Where to Stay in Cape Town for a November Hiking Trip
Where to Stay in Cape Town for a November Hiking Trip
Cape Town in November offers dry trails, mild days and long evenings, so pick a base that matches the hikes you want to do.
City Bowl and Table Mountain bases
If your priority is Table Mountain, stay in the City Bowl. Gardens, Oranjezicht and Tamboerskloof put you within a 10–15 minute drive of the lower cableway station and the Platteklip Gorge trailhead. Guesthouses here typically run R1,200–R2,500 per night in November. You will be close to Kloof Street for dinners and the Mount Nelson corner for taxis. The trade-off is parking: many streets are narrow and permit-only, so confirm that your hotel has a bay before booking.
For a quieter base with quicker access to the Pipe Track and Lion's Head, look at Higgovale and Deer Park. From here you can walk to the Pipe Track in about 15 minutes and drive to the Lion's Head car park in under 10. Studios and small hotels in these suburbs often sit in the R1,000–R1,800 range. November evenings are light until nearly 8pm, which makes an after-work hike feasible. I would book Higgovale over the busier Atlantic seaboard if you plan two or more Table Mountain hikes.
Atlantic Seaboard for sunset hikes
The Atlantic Seaboard – Sea Point, Bantry Bay, Camps Bay – is the best base if you want to finish hikes with an ocean swim. From Sea Point you can walk the promenade to the start of the Lion's Head trail in about 25 minutes, or drive to the Kloof Nek car park in 10. Hotels here are pricier: expect R1,800–R3,500 for a sea-facing room in November. The MyCiTi bus runs along the coast, which helps if you are hiking without a car.
Camps Bay is prettier but less practical. The drive to the Table Mountain trails is 15–20 minutes, and parking near the Pipe Track fills by 8am on weekends. The advantage is the beach for a post-hike dip and the restaurants on Victoria Road. I would choose Sea Point over Camps Bay for a hiking trip: more affordable, flatter for tired legs, and closer to the Lion's Head and Signal Hill paths. Book early – November is when summer demand starts to build.
Southern Suburbs and Constantia for forest trails
If you want shaded forest walks and wine farms, base yourself in the Southern Suburbs. Newlands, Claremont and Constantia are within a 10-minute drive of the Newlands Forest and Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden trails. Guesthouses here average R900–R1,600 per night in November, often with parking and gardens. The trade-off is that you are 20–30 minutes from the Atlantic beaches. The Kirstenbosch trails suit warm November days because the canopy keeps you cool.
Constantia is the most scenic of the three, with vineyards backing onto the Table Mountain slopes. From a Constantia guesthouse you can drive to the Cecilia Forest trailhead in 5–10 minutes and to the Constantia Nek restaurant in under 5. Prices run R1,500–R2,800. I would book Constantia if you plan to combine hiking with wine tasting, but skip it if you want to be in the city in the evenings – the drive to the City Bowl is 20–25 minutes.
Practical notes for November
Expect daytime temperatures of 20–25°C and strong southeasterly winds on the Atlantic side. The Table Mountain cableway can close in high wind, so plan your hike for the morning when winds are usually lighter. Trails are generally dry, but carry a light shell – November can bring brief showers. The Cape Town Cycle Tour does not run in November, so roads are quieter than in March. Book accommodation at least four to six weeks ahead if you want a sea view.
Public transport to trailheads is limited. The MyCiTi bus reaches Kloof Nek and Sea Point, but for Kirstenbosch and Constantia you will need a car or rideshare. Parking at the Table Mountain lower cableway costs a few rand per hour, and the Lion's Head car park is free but small. If you are hiking alone, consider a guided group for the less busy trails. For a November hiking trip, I would book a guesthouse in Higgovale or Sea Point – both give you quick access to the main trails without the Camps Bay price tag.
Before you book
The questions people ask about Cape Town, answered with this month’s numbers.
For Table Mountain and Lion's Head, you can rely on rideshares and the MyCiTi bus. For Kirstenbosch and Constantia trails, a car is much more practical because public transport is limited. Parking at trailheads is generally available but fills early on weekends.
Platteklip Gorge and Lion's Head are dry and popular. The Pipe Track offers shade in the afternoon. Kirstenbosch and Newlands Forest trails are cooler under the canopy. Avoid the Atlantic seaboard hikes on windy days; the southeaster can be strong.
In November, expect R900–R1,600 for guesthouses in the Southern Suburbs, R1,200–R2,500 in the City Bowl, and R1,800–R3,500 on the Atlantic Seaboard. Book four to six weeks ahead for the best choice, especially for sea-facing rooms.
