Signal Hill (Cape Town)

Signal Hill
Signal Hill as seen from the north side of Lion's Head. The white-and-green building on the ridge is a kramat (Muslim grave).
Highest point
Elevation	350 m (1,150 ft)
Coordinates	33°55′4″S 18°24′10″E / 33.91778°S 18.40278°E / -33.91778; 18.40278 (Signal Hill)Coordinates: 33°55′4″S 18°24′10″E / 33.91778°S 18.40278°E / -33.91778; 18.40278 (Signal Hill)
Geography
Location	Western Cape, South Africa
Geology
Age of rock	Late Precambrian
Climbing
Easiest route	Signal Hill Rd

Signal Hill (Afrikaans: Seinheuwel), or Lion's Rump, is a landmark flat-topped hill located in Cape Town, next to Lion's Head and Table Mountain.

The hill was also known as "The Lion's Flank", a term now obsolete. Together with Lion's Head, Signal Hill looks like a lion sphinx.

Signal flags were used to communicate weather warnings as well as anchoring instructions to visiting ships in order to ensure that they prepared adequately for stormy weather while in the bay. Similarly, ships could use flags to signal for assistance if, for example, an anchor line parted during a storm.

It is known for the Noon Gun that is operated there by the South African Navy and South African Astronomical Observatory. In 1836, a time ball was set up at the Cape Town observatory, however it was not visible to ships in the harbour, so a second time ball was erected on Signal Hill in order to relay the precise moment of 1pm Cape Mean Time. In this way ships in the bay were able to check their marine chronometers. The daily practice of dropping of the ball continued until 1934, when it was made redundant by radio signals.

The guns on Signal Hill were used to notify the public when a ship was in trouble and there was a possibility of casualties on the coast near Cape Town. Three guns would be fired from Chavonnes Battery, followed by a single gun in answer from Imhoff Battery.

There is a road to the summit and that vantage point provides spectacular views over the Cape Town city centre and Atlantic Seaboard and surroundings, especially at dawn or sunset. Along Signal Hill Road one can also find the Appleton Scout Campsite owned and operated by the South African Scout Association.

There are several tombs, or kramats, on the hill for Muslim missionaries and religious leaders. The most conspicuous one, a white square building with a green dome, is for the sheikh Mohamed Hassen Ghaibie (Shah al-Qadri), a follower of Sheikh Yusuf. Other tombs consist of raised rectangles, decorated with satin. They are still visited by some local Muslim.