Table Mountain is the first thing people think about when they hear the word “Cape Town”. And for good reason. It is the soul of the city. Everything is built around it, and it’s as if this giant rock has a gravitational force that keeps us orbiting around it all day, every day.

It’s also a very touristy place, of course. The famous cable way offers spectacular views to the top, and I never get tired of the surprised faces when people see a full restaurant at the top (that actually serves decent food).

But for us who live here, there is only one way to experience our mountain, and that is to hike up. There are many routes, but on this particular morning we chose the most direct way up: Platteklip (“Flat Rock” in Afrikaans) Gorge. It is a strenuous hike, but it’s a lot of fun. There are always tons of people making their way up, and every few meters you’ll see some cheesy inspirational words scribbled on random rocks (“Golgotha was also a mountain”, “Get fit! You can do it!”).

The last bit is particularly steep, as if the mountain doesn’t want to give itself up to the underserving. But once you make it, you feel a renewed connection with the lifeblood of our city. It is no wonder Table Mountain gives Capetonians our “sense of place.” It’s like no other rock on earth.