Sunrise at Lion's Head
One of the several reasons I had the overwhelming desire to travel to Cape Town was the allure of the mountains -- Table Mountain, Devil's Peak, Lion's Head, the Twelve Apostles, and so many more -- I wanted to hike them all. I started researching a number of hiking clubs in the area which lead small groups up these iconic peaks, and eventually found a few of interest!
The group started the hike at 6:00am to arrive at the summit to watch the sun rise over the eastern shores of the cape, Robben Island, the city bowl, and Camps Bay. In all the books, guides, vlogs, and websites I've encountered, all mention Lion's Head as an easy and casual hike suitable for families with young children. I was excited for the early morning adventure.
About two-thirds up the mountain the trail morphs into a route with some decent exposure and scrambling over rocks marked by steel chains and heavy duty climbing staples. Rounding the corner under the cover of night, these aids certainly came as a surprise since the rest of the trail was a simple Jeep path. Hiking at quite a vigorous pace, we made it to the summit around 35-40 minutes later. As the sun started to rise, my eyes transfixed on the horizon, my pulse returning to a normal resting rate, it suddenly became real that I was here.
... and what a beautiful realization it was.
With plans to hike Lion's Head again in the future, I promise better quality photos!
