You are never out of options when it comes to hiking trails in Cape Town and though there are a few which may be a challenge to access, there are a few trails that are within accessible points in the mother city. One thing to note though, as short as the hiking trails may seem in distance, they are quite challenging.
If you are a beginner when it comes to hiking, I do not recommend starting your journey in Cape Town. You are much better chilling by the beach, enjoying a picnic at the Kirstenbosch botanical gardens, or sipping wine at one of the famous wine farms.
Most of the hiking trails are long, strenuous with a substantial elevation gain which you might spend a week painfully paying for if you know what I mean when it comes to muscles. So if you are in the mother city to enjoy yourself, don’t go hiking even if you score a date with a dude. The dudes from this city are famous for inviting out a girl on a hiking date, love yourself, and decline this kind of opportunity if it suddenly avails itself.
Without wasting more time here are the easily accessible hiking trails in Cape Town.
Lion’s Head Hiking Trail
From a distance, this hiking trail may mislead you into thinking it is quite easy, but it most certainly isn’t the easiest. As strenuous as it is, Lion’s Head offers some of the most ethereal views where you can see the city’s amazing blue waters as you climb towards the peak of the mountain. Along the way, you will discover some amazing caves where you can snap unique pictures for your Instagram with stunning views.
Lion’s Head is one of Cape Town’s famous hiking trails so it gets really busy despite the time of day. The trail is out in the open so pack some sunscreen, grab a sun hat and ensure you have enough water to keep yourself hydrated.
If you struggle with balancing yourself, you may carry a trekking pole as this will offer you great support. And to top it all, you pay absolutely nothing to hike Lion’s head. Though this trail is very much safe, I recommend tagging along with a friend or fellow solo tourist if you are on a solo mission. This is just to have support in a rare case where you might get injured, stuff happens so try not to hike alone.
Table Mountain Hiking Trail
Well, as experienced as I am with hiking, Table mountain is no child’s play and based on your fitness level, it may take up to 2 hours to summit this beautiful mountain. With its steep face, you are on a constant ascending journey, rock climbing along the path which in my opinion, is difficult.
This is in no way the kind of hiking you can tag children and elderly people on, it would be a better idea to let them experience this beautiful site using a cable motorcar which of course comes at a cost. As most Cape Town hiking trails are open, you still need to pack some sunscreen and wear a sun hat to protect yourself from the sun. And make no mistake, a 500ml bottle of water will not get you anywhere, go hard on the water part.
A group of friends and I made a mistake of carrying snacks without any water and it wasn’t long before we started to regret our careless decision, fortunately, Cape Town people are kind and one good angel offered us a bottle of water which we managed to save until the summit, bless your kind heart.
Newlands Forest
Newlands Forest is for everyone, even the laziest bunch can honestly try hiking in this area. You have moderate and difficult hiking trails which I find to be very inclusive for beginners and the experienced. If you have dedicated a day for this hike after you complete your hike, you can enjoy a picnic at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens and finally, if you have listed walking at the Tree Canopy Walkway in your bucket list, this would be your opportunity.
Table Mountain National Park
Though this may not be as easily accessible, you can hop on the city sightseeing bus. There is an entrance fee which is cheaper for locals if you produce your Identity document. Unfortunately for international tourists, the cost is a bit higher but nothing that has the chance to break your bank.
There are several hiking trails but it would be best to stick to the tourist section where you can see the famous Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. You will find the ocean view to be quite stunning. If you would rather enjoy other things while you are in Cape Town, you can skip this place. I found it fitting for those who are interested in historical landmarks and all, I could have stayed in the hotel and drink wine.
