Cape Town | Hiking Safety | Somewhere In Between Travel Blog

Cape Town | How to Hike Safely

South Africa January 22, 2020

We arrived in Cape Town after a three-legged flight from Buenos Aires that took over 24 hours. It was exhausting, but seeing Table Mountain towering over the city bowl really got our blood pumping. Our taxi became our welcome wagon as the driver pointed out notable attractions. His enthusiasm was contagious. Then we mentioned hiking. The conversation took a stern turn as he cautioned us against it, explaining the more dangerous side of the city. How we must not walk around, especially at night. How he can’t even drive a marked taxi after dark for fear of car-jackings.

Slightly deflated we said farewell and lugged our bags into our glorious Bo-Kaap Airbnb. We cautiously asked our host about hiking, hoping our driver was being overdramatic. She answered diplomatically saying she hikes with her mom every weekend but ultimately warned against setting out on our own.

Over our first few days in town this seemed to be the trend. From barbers to waiters to Uber drivers to Google we got many different perspectives. It took a lot of time, worry and research to find ways to hike safely in Cape Town so we’ve compiled all the resources here to save you the effort.

How to Hike Safely in Cape Town

The Situation: Why you need to be conscious of hiking safety
Safety Do’s + Don’t: Top tips to help you stay safe
How to Hike Safely in Cape Town: Three ways to increase your security

Related // Top 10 things to do in Cape Town

The Situation

Crime on Cape Town’s most popular trails (Signal Hill, Lion’s head and several Table Mountain routes) has been on the rise for the past few years.
In a 3-month span in 2018 there were 40 recorded attacks on Table Mountain.
Most reported attacks were armed robberies targeting solo and pairs of hikers but there were also reports of groups attacking groups.
In August 2019, Cape Town released a statement that they would deploy ‘monitors’ on Table Mountain to help with the situation. While it’s a start, 120 monitors can’t reasonably patrol every part of the 25,000 hectare park.

Safety Do’s + Don’ts

Don’t hike with less than three people – Most reports of crime on Cape Town’s trails are towards one or two people. There is safety in numbers, so hike with a group of 3+ that you’ve pre-arranged. We’ve heard tales of solo hikers joining others at the entry and robbing them along the way.
Don’t hike at night – Lion’s Head and the popular Table Mountain trails get a lot of traffic during the day so your group will have more company. That said, we hiked Lion’s Head before sunrise with a large group of seasoned locals. If you’re hiking down Table Mountain leave with ample time before sunset. The decline can often take longer than the climb.
Don’t be flashy – Sure, you’re going to have a camera or fancy phone to capture your epic summit, but keep them tucked away until you need them. Keep cash to a minimum. Don’t wear jewelry or flashy clothing. Certainly don’t bring anything you aren’t willing to part with.
Do pack for the unexpected – Aside from crime, hiking brings its own challenges. The coastal weather in Cape Town can change drastically. Bring a jacket or extra layer. Bring extra snacks and a water bottle, and if it’s a long hike, a water filter or purification tablets.
Do hand it over – Many robberies on these trails are armed. If someone approaches you with the intent to steal, even if you think you can get away or talk your way out of it, don’t. Hand over your cash, phone or whatever else immediately. Nothing is worth your life.
Do get travel insurance – If the worst happens and you are injured or robbed, you want to be covered. We opted for World Nomads because they cover some of the more adventurous activities other companies don’t, and they made it easy for us to upgrade our plan to cover the electronics we travel with. Click here to get a quote for yourself, it’s absolutely worth the investment.

Hike Safely in Cape Town | Lions Head Sunrise

Top 3 Ways to Hike Safely in Cape Town

1 // Make Hiking Pals

For those staying in a hostel this is a breeze. But since Cape Town is an Airbnb mecca that probably won’t be the case. So how do you land in a city and somewhat instantaneously find people who are willing to wake up at the crack of dawn and hike with you? Facebook is your friend.

The network we were ready to nix from our lives before our travels has become a valuable resource for connecting with other travellers and learning about upcoming destinations. It really came through while we were looking for a way to hike safely in Cape Town. The Hiking Cape Town Facebook group was incredibly helpful. Join before your trip and post about a hike you want to do, or get in on a hike that’s being planned.

After a few DMs with some active group members we found a group willing to join us for a sunrise Lion’s Head hike. They led us up the staples + chains route and were patient when we needed to catch our breath. At the top we had a chance to learn more about each other as we watched the sun majestically peek over the horizon. And before they set out on their second hike of the day (woah!) they graciously refused our offer to tip them for guiding us. We were really thankful to have locals taking the lead and showing us a safe route.

Another helpful community is The Hikers Network. They have a weekly WhatsApp group that lists the hikes they’re organizing for the week. You can join free of charge and are sure to find a large group at a similar level.

2 // Pay for Pals

If you’re reading this and looking to hike tomorrow you may not have time to send out feelers on Facebook and plan around other people’s schedules. In that case it’s worth paying someone to hike with you. Here are a few options for guided hikes in the area:

Table Mountain – Twice weekly Platteklip guided hike
Table Mountain – Private Hike
Lion’s Head – Guided Sunrise or Sunset Hike

If you can’t find a group to hike with you can always take the cableway up Table Mountain. Once you’re at the top it’s populated and wide open which makes it safer than the trails and will give you the exercise you’re seeking.

Table Mountain View | Hike Safely in Cape Town | Somewhere In Between Travel Blog

Table Mountain | Cape Town | Travel Guide

3 // Opt for Safe(r) Trails

Table Mountain and Lion’s Head reign supreme in Cape Town’s hiking scene but there are so many amazing places to get outdoors in this city. If you’ve had no luck finding hiking pals or can’t afford to pay a guide consider these alternatives.

The Table Mountain Crime map shows where crimes have occurred so you can see at a glance which trails are the most problematic.

Cape Point + Cape of Good Hope

One hour’s drive from the city lies the Southwestern tip of Africa. The rocky shoreline and steep cliffs make for some incredible scenery and the many hiking trails through the park are great for a leisurely stroll, a full-day hike or multi-day trek. The park is pay-per-entry and less accessible to the city’s transit system so tourists can roam with less worry.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

On the other side of Table Mountain is Kirstenbosch, one of the world’s most beautiful botanical gardens. You can wander the lush landscape, learning about Africa’s vegetation for hours, but there’s also a trail up to Table Mountain. It’s pay-per-entry and bustling with locals on the weekend so it’s safer than other trails. But please still proceed with caution. There’s no guarantee of safety when hiking in Cape Town.