Best Hiking Trails in and Around Cape Town
Written by Logan Tait
Cape Town and its surrounding areas have some of the most beautiful and rewarding hiking trails on Earth. With varying levels of difficulty and scenery, hiking around Cape Town can be fun for the whole family.
Read on to discover our best hiking trails in and around Cape Town!
Lion’s Head in Cape Town
Lion’s Head is a mountain that stands 669 metres above sea level and rises seemingly out of the Cape Town’s City Bowl. The beautiful escarpment is covered in endemic plants, known as a shale peninsula renoster veld. The hike up Lion’s Head is immensely popular with locals and tourists alike. The walk offers uninterrupted panoramics of the city, Table Mountain, the Atlantic Ocean, Table Bay, and Robben Island. On a full moon, many Capetonians gear up with head torches and lamps and summit the small peak. However, Lion’s Head is also the perfect spot to watch the sunrise over the city or the sunset over the Atlantic Ocean.
The starting point for this hike is at the foot of the mountain, on Signal Hill road. The parking area is conveniently located on this road, too. A bonus of this hike is that it is completely open to the public and requires no fee.
The route takes between 2 or 3 hours and is a 5 kilometre round trip. There are several ways up to the top for hikers to choose from. A rock-scramble with chains and ladders can provide a thrill for those who are so inclined, otherwise an easier meandering route is available too. The trail is remarkably easy to follow and it is difficult to get lost.
Platteklip Gorge on Table Mountain
After Lion’s Head, Platteklip Gorge is one of Cape Town’s most well-known trails. The route takes hikers straight up to the top of Table Mountain and has splendid views of the city below and Table Bay. Platteklip Gorge, meaning flat rock gorge, is known for its large flat rocks and impressive sandstone cliffs. This Table Mountain hiking route is covered in fynbos, and a river passes through it. On the hike, you will find a variety of indigenous fauna and flora.
The track is 2.5 kilometres, one way, and consists of a rocky single track and stone steps. The hike usually takes around 3 hours to complete. Although the route may be the fastest and most popular way up Table Mountain, it is certainly not the easiest trail. As such, a relatively good level of fitness is required. This walk is made complicated by weather conditions - it is not advisable to hike this trail on very hot days or during periods of bad weather including wind, rain, or excessive cloud cover. Parking is easily accessible along Tafelberg Road and the starting point of the hike is alongside the lower cable station.
At the summit, you can walk to the highest point on Table Mountain - Maclear’s Beacon. This is a stone-built cairn sitting at 1.086 metres above sea level. Instead of walking down Platteklip Gorge, you can buy a cable car ticket and get a lift down in the world-famous Table Mountain Cable Car.
Cecilia Forest in Constantia
Cecilia Forest is located in the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town and offers a beautiful 5 kilometre loop with nearly 500 metres of elevation. The hike begins off of Rhodes Drive and offers easy parking accessibility. Along the way you can enjoy the greenery of Cecilia and Newlands forests, vast views of the slopes of Table Mountain, an aerial perspective of Kirstenbosch, and even views as far as the Cape Flats and the Winelands. The trail is particularly beautiful in spring when the flowers and fynbos show off their splendour.
A long but mild ascent takes hikers to a beautiful waterfall. The waterfall is not very big, but offers a perfect chance to enjoy refreshments and snacks as you catch your breath. The loop takes roughly 2 hours to complete and is easy enough for children or anyone with an average fitness level.
Jonkershoek Nature Reserve in Stellenbosch
Jonkershoek Nature Reserve is situated near the historic town of Stellenbosch and offers 4 challenging hiking trails. This lush nature reserve is just an hour away from Cape Town and is the starting point for the historic Eerste Rivier as well as 3 other rivers. The rugged Jonkershoek Mountains, which form part of the Boland Mountains, are ideal for hiking enthusiasts. The area is rich in animal and plant life, with over 1.100 plant species and a variety of small mammals, birds, and reptiles. Hikers should be on the lookout for berg adders, puff adders, boomslang and Cape cobras.
There are various short walks available in the reserve. While its most famous hikes range between 5.5 kilometres and 18 kilometres. We recommend the Tweede Waterval trail which is 6.5 kilometres long and takes roughly 2 hours to complete. This trail is an easy ramble along the Eerste River, past Eerste Waterval, followed by a steep climb along a gorge to the foot of Tweede Waterval. Please note, the path is slippery when wet. Lizards are often seen basking in the sun, the bird life is thriving and frogs can be heard croaking in the water as the path remains parallel with the river. An abundance of fynbos and other indigenous plants line the slopes of the rocky mountains and the green paradise is incredibly quiet and pristine. This hike offers many beautiful spots to stop off and enjoy a dip in the fresh mountain stream or indulge in a picnic.
A permit is required to enter the reserve and these are sold at the front office at the entrance gate.
Crystal Pools in the Kogelberg Nature Reserve
The Crystal Pools hike is aptly named as it offers a trail to pools of refreshing mountain water, just an hour outside of Cape Town near Gordon’s Bay. The glorious Crystal Pool hiking trail begins on the R44 road, just after the Steenbras River bridge. Permits must be booked ahead of time and will be checked on arrival. As part of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, the area is home to over 1.600 different plant species and is known for its beautiful sandstone fynbos. The area also hosts African wildcats, Cape clawless otters, large spotted genets, caracals, Cape foxes, and leopards, but most of the cats in this area are nocturnal and rarely seen.
The trail is clearly marked with little yellow footprints painted along the way to ensure you stay on the path. At roughly 8 kilometers long, the hike takes about 4 hours to complete. However, you may want to allocate more time as the beautiful mountain pools and waterfalls offer hikers a fantastic opportunity to swim, tan, and chill. The first pool is roughly 45 minutes from the start of the trail and offers a good stop for a snack or break in the shade. For some an incredible swimming and kloofing opportunity, it is best to hike further out to the second pool. This takes about another 10 to 15 minutes. Here, there is also a large cascading waterfall. Jumping off of the rocks into the pools is exhilarating, but it is important that you should only undertake this with a professional guide or an expert hiker who is familiar with the route and the pools.
With so many spectacular hikes, the Cape Town area is truly a treasure trove of adventure. Are you ready to experience them for yourself? Head over to our website to book your trip.
