Iconic hikes
Some walks become famous for a reason. From the summit of Table Mountain to the dramatic coastline of Cape Point, these guided Cape Town hikes showcase the city's best-known trails and continue to inspire visitors from around the world. Whether you're visiting Cape Town for the first time or returning to explore more deeply, each hike offers something unforgettable.
Lion's Head
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Moderate
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3 hours
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+- 350 m ascent
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Ideal for reasonably fit walkers
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Best for sunset views
The trail corkscrews around the mountain, revealing new views at every turn, with the city bowl, Table Mountain, the Atlantic Seaboard, and the West Coast stretching out below you. It starts as a steady climb and gradually narrows into a more adventurous path.
As you near the top, you have a choice: scramble up short rock sections using chains and ladders for a quick ascent, or take the longer, gentler path around to the summit.
Maclear’s Beacon
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Easy to moderate
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2.5–3 hours
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Mostly level walking
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Ideal for families and casual walkers
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Highest point on Table Mountain
Take the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway to the Upper Cableway Station before setting off on a relatively easy walk across the summit plateau to Maclear's Beacon, the highest point on Table Mountain at 1,088 metres. Along the way, spectacular views stretch across the city, the Atlantic coastline, the Twelve Apostles, and the surrounding mountains.
Unlike many of Cape Town's famous hikes, this route is mostly level and unhurried, making it an excellent choice for families, visitors and anyone wanting to experience the top of Table Mountain without a strenuous climb.
Maclear's Beacon was erected as part of Sir Thomas Maclear's pioneering geodetic survey to help determine the Earth's shape and dimensions, adding a fascinating piece of scientific history to one of the Cape's most rewarding walks.
Noordhoek Peak
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Moderate
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3 hours
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Steady climb with rocky sections
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Ideal for reasonably fit hikers
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Verreaux's (Black) Eagle territory
Despite the proximity to the city, this hike feels wild and spacious with constantly changing views. We start near Silvermine Dam and climb steadily onto the ridge, where False Bay opens up below us. From the summit, the perspective flips, and suddenly you’re looking down on Chapman’s Peak Drive and Hout Bay.
It’s a varied, scenic walk and often wonderfully quiet. Bird lovers in particular will enjoy this route: the cliffs below Noordhoek Peak are home to a long-established Verreaux’s Eagle nesting site, and you may be lucky enough to spot these magnificent birds soaring overhead.
Constantia Corner
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Moderate
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3 hours
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Steady uphill climb
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Ideal for spring wildflowers
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Fynbos, forests and vineyard views
Perfect for flower lovers and anyone who appreciates Cape Town’s incredible fynbos, this walk starts at Constantia Nek. The trail heads steadily uphill through indigenous vegetation, with regular stops to catch your breath and soak up the views over the Constantia wine valley. In spring, the slopes are dotted with colour.
It’s a tougher climb than it first appears, but the scenery makes every step worthwhile.
Constantia Nek to Kirstenbosch
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Easy
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2.5 hours
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Gentle walking with gradual descent
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Ideal for families and leisurely walkers
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Forest, mountain and Kirstenbosch gardens
A gentle, relaxed walk that combines mountain views with beautiful forest and gardens, ideal for families or a slower day out.
We follow an old forestry road from Constantia Nek to a lookout with sweeping views across the Cape Flats, then continue along an easy contour path above Kirstenbosch. From there, we descend through the cool shade of Skeleton Gorge into the gardens themselves, finishing with a stroll among the lawns and indigenous plant displays.