You may think of Cape Town as this bustling metropolis in South Africa but it's more than that! Surrounding this busy city is the magnificent mountain range of South Africa's Western Cape. If you want to bask in the glory of the country's natural wonders, you couldn't have picked a better place. There's Table Mountain, for example, which is regarded as the oldest mountain in the world. The famous Lion's Head, on the other hand, is a stunning peak you simply have to see for yourself. These and more make up the awe-inspiring mountains in Cape Town.
Table Mountain
Want to know one of the
most unique things about South Africa? It's actually home to one of the oldest mountains in the world! Said to be around 240 million years old, Table Mountain isn't just one of the most famous mountains in Cape Town. It's also one of the New Seven Wonders of The World. That alone should tell you that it's a must-see site in the Western Cape. And if you can, why not climb it too? Table Mountain has lots of trails for you to hike on, each offering up the opportunity to see all sorts of flora, fauna, and rocks that are millions of years old!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Lion's Head
Peaking at 669 meters (2,195 feet) above sea level, Lion's Head is among the tallest mountains in Cape Town. You can even see it no matter where you are. Depending on which
neighborhood in Cape Town you're on, there's a good chance you can see this famous peak. After all, most of the city surrounds this mountain. It's as if the metropolis was built to put it right smack at the center of it all. And whether that's true or not, there's no denying that this majestic mountain provides such a stunning backdrop to the city.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Signal Hill
Rounding up the top trinity of mountains in Cape Town is Signal Hill. Located next to Lion's Head and Table Mountain, this awe-inspiring natural wonder adds to the glorious landscape that is the Western Cape of South Africa. And as far as hiking trails go, Signal Hill is a major favorite for those who want to reach the famous Lion's Head peak. But why is it called “Signal Hill” though? Well, that's because signal flags are raised atop this hill to express weather warnings and to guide visiting ships nearby. Sounds pretty fascinating, doesn't it?
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Photograph by Mike Peel
Twelve Apostles
With such a name as the “Twelve Apostles,” you'd think that this was a mountain that was high enough to reach the heavens, right? Well, not exactly! Firstly, the Twelve Apostles isn't just one mountain. It's an entire mountain range that makes up around 18 peaks. It even includes the famous Table Mountain in Cape Town. And as you probably expected, these peaks are named after the more famous Twelve Apostles in the Bible. Secondly, they're not exactly the highest mountains in the Western Cape. They only look and feel that way because they overlook Camps Bay, one of the most popular
beaches in Cape Town.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Constantiaberg
Now, let's talk about Constantiaberg. Located in the Constantia area, this whaleback mountain borders the Cape Peninsula. It's a stunning rock formation made up of sandstones. And though it may not seem like it at first, it's actually among the tallest mountains in the Western Cape. It practically rivals the more famous Table Mountain in Cape Town! And though it offers all sorts of hiking trails, it's actually among the most challenging mountains to climb. Remember that Constantiaberg is mostly made up of sandstones formation. It's not as green as the other mountains in Cape Town.
Source: Xiphon at the English-language Wikipedia
Kalk Bay Mountain
Overlooking the famous fishing village on the southeastern coast of Cape Town, Kalk Bay Mountain is pretty extraordinary in its own right. Since it's right by the ocean, the landscape here is truly something else. You'd sooner want to rent a luxury home in Cape Town just to look at such a sight every day. And as for climbing and hiking, Kalk Bay Mountain offers numerous trails that you can go on. They're all fairly safe and well-carved, with very few risks of you getting lost. But if you do get lost here, just listen to the sound of the ocean. That'll help you safely get back down.
Source: Flickr.com/ Erin Johnson.
Helderberg Dome
Boasting Helderberg Dome a prominence of 608 meters (1995 feet) high, Helderberg Dome is a pretty out-of-this-world mountain in the Western Cape. In fact, even from miles away, you can already tell that climbing it will get your adrenaline pumping. The trails here certainly are no walk in the park but they're not that dangerous at the same time. Helderberg Dome strikes the perfect balance between lush green fields and rocky formations. Some paths may contain more stones than others, but there's no doubt that you'd reach the peak of Helderberg Dome in no time!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Kogelberg Mountain Range
Just like the Twelve Apostles near Camps Bay, the Kogelberg Mountain Range is more so a collection of various peaks than one solo mountain. This time around, the range line the coast of False Bay, forming part of the Cape Fold Belt. And though the mountain range is still part of Cape Town, the weather here is strikingly Mediterranean. It gets the same bright sunshine and breezy mists as those in countries like Italy, Greece, and more. And if you want to climb the Kogelberg Mountain Range, you can. The mountains are part of the nature reserve that helps preserve this amazing natural wonder.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Abu Shawka
If you want to see the true beauty of South Africa's Western Cape, climb up these magnificent mountains in Cape Town! They're already natural wonders in their own right, but the views you'll see from here are nothing short of extraordinary!
