South Africa · HIKING & TREKKING

The 15 Best Hikes & Guided Walks in South Africa

88 tours  ·  from $11 a head

Lion’s Head before dawn, Table Mountain up the back, and the Drakensberg passes further east. These 15 are compared on climb, total time and whether a guide is required rather than merely sensible.

Cape Town: Lion's Head Sunrise or Sunset Hike - What the climb actually feels like
Evening Experiences, Hiking & Trekking, Morning, Tour Reviews, Tours in Cape Town

Cape Town: Lion’s Head Sunrise or Sunset Hike

1.Lion’s Head Sunrise or Sunset Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,084 reviews · from $46Our pick

Choose a sunrise or sunset ascent of Lion’s Head with a registered English-speaking guide such as Idrees, Kurt, or Codi. Expect a steady climb, scrambling, ladders, height exposure, and wide views of Cape Town, Table Mountain, Camps Bay, and the Atlantic. Headlights are supplied for sunrise hikes, and hotel pickup is available with selected options.

“We had an amazing experience hiking Lion’s Head at sunset with our guide, Kurt. He made the tour not only safe and well-organized, but also fun and inspiring with his knowledge and positive energy. The views were breathtaking, and Kurt knew the best spots to enjoy them. His passion for Cape Town and its nature really shines through, and he went above and beyond to make the hike unforgettable. Highly recommend booking a tour with him if you want a truly memorable adventure! Thank you Kurt!!”

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Cape Town: Lion's Head Sunrise/Sunset Hike - Starting at Signal Hill Road
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Cape Town: Lion’s Head Sunrise/Sunset Hike

2.Lion’s Head Sunrise/Sunset Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 921 reviews · from $65

Choose a sunrise or sunset climb of Cape Town’s Lion’s Head with guides such as Kurt, Codi, Jean-Michel, or Tauriq. Expect roughly three and a half hours of hiking, photo stops, local stories, ladders and rock steps near the top, plus headlamps for dark sections. Hotel pickup may be selected when booking.

“Fantastic sunrise hike with Codi! The views were incredible. Hotel pickup and drop off is great, especially as a solo female traveler. Codi is a fantastic guide and shared so much knowledge along the way.”

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Cape Town: Table Mountain Hike with an Expert Guide - Choosing among India Venster, Platteklip, Kasteelspoort, and Skeleton Gorge
Guided, Hiking & Trekking, Table Mountain Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Cape Town

Cape Town: Table Mountain Hike with an Expert Guide

3.Table Mountain Hike with an Expert Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 666 reviews · 3 hours · from $60

Hike Table Mountain with guides such as Brad, Robert, Kyle, or Vincent, choosing a route to match your ability. Expect scrambling, mountain views, fynbos, wildlife, photo stops, and practical safety help. The roughly three-hour hike finishes at the cableway, where you can buy your own ticket for the ride down, weather permitting.

“Robert was an amazing Guide. We had a great time with a Great Group. :)”

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Cape Town: Lion's Head Sunrise or Sunset Guided Hike - Starting at the Lion’s Head trail
Evening Experiences, Guided, Hiking & Trekking, Morning, Tour Reviews, Tours in Cape Town

Cape Town: Lion’s Head Sunrise or Sunset Guided Hike

4.Lion’s Head Sunrise or Sunset Guided Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 642 reviews · 3 hours - 210 minutes · from $38

Climb Lion’s Head with an English-speaking guide such as Robert, Lindy, Brad, or Brandon. Expect scrambling, chains, ladders, dark sections, and superb views over Cape Town, Table Mountain, the peninsula, and the ocean. Choose sunrise or sunset, with head torches, photos, videos, and optional pickup included.

“It was our first time to hike and our guide was so kind and helpful and patient with us. Thank you. He is the best guide in our many years of travel. If you don’t know which tour guide to use this is it.”

