Lion's Head is the great protector over the Mother City Cape Town. It is also a great day hike easily accessible from multiple trail heads with expansive 360-degree views of Cape Town and Table Mountain.

I spent my time in Cape Town in the Seapoint neighborhood, which is just at the base of Signal Hill. There is a trail head nearby that gradually climbs up to a saddle-point between Signal Hill and Lion’s Head before the serious climbing starts. Though the hike is just 3-miles to the top, the last 0.5 mile requires all four limbs in ascending to the peak and is quite strenuous. I enjoyed the hike so much that I did it 10-times during my stay! There is also a main parking lot which you can start from that will get you to the top in about 1 mile. Though, it is quite popular and busy.

While Signal Hill may be the best place for a sunset, Lion’s Head owns the best sunrise. It takes some will power to get up at 3:30AM to make the hike, but catching the sun come up behind Devil’s Peak and Table Mountain is incredibly beautiful.