Lion’s Head: Hiking on Full Moon

Drowsy and confused, I was awakened by the strumming of my alarm 140 minutes before sunrise. It was time to conquer Lion’s Head.

Over a month has passed since my Cape Town arrival.  I’ve surfed the waves of Muizenburg, summited Table Mountain, savored wine in Stellenbosch, and visited Mandela’s prison cell.  My experiences thus far have been incredible and life changing.  Yet, climbing Lion’s Head – guided by the full moon’s light – surpassed all previous adventures.

Winding around the mountain, the trail provides hikers with various views of the city lights – lit roads snaking through the countryside, bright skyscrapers dominating the central city, and distant glowing suburbs.  The vistas are magnificent, but it’s the simplicity of the full moon reflecting a glistening pathway across the ocean that outshines all others.

I arrived at the top – the hike took about an hour – just as the first morning light was appearing in the east.  Soon after, the sun emerged from the distant mountains.  It was an awe-inspiring spectacle.

With the sun in the east and the moon still hovering in the west, I couldn’t help but think about my eco agenda.  If only everyone could see the natural beauty that surrounded me, environmental practices would skyrocket.

There is no way to rationalize taking a longer hot shower, driving when you could walk, or building unnecessary sprawl when it means destroying the beauty of our limited planet.