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Cape Town Lion's Head and Signal Hill - South Africa
Lion's head is so called as it has the shape of a lion. With a little imagination it is easy to see a lion's head in the rock formations. The mountain lies on the right of Table Mountain and is separated by a pass that runs from Cape Town to Camps Bay.
In the past, Signal Hill was used to spot arriving ships, hence its name "Signal Hill". These ships were announced by the firing of a cannon from Signal Hill. The cannon was erected in 1890 by the British and was thought to protect the bay. The cannon is still fired today, although not for its original purpose. From Monday to Saturday the cannon is fired at noon. This is a tradition in Cape Town, and for many Capetonians it is a signal for their lunch break.
Many Capetonians and tourists meet an hour before sunset on the highest point of Signal Hill to enjoy the view of the entire city and the sunset. A wonderful experience is to take a picnic and, as the sun sets, watch the nightlife of Cape Town start to rise from its sleep. The lights begin to dance around and are really pretty to look at.
From Signal Hill one can view various sides of Cape Town. On the one side one can see Sea Point, Clifton, Bantry Bay, Camps Bay and the Waterfront, and on very clear days one can even see Robben Island. Many arriving ships wait in Table Bay to enter the harbour. On the other side of Table Mountain one can see the city of Blouberg with its endless white beaches. The Tygerberg and the wine region are also easy to see as well as the N1 and N2 freeways that snake their way through the landscape.
Many couples make use of the romantic setting on Signal Hill and enjoy spending peaceful evenings enjoying the beauty around them.
Signal Hill is very easy to reach. You only have to follow the road signs from the Cableway station. The approach from Kloof Street forks left to the cableway station and right to Signal Hill.
Lion's Head is about 669 meters high and can be reached by car. Capetonians like to climb this Lion's Head on the weekends. The hiking trails are well marked and there are sufficient parking areas. If you want to climb Lion's Head, start the hike at about 7:30am on the shadowy side. About an hour later you will reach the front of the Mountain and be in the sunlight. It will get warmer quickly so be sure to have enough water with you and do not forget to wear a hat. The final stage of the hike is a steep climb and you will need to use the chains to pull yourself up. On arriving at the summit you will enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view that you will never forget.
Take a break, head back at about 10am, and you will reach the shadowed side at about 11am. By doing this you will avoid the hottest part of the day and can enjoy a cool descent. There is a launching area for adrenalin junkies and Paragliders are often seen jumping off into the cool morning sky.
Centuries ago, Lion's Head was home to many wild lions but, sadly, they were driven to extinction by an ever-growing population.
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