Why Hiking in Cape Town Will Elevate Your Journey

- By Robyn Chloe Cockrell

When you picture Cape Town, you might see shimmering beaches, endless vineyards, and the

dramatic flat-topped Table Mountain. But here’s a secret: the true magic of this city isn’t just

admired from afar, it lies underfoot, to be kicked up step by step, and breathed in on its unique

trails.

Hiking here isn’t about ticking off another activity. It is about standing on a ridge with the wind in

your hair, the Atlantic at your feet, and the mountains rising all around you. It is about pausing for a

steaming cup of coffee mid-hike as the clouds roll in, or clinking glasses of fresh juice with your guide

at the summit while the sun sets the sky on fire. Sometimes it is even reaching the summit and being

treated to a flaky croissant, a simple indulgence that feels extraordinary after the climb.

And here’s the best part: you are not doing it alone. Our guides are more than leaders. They are

specialists in their field, people whose passion for Cape Town’s mountains is contagious. They know

every curve of the trail, every secret lookout, and every story the rocks could tell. Their enthusiasm

makes each step lighter, and there is truly no one better to enjoy such a thrilling adventure with.

Here are five unforgettable hikes you can experience with us, and why we have handpicked each

one to showcase the very best of Cape Town and beyond.

1. Lion’s Head Sunrise or Morning Hike

   

   View from the top of Lions Head with Table Mountain in the distance.

   Climbing Lion’s Head is an awakening. As you wind your way upward, each turn reveals a

   new angle of the city until suddenly, you are rewarded with full-circle views of Cape Town,

   Table Mountain, the 12 Apostles, Devils Peak and the Atlantic Ocean sparkling below. This

   peak, affectionately called the Pride of Cape Town, draws more than 200,000 hikers every

   year. Standing at the summit as the horizon blazes pink and gold, you will feel like you have

   been let in on Cape Town’s best-kept morning secret.

   
   

2. Table Mountain via Platteklip Gorge (Return by Cable Car)

   

   View from Table Mountain overlooking Cape Town City

   There is something ancient and powerful about Table Mountain. It is the icon of the Mother

   City, a proud member of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, and one of the oldest

   mountains on Earth. Climbing Platteklip Gorge, the city slowly falls away until all you can

   hear is the crunch of your boots, the wind through the fynbos, and the boulders towering

   above you. And if excitement takes over, let it out, your voice will bounce back in echoes

   through the gorge, carrying your joy and enthusiasm across one of the world’s greatest

   natural wonders.

   This hike is best done in the afternoon, when the light softens and you can unpack a little

   picnic at the top, watching the sun sink behind the horizon. And if you are in the mood for

   something special, you might even sip an Aperol Spritz on tap from Kloud Bar at the summit,

   the only bar in the world where this iconic drink is served on tap, and with views to match.

   Descend by cable car as twilight wraps the city in shades of gold and purple. It is pure magic.

   
   

3. Chapman’s Peak Hike

   

   Along the Chapman's Peak trail, beautiful views of Hout Bay and Chapman's Peak

   Chapman’s Peak offers a completely different perspective of Cape Town. Instead of looking

   out over the bustle of the city, you gaze south across Hout Bay and into the vastness of the

   Atlantic. The cliffs here feel wild and cinematic, with each viewpoint more breath-taking

   than the last. But it is not just about the scenery. These mountains are layered with stories.

   Leopards once prowled these ridges, and stone cottages still whisper of the early settlers

   who carved out lives in this rugged landscape. It is a hike that blends history, nature, and

   some of the most dramatic views the Cape has to offer.

   
   

4. Cape Point Hike

   

   The locals at Cape Point

   Few places in the world feel as raw and untamed as Cape Point. This is the most south-

   westerly point of the African continent, where the ocean crashes in a spectacle of waves and

   wind. The hike takes you through a nature reserve alive with wildlife. Antelope graze the

   hillsides, baboons dart between rocks, and seals bask in the surf.

   The experience ends with a picnic buffet in one of the most spectacular settings you could

   dream of. By the time you have stretched out on the grass, surrounded by cliffs and ocean,

   every bite feels like well-earned indulgence.

   
   

5. Cederberg Hiking Retreat

   

   The stunning contrasts of colour in the Cederberg

   The Cederberg is not Cape Town’s backyard. It is another world entirely. A couple of hours

   north of the city, you step into a wilderness of ochre cliffs, sculpted rock formations, and

   wide-open skies. Unlike the lush greenery and fynbos of the Cape, the Cederberg greets you

   with dry, fiery landscapes that feel almost Martian in scale.

   Here, you will hike past caves painted with San rock art, cool off in mountain pools, and

   watch the Milky Way blaze across the night sky like a river of light. This is more than a hike.

   It is a multi-day retreat into ancient landscapes, where time slows and nature feels infinite.

   
   
   
   

Why These Trails?

Each of these hikes offers something unique. Sunrise magic, geological wonder, history, wildlife, or

pure wilderness. Together, they showcase every side of Cape Town and beyond.

And when you hike with us, they are tailored entirely to you. Our guides know how to set the right

pace, when to pause for photos, and where to savour a glorious refreshment stop that feels almost

magical. Whether it is coffee warming your hands, fresh juice cooling you at the summit, or a simple

croissant that somehow tastes like the best you have ever had, every pause becomes a memory.

There are very few places on earth where you can step straight out of a vibrant city and immediately

find yourself surrounded by raw, untouched nature. Cape Town is one of them. Here, mountains rise

up from the streets, and within minutes of leaving the city you’re on a trail that feels a world away.

And once you venture further into the Western Cape, the magic only deepens. Landscapes transform

before your eyes every few minutes, from ocean cliffs to vineyards, wildflower fields, and endless

mountain passes.

Cape Town will wow you with its restaurants, wine farms, and culture. But it is the hikes that will let

you feel the soul of the city. Once you have stood at the edge of Cape Point, greeted sunrise from

Lion’s Head, or watched the stars blaze above the Cederberg, you will understand. Hiking here does

not just add to your journey. It transforms it.

So the only question is: Which trail will you take first?