Lion’s Head hike and Signal Hill paragliding

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Why this place

Most people take an hour to an hour and a half to reach the top, so allow two to three hours there and back. Near the top the path narrows beside steep drops. There is a ladder, a chain handrail and an optional climb up chains and metal staples. An easier route up the south-east ridge skips the chains and staples and still reaches the summit, though it ends with another ladder and a little scrambling. Coming down is harder than going up, so if the chains felt hard on the way up, take the easier route down. If heights bother you, or anyone in your group is tired, turn back below the chains.

Free to walk, no booking. Paragliding is booked with a tandem school.

Official visitor information ↗

Weather in late October and early November

• Expect days around 22°C to 24°C and nights around 11°C to 13°C in town, with about four days of rain a month. The summit is roughly 4°C cooler, and colder in the wind.
• The sun is strong and there is no shade on the trail. Midday UV can reach about 8 in October and 11 in November.
• This is when the south-easter starts to blow more often. It brings strong gusts and can put cloud on Table Mountain.

What to wear

• Trainers at the very least, and hiking shoes with a grippy sole if you have them. The top section is bare rock, so leave sandals at home.
• Light-coloured, loose clothing that covers your arms and legs keeps the sun off and keeps you cool. Trousers are easier than a long skirt or abaya on the ladders and chains.
• Pack a windproof jacket, even on a warm day.
• Wear a hat and sunglasses. Put on sun cream of SPF 30 or more before you start, and again every two hours.
• Use a small backpack so both hands are free for the chains, with a head torch in it in case you are slower than planned.

Water and the heat

• There is no water on the trail. Carry at least 1.5 litres each, more on a hot day, and sip as you go rather than waiting until you feel thirsty.
• Plan to be off the trail between about midday and 3pm.
• Signs of heat exhaustion: headache, dizziness, nausea, cramps, and heavy sweating with pale, clammy skin. Stop, sit, wet the skin and sip water. If someone is no better after 30 minutes, or becomes confused, call 021 937 0300.
• If you are fasting, pick another day. If you go anyway, go at first light, keep the pace easy and carry water in case you need to stop and drink.

Before you set off

• Check the forecast the night before and again in the morning. If the top is in cloud or the wind is strong, choose another day.
• Go with others: rescue teams suggest a group of four. As a couple, go when the path is busy, or book a local guide.
• There have been muggings on Lion’s Head and Signal Hill. Keep your phone and cash out of sight, and if someone confronts you, hand things over.
• Tell someone your route and when you will be back. SafetyMountain, a free WhatsApp tracking service run by volunteers, will check you in and out. SafetyMountain ↗
• Save 021 937 0300 for Wilderness Search and Rescue, and charge your phone. Rescue is free in South Africa, so call early.
• Parking on Signal Hill Road fills up on fine evenings. Take an Uber to the start instead.

Sunset and Maghrib

• Asr is around 4.10pm and Maghrib between 7.10pm and 7.25pm from 25 October to 10 November. See today’s prayer times
• The safer plan: pray Asr, be walking by 4.30pm and leave the top at least an hour before Maghrib. You will be down around Maghrib, while it is still light.
• Staying for sunset at the top means praying Maghrib there and walking down in the dark. If you want that, go with a local guide and a head torch each.

Paragliding from Signal Hill

• Several tandem schools fly from the hill: Cape Town Tourism lists Parapax, and AirVentures and Cape Town Tandem Paragliding fly here too. A flight costs R1,850 with Parapax, including park permits, and R1,900 with AirVentures (prices checked October 2026). Photos and video are extra.
• Book with a school that gives its SACAA training-organisation number.
• You run a few steps, take off and fly for about ten minutes, usually landing on the grass by the Sea Point promenade. Most schools take you back up to your car; check when you book. Allow about an hour.
• On a tandem you are strapped into the harness with the pilot for the whole flight. If you would rather fly with a woman pilot, ask when you book.
• Signal Hill flies when the wind comes from the north round to the west and stays under about 30 km/h. A south-easter grounds it. In a south-westerly some schools launch from Lion’s Head and land in Camps Bay instead.
• Early morning and late afternoon are usually calmest, and the first flights can go from about 6am. Book for early in your stay and expect a call that morning to confirm or move your flight.
• Parapax and Cape Town Tandem Paragliding take passengers from 14, and weight limits differ between schools. Tell the school about any medical condition or pregnancy when you book.
• Wear closed shoes with a firm grip, long trousers and a light windproof layer. Parapax includes the helmet. Avoid a loose scarf, which can catch in the harness; a fitted headscarf with the ends tucked in should sit comfortably under the helmet.
• If the weather stops a flight, AirVentures moves it at no extra charge and Parapax does not charge at all. Cape Town Tandem Paragliding charges in full if you cancel within 24 hours, so read the terms before you book.

Make a day of it

• Signal Hill, the Noon Gun and the kramats
• Sea Point Promenade, where the Signal Hill flights land

Plan your visit

Area

Signal Hill Road

Plan ahead

Free to walk, no booking. Paragliding is booked with a tandem school.

Allow

2 to 3 hours for the hike; about an hour for a flight