If Lion’s Head is the ultimate ‘cool kid’ when it comes to popular hiking trails in the Mother City with its breathtaking views and kaleidoscopic sunset scenes, then Little Lion’s Head is undoubtedly the younger sibling serving equally picturesque views on a silver platter.
Also read: The Lion’s Head hike: A guide to Cape Town’s iconic trek
Located between Hout Bay, Sandy Bay and Llandudno, Little Lion’s Head may be small in comparison to its hiking siblings, but the surrounding vistas speak for themselves – after all, dynamite comes in small packages.
Also known as Klein Leeukoppie, this is a relatively short hike for those searching for quick adventure. The hike is steep, but not for too long, so you might find yourself huffing and puffing for a few moments (if at all) as you make the trek.
Start from Valley View Drive, at the top of Mount Rhodes Estate in Hout Bay. It’s roughly a 30-minute drive from the city centre, with secure parking on the side of the road, within the estate.
Leave your car and enter through the pedestrian gate to continue along the trail. The gate remains open from 6am to 8pm in summer and from 8am to 6:30pm in winter. If the gate is locked, you’ll need to buzz the intercom for security to come and open it for you.
Continue along the road and take the left fork at the end. You’ll see a trail leaving the tarmac towards the top of Little Lions Head, and after 100 metres, you’ll meet a much clearer trail heading upwards.
The last section involves a slight challenge and will require some manoeuvring over rocks, but once you reach the destination, it’s so worth it.
The hike will take less than an hour to get to the top. Once you reach the glorious finish line, you’ll be able to soak in 360-degree panoramas of the beaches, Hout Bay and Llandudno, as well as the mountains of Karbonkelberg, Constantiaberg and the Table Mountain massif to the north.
We suggest bringing along a flask to keep you warmed up as you savour these precious kaleidoscopic moments that only Cape Town can offer.
Details:
- Starting point: Mount Rhodes Drive, Hout Bay
- Length: 2.4km out-and-back
- Difficulty: Entry level distance but involves uphill hiking for a short distance and a few short scrambling sections before reaching the top.
- Duration: 2 hours
Cape {town} Etc discount: Experience the beauty of the Hottentot Holland Nature Reserve with a thrilling guided Zipline adventure for R850 (valued at R995). Get it here.
Also read:
Kloof Corner: The perfect hike for sunrise and sunset chasers
Picture: Trail Fit SA / Facebook