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Cape Town: Guided Lion's Head Hike at Sunrise or Sunset - Starting at Signal Hill Road
Evening Experiences, Guided, Hiking & Trekking, Morning, Tour Reviews, Tours in Cape Town

Cape Town: Guided Lion’s Head Hike at Sunrise or Sunset

5.Guided Lion’s Head Hike at Sunrise or Sunset

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 312 reviews · 3h 30m · from $56

Climb Lion’s Head with an English-speaking guide in a small group of up to eight. Choose sunrise or sunset, take the chains and ladders or the easier ridge route, and enjoy Cape Town, Table Mountain, and Atlantic Ocean views. Coffee, snacks, safety equipment, and photo help are included. Guides may include Fatima, David, Robert, or Santonio.

“Tour was excellent! Hendré is so much fun to hike with. Lots of local knowledge and very motivating for those doubting their hiking abilities. The route is so much better with the additional jokes and words of encouragement. Would highly recommend and hope to hike again with Hendré!”

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Hike Table Mountain or Lions Head in Cape Town Like a Local - Table Mountain routes for a different kind of outing
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Hike Table Mountain or Lions Head in Cape Town Like a Local

6.Hike Table Mountain or Lions Head in Cape Town Like a Local

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 266 reviews · from $22Best value

Join registered guide Phil for a roughly three-hour private hike on Lion’s Head or Table Mountain. Choose a basic or advanced route, set your own pace, and learn about Cape Town’s plants, animals, and mountain life. Transport, sunrise, sunset, and full-moon outings can be arranged for an extra fee.

“Phil was awesome! Enthusiastic, supportive and fun! We had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed our hike on Lions Head”

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Hike Table Mountain with a Guide - Choose Route - The views and the reward at the summit
Guided, Hiking & Trekking, Table Mountain Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Cape Town

Hike Table Mountain with a Guide – Choose Route

7.Hike Table Mountain with a Guide – Choose Route

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 199 reviews · from $65

Hike Table Mountain with a local guide, choosing between technical India Venster and steep Platteklip Gorge. Guides such as Codi, Miles, and Jean-Michel tailor the pace, explain the mountain, and help you reach the summit. The cable car ride down costs extra and depends on weather and operating conditions.

“This was something I will never forget. Our guide Jean-Michel was great, he made the hike fun and made me feel at ease. The route was filled with diverse challenges, gorgeous views and fantastic atmosphere. Highly recommend it.”

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Cape Town: Lion's Head Sunrise with coffee or Sunset Hike - Starting at the Lion’s Head car park
Coffee Experiences, Evening Experiences, Hiking & Trekking, Morning, Tour Reviews, Tours in Cape Town

Cape Town: Lion’s Head Sunrise with coffee or Sunset Hike

8.Lion’s Head Sunrise with coffee or Sunset Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 160 reviews · from $49

Join guides such as Patrick or Andy for a sunrise or sunset hike up Cape Town’s 669-meter Lion’s Head. Follow coastal viewpoints, ladders, chains, and short scrambles to the summit. Sunrise includes coffee or tea, while both options include a headlamp, safety gear, photos, and local insight.

“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.”

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Cape Town: Lion's Head Guided Hike at Sunset - Walking Through Cape Town’s Natural Side
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Cape Town: Lion’s Head Guided Hike at Sunset

9.Lion’s Head Guided Hike at Sunset

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 93 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $112

Join a small group of up to seven for a 3.5-hour guided sunset hike up Lion’s Head. Guides such as Stuart, Rob, Greg, and Fatima have led the route with local insight on plants, wildlife, history, and culture. Bring water, warm layers, sturdy shoes, and a flashlight for the descent.

“Stuart was the perfect guide for this tour. Thanx for doing this adventure-tour with me. I really felt safe with him, even in the thunderstorm, which suddenly came over us when we arrived at the top of lions head. For info: it makes life easier for the guides, if you do this tour fully equipped. That means: Water, raincoats, good shoes ( trail or hiking shoes ), good health condition and a headtorch really should be a must!”

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Cape Town: Lion's Head Sunrise Hike - Pickup Before Dawn and the Start of the Climb
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Cape Town: Lion’s Head Sunrise Hike

10.Lion’s Head Sunrise Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 67 reviews · 3 hours · from $93

Join a small group of up to 10 for a guided sunrise climb of Lion’s Head, 670 meters above Cape Town. Your English-speaking guide, such as Lynette, Kai, or Barry, helps you choose between the easier trail and sections with chains and staples. Pickup, water, a snack, and summit photos are included.

