South Africa · LIONS HEAD SUNRISE HIKES
Ninety minutes up in the dark, with chains and a ladder near the top, for the city bowl coming out of the shadow. These 15 are compared on start time, whether head torches and coffee are supplied and how much scrambling is involved.
Choose a sunrise or sunset climb of Cape Town's 669-meter Lion's Head with a registered English-speaking guide. Expect steady hiking, scrambling, ladders, and height exposure, plus city, ocean, Table Mountain, and Twelve Apostles views. Pickup may be available, and guides such as Kurt, Codi, and Idrees add local stories.
“Kurt is super helpful and I enjoyed his stories and jokes! Great experience!”
Climb Cape Town’s Lion’s Head with a local guide such as Kurt, Codi, Jean-Michel, or Tauriq, depending on the departure. Choose sunrise or sunset, use provided lights in the dark, stop for photos, and return to the trailhead after about 3.5 hours.
“Amazing hike! Kurt is a great guide. We had the best spots for pics, he also told us more about history. Would recommend to everyone!”
Join Widevision Travel for a small-group or private Lion’s Head hike with guides such as Lindy, Robert, Brad, Brandon, and Miguel. Expect a safety briefing, scrambling, photo stops, local flora and fauna stories, head torches, and sweeping views of Cape Town, Table Mountain, and the ocean.
“It was a truly amazing experience!! Our guide, Brandon was fantastic! He was on time to collect us from our hotel for both Table Mountain and Lions Head hikes. He was friendly and informative, and made us feel safe. I would highly recommend :)”
Join a small group of up to eight for a guided 210-minute climb of Lion’s Head with an English-speaking guide such as Fatima, David, or Robert. Choose the chains and ladders for a steeper finish, or take the longer ridge route. Coffee, snacks, safety gear, and first aid equipment are included.
“Great your and hike! To view Cape Town at sunset from lions head was one of the highlights of our trip. I would easily recommend this to anyone visiting Cape Town. David, our tour guide, made the tour all the more enjoyable and made sure we knew all the important aspects of the city and Lion’s head. Easy recommendation on my side!”
Join registered guide Phil for a private Cape Town hike around Lion’s Head or Table Mountain. Choose a basic or advanced route, ask questions as you go, and arrange sunrise, sunset, full moon, or paid pickup options. Bring water, sunblock, snacks, and suitable clothing.
“Loved every minute of it! Phil was great and so accomodating, an experience I will never forget and the view from the top is something pictures don’t even do justice”
Join Patrick, Andy, or another English or French-speaking guide for a sunrise or sunset climb of Cape Town’s 669-meter Lion’s Head. Expect steep paths, ladders, some scrambling, headlamps after dark, summit photos, and coffee or tea on the sunrise option.
“Was a great experience, I was alone in the group, so I got a personal tour of sorts. Special thanks to the guide, Patrick, who made the hike safe and interesting. Magnificent views throughout the entire hike.”
Hike Lion’s Head with an English-speaking guide and a group of no more than seven. You’ll climb rocky sections and ladders, learn about local plants, wildlife, history, and culture, then watch Cape Town light up after sunset. Guides have included Stuart, Rob, Greg, and Fatima.
“Stuart was the perfect guide for this hike! He guided us up there safely and offered us a helping hand when needed. :) And he had many interesting stories and facts to tell. In the end the view from the top of the mountain was just amazing! Thanks again Stuart for an awesome hike! PS: Keep in mind to bring a headlamp, since it‘s getting dark quickly on the way back.”
Start before dawn with a small English-speaking group and hike Lion’s Head to its 670-meter summit. Your guide handles the pace, chains, and route choices while you watch Cape Town brighten over Table Mountain, Robben Island, Camps Bay, and Sea Point. Pickup, water, and a snack are included.
“Lynette was absolutely great! It was magical to walk up the Lions Head! Would recommend it to everyone.”
