Seven mother-of-all hiking trails to do in the Mother City

Cape Town is certainly home to some magnificent hiking trails and spots. From Lions Head to Woodstock Caves, these seven hiking trails in the Mother City are a must for all adventure-loving, nature-enthusiasts…

Lions Head

Quite possibly the most famous and popular hiking trail in the Mother City, Lions Head is an exciting and spectacular route that lets you experience the panoramic view of the sunrise over the city of Cape Town.

Admire the Atlantic seaboard and watch majestic Table Mountain come to light while seeing the sun appear from above the Hottentots Holland Mountains. Some scrambling along a couple of ladders and some exposure to height, but worth it all when you reach the summit.

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Platteklip

Probably the second most well-known hiking trail in the Mother City (after Lion’s Head), Platteklip is not as easygoing, despite its popularity. Sure, there’s not much climbing or scrambling involved, but there’s a lot of upward walking, which probably makes it the ideal route for a workout. It also provides a direct route to the summit of Table Mountain, for those who think taking the cable car is for lightweights.

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Woodstock Caves

As the name suggests, the Mother City’s Woodstock Caves hike takes you to a large cave with an epic view of the area of Woodstock and surrounds. It’s a relatively easy and family-friendly hike, so be sure to pack a picnic and enjoy the view, shade, and tiny waterfall while you’re up there.

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Skeleton Gorge

This point-to-point walk across Table Mountain starts from Kirstenbosch Gardens.

Starting out as an easy stroll through the picturesque gardens, the trail gives way to the steeper ascent of the gorge. Once in the gorge, you are surrounded by magnificent indigenous forest which provides you with welcome shade and stunning scenery.

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Maclear’s Beacon

At 21 metres above the Upper Cableway Station, Maclear’s Beacon is the highest point on Table Mountain. Plaques at the Upper Cableway Station point you towards the beginning of the hike and from there on, the trail is marked by yellow footprints.

If you do the Platteklip and Maclear’s Beacon trails in one go, you can truly say you’ve hiked from the bottom of Table Mountain to the very top. Epic!

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Constantia Nek to Kirstenbosch

A relatively easy walk on a dirt road and wooden track,  this trail consists of mild uphill sections but is mostly downhill and flat. Along the way, you will enjoy the greenery of Cecilia and Newlands forests and vast views of the slopes of Table Mountain, an aerial perspective of Kirstenbosch and views as far as the Cape Flats.

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Hoerikwaggo

Hoerikwaggo is the Khoi-San word for “mountain in the sea”, an appropriate description for a hiking trail that takes you along cliffs that rise high above the shoreline and allows hikers to perch upon the precipice and gaze out at the vast ocean.

The Mother City’s unique location – between mountain and sea – gives rise to some of the most diverse and spectacular landscapes, which are on show, as hikers make their way along sandy beaches, up mountainsides and through flourishing fynbos fields.

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