Where to hike in Cape Town today

Cape Town is easily one of the most popular tourist destinations in South Africa, with many beautiful sights to see. Many tourists and locals alike want to hike in Cape Town. Hiking is one of the best ways to enjoy the natural beauty of Cape Town and its surrounding areas. While letting you get away from the city and reconnect with nature.

There are over 25 hiking trails in Cape Town with varying degrees of difficulty. While this means there is something for everyone it can also make choosing one difficult. That is why we decided to put together this list of where to hike in Cape Town. So you can find the best hike Cape Town has to offer to suit your preferences.

Safety

Before we get to where to hike Cape Town there are a few things to keep in mind for your safety. While it is considered safe to hike in Cape Town, there are inherent risks when hiking, especially in South Africa where crime is a factor. That is why South African National Parks has released some rules to safely hike Cape Town. These are as follows:

• Don’t hike alone, four is the ideal hiking group size
• Plan your route and inform someone of it with an expected return time.
• Designate a hike leader and walk at the pace of the slowest member of your group
• If lost don’t split up, stay together and try to retrace your steps.
• Bring the right equipment hiking boots, caps, sunscreen, and waterproof clothing as the weather can change rapidly
• Bring enough water, and food in case of a delay
• In case of injury, assess the situation, then send two people back for help while the third stays with the injured.
• Take a fully charged cellphone, as you can always reach a place with cell reception faster than getting to a landline.
• Ensure you have all relevant emergency contact numbers saved

Following these safety guidelines can keep you safe while you enjoy hiking and exploring the wonders of Cape Town. There are also park rangers that patrol the area and are always close at hand.

Where to hike Cape Town

Now that we have covered how to safely hike in Cape Town. We can take a look at where our picks for the best places to go on a hike in Cape Town.

Lion’s Head

The most popular hike in Cape Town is easily the hike up Lion’s Head. This distinct slope next to Table Mountain provides stunning panoramic views of all of Cape Towns’ attractions. With the city spread out below, Table Mountain and the Twelve Apostles to the east, and the Atlantic coast to the west you really can see it all from the top of Lion’s Head.

The Lion’s Head trail is about 2km long taking between 2-3 hours roundtrip following a fairly easy spiral up the mountain. There is a bit of climbing near the top luckily there are handholds and chains to assist your climb. There is also a roundabout route, if you prefer to avoid the climb, it is quite steep and will add a half hour to the hike. As the most popular hike in Cape Town it is often busy, especially around sunset.

Platteklip Gorge

Another popular hike in Cape Town is the Platteklip Gorge hike. This hike is popular as it is the most direct path to the top of Table Mountain, making it popular with those who want to conquer Cape Town’s iconic mountain. It also has some spectacular views of the city and ocean as you make your way up the mountain. Additionally, the view from the top is hard to beat.

The Platteklip Gorge trail is 3km of upward walking that takes about 3 hours one way. Many people underestimate the challenge of this trail so be sure to rest often and give yourself enough time to catch the cable car down if needed. Another thing to keep in mind is that the trail has little shade so bring adequate sun protection. While this is a challenging hike it will give you bragging rights for the rest of your life, that you bested Table Mountain.

The Pipe Track

The Pipe Track takes you along the western side of Table Mountain, it is a great way to hike in Cape Town. As it allows you to see the beautiful fynbos the area is known for, with proteas blooming along the trail in the winter. While also providing breathtaking views of the Atlantic coastline following an old water pipeline running beneath the Twelve Apostles.

The Pipe Track is 6km long and takes roughly 4 hours round trip, depending on pace. It is mostly easygoing and flat until Slangolie Ravine where it becomes slightly tougher. Additionally, large portions of the trail are exposed to the afternoon sun, so be sure to bring adequate protection.

Chapman’s Peak

Another great hike Cape Town has to offer is the Chapman’s Peak hike. Starting along the iconic Chapman’s Peak drive turnaround point toll booth, it is the perfect way for road trippers to stretch their legs. While also supplying exquisite views of the surrounding area from 595 metres above sea level. The trail will take you through fields of proteas and ericas, and up a river valley letting hikers really get back to nature.

The Chapman’s Peak trail is relatively short about 4.6km round trip, taking about 2-3 hours to complete. The trail is mostly rocky steps with some rock scrambling to reach the beacon at the summit. It is important to note that you will need to get a free day pass at the toll booth to access the parking and hiking trail. This pass is only available when entering from the Hout Bay side.

Elephants Eye

A great hike Cape Town has to offer for those wanting to see a cave is the Elephants Eye trail. The cave is called that as this section of the Constantiaberg resembles an elephant’s head, and the cave is precisely where the eye would be. The trail is surrounded by beautiful wilderness covered in fynbos, with many viewpoints along the way. The cave is large and deep with enough moss and fern covering to make it feel mystical. Additionally, you will be greeted with sweeping views of the Constantia Winelands as you come out of the cave, and there is even a reservoir to cool off after your hike.

The Elephants Eye trail is about a 5km long round trip and takes about 2 hours to complete. The trail is fairly easy going starting as a jeep trail, before becoming a contour path, with a little rock scrambling as you get close to the cave. There is an entrance fee for this hike and the reserve is open from 07:00-17:00 in the summer and 08:00-16:00 in the winter.

These are our picks for some of the best places to hike Cape Town has to offer. So if you find yourself in Cape Town with the urge to get back to nature or to wander. Don’t hesitate to try one of these fantastic hikes to really see all the mother city has to offer.

You may also be interested in the best places to go camping