| Lion's Head | |
|---|---|
 Lion's Head from the slopes of Table Mountain | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 669 m (2,195 ft) |
| Coordinates | 33°56′05″S18°23′21″E / 33.93472°S 18.38917°E /-33.93472; 18.38917 (Lion's Head) |
| Geography | |
 | |
| Location | Western Cape,South Africa |
| Geology | |
| Rock age | Silurian /Ordovician |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hike |
Lion's Head is a mountain inCape Town, South Africa, betweenTable Mountain andSignal Hill. Lion's Head peaks at 669 metres (2,195 ft) abovesea level. The peak forms part of a dramatic backdrop to the city ofCape Town and is part of theTable Mountain National Park.
Thesuburbs of the city surround the peak and Signal Hill on almost all sides, but strict management by city authorities has kept development of housing off the higher ground. The area is significant to theCape Malay community, who historically lived in theBo-Kaap quarter close to Lion's Head.
There are a number of historic graves and shrines (kramats) of Malay leaders on the lower slopes and on Signal Hill.
In the 17th century the peak was known asLeeuwen Kop (Lion's Head) by the Dutch, and Signal Hill was known asLeeuwen Staart (Lion's Tail), as the shape resembles a crouching lion or a sphinx. The English in the 17th century called the peak Sugar Loaf.[1][2]
In 1897 gold was discovered on Lion's Head. A company was floated and a shaft sunk to a depth of more than 30 metres. However, the grade was too low, and the mine closed in the following year. Subsequently, the shaft was filled in and a small depression is all that remains today.[3]
Lion's Head is known for its views of both the city and theAtlantic Seaboard, and the hour-long walk to the top is particularly popular during afull moon.[1] Its slopes are also used as a launching point forparagliders.
The upper part of the peak consists of flat-lying Table Mountain sandstone and the lower slopes are formed by the Cape Granite and the Malmesbury formation, which are older Precambrian rocks.
Lion's Head is covered infynbos (indigenous Cape vegetation), with an unusually richbiodiversity that supports a variety of small animals. Three main vegetation types can be found in this relatively small area. All three of them are endemic to the city of Cape Town and can be found nowhere else. Most of Lion's Head is covered in endangeredGranite Fynbos, which fades intoPeninsula Shale Renosterveld (critically endangered) on the lower slopes towards Signal Hill in the north. Right on the summit of Lion's Head however, is a tiny patch of endangeredSandstone Fynbos, a different ecosystem that is also found nearby on the top ofTable Mountain.[4][5][6]
