
Difficulty level: Moderate
Things to note:
- You will need a day pass for safe parking and access to the trail. You can obtain this for free of charge at the toll booth.
8. Crystal Pools
This is a wonderful hiking trail – easy for reasonably fit hikers, and slightly challenging for beginners. It is quite a trek but with rockpools along the way and a beautiful waterfall at the end, it’s well worth it. This trail dotted with pools makes it as much a hike as an exciting swimming experience.
Starting point: Steenbras Nature Reserve entrance.
Duration: 3 hours
Distance: 5km / 3 miles
Difficulty level: Beginner / Moderate
Things to note:
- The hike is only open from 1 November until 30 April.
- You will need to acquire a permit beforehand as only 50 people are allowed to hike a day. This can be done here.
- Wear a swimsuit underneath your hiking clothes (and wear hiking / walking shoes) so that you can easily switch from hiking to swimming.
9. Elephant’s Eye Cave, Silvermine Nature Reserve
This is another hiking trail in Cape Town that the kids will love. It is a relatively easy and short hike in the Silvermine Nature Reserve, a popular spot for hiking, rock-climbing and mountain biking. This is a leisurely hiking trail that ends in a hole or cave, known as Elephant’s Eye. The views are spectacular, and perfectly accompanied by a picnic.
Starting Point: Silvermine’s Nature Reserve parking lot.
Duration: 3 – 4 hours
Distance: 8km / 5 miles
Difficulty level: Beginner / Moderate
10. Kloof Corner
The final hike of our favourite hiking trails in Cape Town is Kloof Corner. This one of the easiest Table Mountain hikes and a great alternative to Lion’s Head for watching the sunset. It is a great trail if you don’t have a lot of time (or energy) but still want to squeeze a hike in. Despite being short and simple, the views are still spectacular. It is quite steep but because it is not a long hike, it’s still a good trail for beginners and children.
Starting Point: The parking lot at the bottom of Tafelberg Road. Look for the signposted path across the road.
Duration: 20 minutes (one way), under an hour (both way)
Distance: 1.8km / 1 mile
Difficulty level: Beginner
Things to note:
- We recommend going in the evening with a few sundowners to enjoy the sunset (take a torch for the hike back).