Choose a Cape Town mountain route with Muki Venture’s accredited local guides, including Muki, Nashaad, Shannine, Chisai, Hannes, and Chasia. Pick Lion’s Head for 360-degree views, India Venster for scrambling, or Skeleton Gorge for forest. Sunrise departures, private transport, poles, and headlamps are available.
“Muki was a fantastic guide from beginning to end. He has been guiding on Table Mountain for 15 years and has never had an incident. We felt in very safe hands. He entertained us the whole way up by telling stories of past ventures, meaning thRead more”
Join a professional guide for a roughly 3.5-hour Lion’s Head hike, with a 90-minute ascent, city and ocean views, and sunset or sunrise light. Guides such as Rob and Stuart are praised for patient pacing and safety. Bring water, hiking shoes, and a warm layer.
“Fantastic guide. Knowledgeable. Fun. Sharp. I highly recommend. Great overall experience. * “Extra words” to fit minimum unnecessary text count requirements to leave a review.”
You’ll climb Lion’s Head with a registered guide such as Patrick, Frank, or Andy, using ladders, chains, and rocky steps to reach a 360-degree summit view. Choose sunrise with coffee, sunset with headlamps, and optional hotel transfers. The four-hour hike suits fit children aged 10 and older.
“This was so much fun and amazing even though our view was completely clouded over. Patrick was the perfect guide taking us to the mountain he clearly loves. We appreciate especially that he was able to take us on a same day booking. He kept us going and definitely kept an eye on our safety. We only wish we had more time to go on another hike with him!”
Join Cape Town Trails OG for a 3.5-hour guided Lion’s Head hike at sunrise or sunset. Local guides including Jarrod, Ryon, Miguel, and Vincent lead you along changing views, rocky sections, and the final scramble, with headlamps provided and time for photos, stories, and a summit snack.
“Me and my friend had a wonderful time hiking up Lions Head for sunrise with Jarrod. Pick up and drop off was very smooth and Jarrod stayed in touch with us regularly before the hike. Throughout the hike we felt very safe, learnt a lot about the diverse plant life and the history of Cape Town. The end part of the hike does contain a scramble and some ladders but totally worth it for the views. We enjoyed some coffee and biscuits at the top whilst watching the sun rise. Easily one of the highlights of our time in Cape Town. We would recommend Jarrod in a heartbeat to anybody…”
Join Geoff of Cape Hiker for a private or small-group Lion's Head sunrise or sunset hike. Hotel pickup, snacks, refreshments, safety guidance, and help on the chain and ladder sections are included. The 5.5-kilometer circular route takes you to wide views of Cape Town, Table Mountain, and the ocean.
“Geoff is a great guide! The views from the top are just amazing! Highly recommended”
Hike Lion’s Head with an English-speaking mountain guide such as Rob or Nick. Follow the jeep track, tackle optional chains and rock sections, and reach the summit for views of Cape Town, Table Mountain, and the Atlantic Seaboard. The small group is limited to 10 people.
“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An Incredible Hike with an Even Better Guide! We had the absolute pleasure of hiking up Lion's Head with Rob as our guide, and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. From start to finish, Rob was friendly, knowledgeable, and incredibly supportive. His passion for Cape Town and its natural beauty was contagious, and he shared so many interesting facts about the area that we’d never have known otherwise. Rob set a great pace and made sure we felt comfortable and safe throughout the climb. His energy and enthusiasm really motivated us, especially during the steeper parts! Plus, he knew all the best spots for photos and made…”
Join a guide such as Patrick for a two-hour, 10 km morning trail run around Lion’s Head and Signal Hill. You’ll climb gradually, watch sunrise over Cape Town, pass Cape Flora, and pause for views of Clifton, Camps Bay, Robben Island, and the Twelve Apostles.
“Wonderful morning on the trails. Safe, fun and beautiful!”
Pick a reserve, a coastline or a cellar.
