One of us climbs mountains like a tortoise, the other like a hare. While the tortoise slowly plods on and never stops, the hare flies ahead but regularly stops for a short break. In the end, both the tortoise and the hare reached the summit at the same time – not sure where the moral is in that story Aesop!

It was a pretty steep climb up the gorge to the top, and the wind was blowing a gale. The sign at the bottom informed us that it could take up to three hours to complete the climb, so we decided we could do it in 90 minutes. We just about reached our goal, and decided to get the cable car back down. Unfortunately, the cable car had stopped due to the high winds, leaving us stuck with no option but to walk back down.

Contemplating the climb ahead

View from the top of the gorge

A wooden bridge at the very top. I’m clinging to the rock

This was our navigation tool…

Cape Town from above

The view from the lower cable car station

We looked at the map and decided to take the interesting route back via Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens. This was quite a long and tricky descent, down the aptly named Skeleton Gorge. It involved climbing down a section of waterfall, and at one point there was even a series of wooden ladders to negotiate. After 5 intense hours of walking we made it to the bottom and eventually flagged a minibus taxi to take us back to the hostel.According to my quick internet calculation, we burned 2000 calories each on our accidental expedition. This means we have 6 bonus ice creams to eat soon!

On top of the world

One of the many ladders

Quite far from home!

Very windy at the top. I look like I’ve been inflated with a bike pump

Having skipped lunch due to our extended climb, we went straight out for dinner and took advantage of Burger Mondays. Two burgers, two drinks and one desert for £15.

Luckily we have a 23 hour bus journey coming up to rest our weary legs.

• Cape Town