“The hike was amazing! Although we were a little bit afraid because we didn't have any hiking experience, our guide Barry was super calm and made the whole experience hassle and stress free. He even took pictures of us on the way! It was really nice and we would love to repeat it once we are back in Cape Town.”

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Lion's Head HIKE Table Mountain in Cape Town-South Africa - Six routes, six different mountain days
Hiking & Trekking, Table Mountain Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Cape Town

Lion’s Head HIKE Table Mountain in Cape Town-South Africa

11.Lion’s Head HIKE Table Mountain in Cape Town-South Africa

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 67 reviews · from $100

Choose a guided sunrise, sunset, or daytime route with Muki Venture, including Lion’s Head, India Venster, Platteklip Gorge, Pipe Track, Skeleton Gorge, or King’s Block House. Guides such as Muki, Nashaad, Shannine, Chisai, Hannes, and Chasia tailor the pace to your group. Pickup, poles, headlamps, and private transport are included.

“We had an amazing experience & definitely heading back there in January to do more adventures with Muki and try to extend our stay”

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Cape Town: Lion's Head Sunset Hike - Starting at Signal Hill Road
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Cape Town: Lion’s Head Sunset Hike

12.Lion’s Head Sunset Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 65 reviews · from $94

Join a professional guide for a roughly 3.5-hour Lion’s Head hike at sunrise or sunset. The 90-minute ascent winds around steep sections before opening to views of Cape Town, Table Mountain, the Twelve Apostles, and the ocean. Guides such as Rob and Stuart are praised for pacing, safety, and local insight.

“Fantastic guide. Knowledgeable. Fun. Sharp. I highly recommend. Great overall experience. * “Extra words” to fit minimum unnecessary text count requirements to leave a review.”

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Hiking Lion's Head for Sunrise or Sunset - The summit delivers the real payoff
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Hiking Lion’s Head for Sunrise or Sunset

13.Hiking Lion’s Head for Sunrise or Sunset

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 64 reviews · from $70

Climb Lion’s Head with a guide such as Patrick, Frank, or Andy, using ladders, chains, and hands-on rock sections before reaching Cape Town’s 360-degree summit view. Choose sunrise with coffee, sunset with a headlamp for the descent, and add hotel transfers if needed.

“Amazing trip with guide Frank, great for solo travellers and felt very safe. When climbing you start with an uphill slope and then it goes into steeper parts where you use hands and feet and climb ladders etc so good agility is important. After sunset came back in the dark with head torches. Highly recommend.”

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Table Mountain: Platteklip Gorge Hike - Pickup in Cape Town and the short ride to the trail
Hiking & Trekking, Table Mountain Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Cape Town

Table Mountain: Platteklip Gorge Hike

14.Table Mountain: Platteklip Gorge Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 48 reviews · 3 hours · from $93

Join a small English-speaking group of up to 10 for a guided climb up Table Mountain’s Platteklip Gorge. Your guide sets the pace, points out Lion’s Head, Signal Hill, Devil’s Peak, and Robben Island, and helps you reach the summit before you return by cableway. Pickup, water, and a snack are included.

“doable activity, just be positive about it. not foe those with knee, heart and lung problems though... our guide Leisl is very encouraging, very kind and very competent. see you in the Philippines Leisl, let's climb Mt Apo”

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Cape Town: Lion's Head Hike - The spiral route and changing views
Hiking & Trekking, Tour Reviews, Tours in Cape Town

Cape Town: Lion’s Head Hike

15.Lion’s Head Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 47 reviews · from $80

Hike Lion’s Head with OTC Adventures in a small group of up to six. Guide Lynette helps you handle ladders, chains, and staples on the climb to 360-degree views of Cape Town, Table Mountain, Camps Bay, Robben Island, and Table Bay. The hike takes about three hours and is especially striking at sunrise.

“Our sunrise hike up Lion's Head with Lynette was truly magical! Starting in the pre-dawn glow, the trail offered a thrilling adventure with ladders and chains, leading to the most breathtaking 360-degree views of Cape Town. As the sun rose ovRead more”

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