Devil’s Peak, Table Mountain’s right shoulder, offers some great hiking and walking trails. You can walk along the contour path, or climb the summit. Personally, I love this mountain, especially when clouds are dripping over the peaks like thick, white cream. The question I have always asked myself is why this mountain had this particular name? After some research, I found the reason.

The mountain got its name from the legend of Van Hunks. Van Hunks was a Dutch pirate, who spent his days smoking his pipe where the saddle of land connects Devil's Peak to Table Mountain. One day, Van Hunks challenged the Devil, a great smoker himself, to a smoking contest. The prize of the contest was Van Hunks' soul. While puffing their pipes, so much smoke was generated that a "tablecloth" formed over the mountain. This is a regular feature on Table Mountain when the Cape southeaster blows.

In the end, Van Hunks lost the contest and the devil not only got his soul but also the honor of having the mountain they were sitting on named after him.