Cape Town has no shortage of extraordinary viewpoints — but two stand above the rest for sunset watching: Signal Hill and the summit of Lion’s Head. Both rise immediately above the city bowl and the Atlantic Seaboard, both are accessible in under an hour, and both offer views so spectacular that they stop conversation mid-sentence. This is how to make the most of either.
Signal Hill: The Easy Option with Maximum Payoff
Signal Hill rises 350 metres above Sea Point and the City Bowl, and you can drive almost to the top — which makes it accessible to everyone regardless of fitness level. The road winds up from the Bo-Kaap side of the mountain, passing the Noon Gun (a cannon that has been fired at midday every day except Sundays since 1806, a tradition maintained to allow ships in the harbour to set their chronometers) and arriving at a large parking area at the summit.
The view from Signal Hill encompasses the entire sweep of the Atlantic Seaboard — the beaches of Sea Point, Bantry Bay, Clifton and Camps Bay stretching south, with Lion’s Head rising immediately to the left and Table Mountain filling the skyline to the east. As the sun drops toward the Twelve Apostles mountain range behind Camps Bay, the light turns the ocean copper and gold. On a clear evening with a light wind, it is about as good as sunset gets anywhere in the world.
Signal Hill is very popular at sunset — arrive at least 45 minutes before sundown to find parking and claim a good spot. Bring a blanket, something to drink, and patience. The light changes fast and peaks quickly, but the afterglow can last another 30 minutes. Many Cape Town locals come here weekly — it never gets old.
Lion’s Head: Earn the View
Lion’s Head is the conical 669-metre peak that rises between Signal Hill and Table Mountain, directly above Camps Bay and Clifton. The circular hiking trail to its summit — approximately 5 kilometres — takes between 1.5 and 3 hours depending on pace, and involves some genuine scrambling on the upper section with chains and ladders bolted into the rock face.
The trail begins at the parking area on Signal Hill Road, off Kloof Nek Road, and loops around and up the peak in either direction — clockwise or anti-clockwise, with most hikers preferring anti-clockwise for the ascent. The lower section is a clear path through fynbos; the upper section requires hands and feet on rock, using the fixed chains and steel rungs to haul yourself up the steeper pitches. It is not technical climbing, but it is not a casual stroll either. Proper walking shoes are essential.
The 360-degree view from Lion’s Head summit is the finest in Cape Town. Table Mountain looms to the east in its full width. The City Bowl and harbour spread below. Camps Bay and the Twelve Apostles are directly below to the west. On a clear day you can see the full length of the Cape Peninsula to Cape Point in the south, and Robben Island sitting in the Atlantic to the north. It is a view that rewards every step of the ascent.
The Full Moon Hike
Lion’s Head full moon hikes have become a Cape Town institution. Once a month, on the night of the full moon, hundreds of hikers make the ascent in the late afternoon and descend after dark with headlamps, timed to watch the moon rise over the mountains while the city lights illuminate the bowl below. The effect — moonlight on the Atlantic, the city glittering, Table Mountain’s dark outline against the sky — is extraordinary.
Full moon hikes require no booking (the mountain is open to all), but the trail becomes crowded — particularly on summer full moons — so arrive early and bring a headlamp regardless of how bright the moon is. The descent in the dark is entirely manageable with a light, but do not attempt it without one.
Practical Information
The Lion’s Head trailhead is on Signal Hill Road, accessible by car or by the City Sightseeing Red Bus (Stop 5 at Kloof Nek). There is no entrance fee. The trail is open year-round but can be closed in high winds or after heavy rain when the upper rocks become slippery and dangerous. Always check the weather before setting out.
Paragliding from Signal Hill launches just below the Lion’s Head trailhead — if you want to combine the sunset view with a tandem paragliding flight, the timing works perfectly. Launch in the late afternoon and land on the Sea Point beachfront as the sun goes down. Mzansi Safari Tours can arrange tandem paragliding as an add-on to any Cape Town package.