Green Point, Cape Town? And hike Lions Head

It depends on where you're staying. We usually stay at The Rockwell All Suites Hotel in Prestwich street in GreenPoint/De Waterkant, and it seems to be 2,5 km from the train station according to google maps. Can't remember it being that far away when I walked there.

I quite like Green Point, but as Cath already mentionned, it depends where you are staying at in Green Point. I would say about 3km away from the train station, so yes, its walkable (or take a bus, Uber or taxi). If you have an hour or so to spare, go for a walk on the Sea Point promenade or spend some time in the new and beautiful Green Point Park.

I havent hiked Lions Head, so cant help with that. Im not sure about hiking alone as a female.

Hi Marie

I see you want to do both a tour of Chapman's Peak and catch the train to Simonstown. A peninsula tour would usually include Simonstown as well as Chapman's Peak so you might be doubling up there.

Lion's Head is perfectly safe to hike alone. Starting from Ocean View drive to Signal Hill I'm not so sure about since I haven't done it myself. I know many people start from Top Road but that tends to be in the evening or on weekends. There aren't many paths on that side of Signal Hill so finding your way would be easy enough but rather err on the side of caution and take a taxi to Signal Hill Road (https://goo.gl/WykHOc) and start from there.

A nice option for Lion's Head is to do it during a full moon (though preferably go up for the sunset and hike down in the moonlight).

What does your Table Mountain tour include? It's pretty easy to hike up Table Mountain on your own (using Platteklip Gorge - any other route I wouldn't recommend alone) - and so much more rewarding than just taking the cable car up and down.

Hi Marie,

I stayed at the BIG hostel in the Greenpoint area. It was great. Walking to the train station will take you about 15 minutes. Taking the train to simonstown is easy. Taxi's are cheap so you can also take the taxi.
People at the hostel can help you with walking Lion's head before sunrise. I did it with other people that stayed at the hostel and it was great. Have fun in cape town!

Hi Nathalie
Thank you for replying. Yes, that was my main reason for choosing to stay in the Greenpoint area - a bit of open space, like the park and promenade. Are there any negatives in staying in this area as opposed to the Gardens area?
Any other advice/tips greatly appreciated!

Hi Ghalied
Thank you for replying. Perhaps if i do the Chapmans Peak Tour first then I will know if I want to see more of Simons Town and take the train?
I haven't booked a Table Mountain Hike tour yet, but was thinking of what I believe is a more gradual and scenic route - the Skeleton Gorge?
I am getting pretty confused with Lions Head! Now not sure if I should hike to Signal Hill? I have read to start this at Milatary Road, is that right? Not sure where to start and where to go! I was hoping for a gradual round trip of 2/3 hours on a footpath rather than a road?
Any advice gratefully received!
Thank you

Yes, Marie, doing the peninsula tour first will give you an idea if you want to spend more time in Simonstown. However, you only have 3 and a half days. Maybe you should consider other places, like Robben Island or a day trip to the winelands.

Military Road is the road above Bokaap and it’s the way I take when I go for a run (which doesn’t happen often) to Signal Hill. However, it’s impractical for you.

For Lion’s Head, your options are this:

1. Find out if its safe to go from your accommodation and walk from there to Ocean View drive. Take the path up along Signal Hill until Lion’s Head and hike up Lion’s Head.

2. Take a taxi to the start of Signal Hill Road (to this spot: https://goo.gl/WykHOc) and hike up Lions Head from there. It starts as a gravel jeep track but becomes a path.

You could combine parts of this with walking along the coast (Green Point to Camps Bay).

In a weird coincidence, earlier this year I met someone else named Marie who had just walked Skeleton Gorge and she loved it - so will you. It’s a great route and one of the more popular ones.

#5
There are no negatives in staying in Green Point (as compared to staying in Gardens). If you have found a hostel you like in Green Point, go for it.

Personally, I prefer Gardens, but maybe thats because I stayed there the first time I was in Cape Town.

As for things to do: 3,5 days is not a lot of time (and Cape Town offers so much). So start with what is most important to you, and leave the " it would be nice to see" things for the end, in case you still have enough time.