The Mountains

I grew up in a rural village where seeing a white man was only once a month. He was a doctor to our village nicknamed "gulaphi"loosely translated "where are you sick"

in 2005 I moved to a small town Estcourt on the foot hills of the Drakensburg. Every morning I would wake up to see a white cloud on top of the mountain called White mountain. I became curious one weekend I decided to check it out. Villagers had a lot of myths about the area. I fell in love with this beauty. I then decided to go hiking first on the Giants Castle part of the Drakensburg.

Suprisingly none of my friends had been to the place with so much history. It is believed long time ago a Giant lived on the cave hence that part was named after him. But the scenic was beautiful, calm and not populated plus cheap since I drove from my house. We visited the caves and saw painting of the San people that use to live there. The guide told us about the other areas within a driving distance. I was hooked.

Next I went to Monk's cowl, I hiked on this range. Wow I saw two waterfalls. Little did I know this was going to be my calming spot, whenever I was tired and stressed about anything I would hit the mountains and go to these waterfalls. Away from the buzz and the rush of Estcourt town. I lived in the area for almost 2 and half years. I had been in those waterfalls more than 5 times. Each time with different friends and all of them fell inlove with the spot.

As I write this story I can picture the waterfall and a cave like at the back of the waterfall. My brother once took a picture of her and my sister there. I once got a flat footed guy to go hiking with me because he complained of poor health and I said walking will help him. He had no regrets and later took his wife to the same place.
I also went with a friend and we saw a snake and ran away.
When I lost my partner I seeked solace on this mountain and would go hiking then. It was perfect and the water was divine and peaceful. I can feel the drizzle of the waterfall as it was washing over me.

I use to sit and wonder I am a black South African woman and my people do not believe in hiking. How did I get here? How did I end up falling in love with this life. In my walks to the waterfalls I never once meant Black people hiking except when they were my friends I dragged screaming and kicking to go witness peace and solace I had found. I may have left Estcourt but I still miss the tranquility and still have no answer as to how I got there!