Lion's Head (Cape Town)

Lion's Head (!Orakobab: Xammi Mũ!’ab) is a mountain in Cape Town, South Africa, between Table Mountain and Signal Hill. Lion's Head peaks at 669 metres (2,195 ft) above sea level. The peak forms part of a dramatic backdrop to the city of Cape Town and is part of the Table Mountain National Park.

This article is about a mountain in Cape Town. For other uses, see Lion's Head (disambiguation).

Lion's Head / Xammi Mũ!’ab
Lion's Head from the slopes of Table Mountain
Highest point
Elevation669 m (2,195 ft)
Coordinates33°56′05″S 18°23′21″E 
Geography
LocationWestern Cape, South Africa
Geology
Age of rockSilurian/Ordovician
Climbing
Easiest routeHike

Surrounding
Lion's Head viewed from Signal Hill
Lion's Head and Signal Hill from the Summit of Table Mountain, with Robben Island in Table Bay

The suburbs 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 the Cape Malay community, who historically lived in the Bo-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.

History

In the 17th century the peak was known as Leeuwen Kop (Lion's Head) by the Dutch, and Signal Hill was known as Leeuwen 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 meters. 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]

Activities

Lion's Head is known for its views of both the city and the Atlantic Seaboard, and the hour-long walk to the top is particularly popular during full moon.[1] Its slopes are also used as a launching point for paragliders.

The summit of Lion's Head

Geology, flora and fauna

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 in fynbos (indigenous Cape vegetation), with an unusually rich biodiversity 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 endangered Granite Fynbos, which fades into Peninsula 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 endangered Sandstone Fynbos, a different ecosystem that is also found nearby on the top of Table Mountain.[4] [5][6]

See also

References
  1. "Lion's Head: Full Moon Hike". Cape Town Magazine. Retrieved 24 December 2006.
  2. Burman, Jose (1991). The Table Mountain Book. Human & Rousseau.
  3. Spargo, Peter (June 2015). "The Lion's Head Gold Mine". Bulletin of the National Library of South Africa. 69 (1). Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  4. "Cape Granite Fynbos. Cape Town Biodiversity Factsheets" (PDF).
  5. "Peninsula Shale Renosterveld. Cape Town Biodiversity Factsheets" (PDF).
  6. "Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos. Cape Town Biodiversity Factsheets" (PDF).
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