Cape Town is a nature lover’s paradise. With countless hiking and walking trails throughout the city and surrounds, there is truly something to offer for everyone. Find both adrenaline-inducing mountainside trails and slow-paced family nature walks, each offering the same stunning views of the city, mountain scenery, and Atlantic Ocean stretch.
No matter which trail tickles your fancy, it’s important to put safety first. Always bring a map, charged cell phone, water, and snacks for the journey. And remember to layer up, as the famous Cape wind can pick up at any time. With hundreds of locals and visitors transversing these trails daily, safety is a precaution that leaves lots of room for a fun-filled exploration of Mother Nature.
Walk up Table Mountain from the City: Platteklip Gorge
Cape Town’s most popular walk-up Table Mountain is visible from the city. A jagged edge that seems to cut the mountain in half, this four-hour round-trip hike treats you to impressive views and mountainside life. While the hike can at times be steep, it’s a route taken by all ages and with a number of points for resting and refueling. Once you’ve reached the top, the epic views will more than make up for the thigh-burning that’s been endured. If the walk down seems too much, opt for a trip on the Table Mountain Cableway.
- Departure: Tafelberg Road, Cape Town, 8001
Hike to Table Mountain top from Kirstenbosch Gardens: Skeleton Gorge
This hike begins at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and is one of the many routes visitors can take at the garden. It’s also one of the more taxing, as it takes you on a 5.5-hour round-trip that follows Skeleton Stream, with patches of scrambling over rocks and boulders. Views along the way include Devil’s Peak and Lion’s Head, Table Bay, and Robben Island. Once you’ve reached the top, take time to relax and admire the fynbos, the Cape’s indigenous vegetation, and the awesome rock face of the gorge.
- Departure: Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Rhodes Drive, Newlands, Cape Town, 7735
Walks around ‘Table Top’ on Table Mountain
If you’re looking for a breath-taking dose of nature without too much exertion, this Table Mountain summit stroll is for you. Offering 360-degree scenery that includes an unobstructed ocean view and the city’s famous mountains, this route is pretty much as flat as it gets. Beginning and ending with a trip up the Cableway, hikers follow the length of the tabletop to the highest point of the mountain, before looping back along the front edge of the mountain for a 4-hour round-trip journey.
- Departure: Tafelberg Road, Cape Town, 8001
Walk to Lion’s Head on Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard
Cape Town’s most popular walk, Lion’s Head is an easy trail that can be managed by almost any level of hiker. The route takes you on a loop around the mountain, offering spectacular city views followed by a bird’s eye view of the local beachfront. The walk isn’t overly strenuous, but a short tricky section is covered by a series of chains and ladders. This can be avoided by taking a child-friendly alternative route. The perch at the mountain’s peak is perfect for taking a well-deserved break and photoshoot, before descending for the second half of the three-hour round-trip.
- Departure: Signal Hill Road, Cape Town, 8001
Walk around Signal Hill
Lion’s Head mountain dominates most of the city’s landscape, with Lion’s rump, or Signal Hill, laying smack in the centre near the Green Point Stadium. A walk from this part of the mountain is a short 1-hour round-trip that offers intimate city views. Most notable is the unfolding of the Atlantic seaboard neighbourhoods of Sea Point and Fresnaye, and the colourful and culturally significant Bo Kaap neighbourhood. The hike takes you directly in the line of Lion’s Head, with the bright green roof of the landmark Muslim Kramat marking your return point.
- Departure: Signal Hill Viewpoint, Signal Hill Road, Cape Town, 8001
Walk above Camps Bay along the Pipe Track
The Pipe Track is a route along the lower slopes of Table Mountain and is an accessible and popular walk that’s popular for all ages. Running below a series of peaks known as the Twelve Apostles, it follows a water pipeline that served 1th Century Cape Town. The route hugs the mountainside and is ideal for those who want a glimpse of the Atlantic seaboard skyline and ocean beyond. A one-way path, walking to the end and back is a scenic and easy 4.5-hour journey, but hikers can turn around at any point along the way.
- Departure: Tafelberg Road, Cape Town, 8001
