Read about Ron & Viv's journey so far through Africa - Mid to Late February & February to early March 2007.

 

 

       

       South Africa Flag

 

 

 

 

  

      Lesotho Flag

 

 

 

      Swaziland Flag

 

AFRICA TRIP - Mid to Late February 2007

Arriving

The big day arrived on the 18 th February as we touched down in Jo'burg at the O.R Tambo International Airport. Like any big city the first introduction to Africa is a far cry from the wild - traffic jams greeted us as we headed to our hotel to wait a flight to Durban.

Finally got the vehicles out of Customs and the freight forwarder on the 26th. Some paper work glitch meant we couldn't get them out on Friday so we spent the weekend up in the spectacular country of the Northern Drakensbergs and the Royal Natal NP. In the week in Durban we had also checked out the excellent Shaka Land Zulu village and presentation as well as the spectacular Vernon Crook Nature Reserve south of Durban. Not a great park for wildlife but it does have some very tame zebra and is set amongst delightful verdant country.

With our vehicles now in our hands we headed to the pleasant, almost English village of Howick and from there our route headed towards the Southern Drakensbergs and Lesotho.

The Seaforth Lodge (GPS 29° 39'46”S   29°28'23”E) at the base of the mountains had a range of accommodation and camping – as well as quad bike tours - so we set up there behind the workers quarters, which provided showers, toilets, a full kitchen and a shelter and braai area.

Late February - Early March 2007

Sani Pass and Lesotho
The rain came quickly – big pelting drops off it while the thunder and lightening crashed and thrashed around us in a vivid and dramatic display of nature's raw power. It was without a doubt the most powerful and intimidating thunderstorm we have ever witnessed … and it was our first camp in Africa! read more

South African Battlefields
Back in South Africa we headed for the famous battlefields in Kwa Zulu Natal, where we stopped just north of Dundee at Battlefields Country Lodge on Springfield farm (GPS 28°7'56”S   30°17'22”E – ph: 082 976 3447; www.battlefieldslodge.co.za). This was a well set-up and comfortable lodge that provided a range of accommodation as well as a little camping. The lawn was thick and soft and the facilities included a bar/restaurant and pool – the cost was R60 for the vehicle and R10/person. read more

Swaziland and the Royal Hilane National Park
The side of the road for the first few km once in Swaziland was a near continuous line of small native family farmlets and an the occasional grocery shop, while the backdrop of hills and valleys were clothed near continuously in plantations of pine and gum. Most of the houses are conventional style, square in shape and with a tin or even a tiled roof. Round thatched roof houses were in the minority – unlike Lesotho. There was also more cars and the people seemed more affluent. read more

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