My time in the Bergs

The journey from Port St Johns to Sani Pass lodge was a long one, involving 4 different motor vehicles - but for much of the way the scenery was interesting enough to make it enjoyable. After a shuttle from the hostel up to Mthatha, then the Baz Bus to Kokstad, I was met by "Sani Pass Couriers" - a sweet man called Ian and his van - he was also picking up his son from the Greyhound, back from University for study leave, so for most of the journey to Underberg I eavesdropped on the lovely conversation of a father and son catching up.
Sani Pass Lodge is a quiet spot - serious hikers only here. And bikers. They seem to be following me.
I signed up for a trip up the Sani Pass and into Lesotho - it involved an extremely bumpy and precarious ride in a landrover (on a broken seat) - but the views on the journey and the informed chat from the driver made this bearable. After a couple of passport stamps, we were into Lesotho - really another world from the country we'd just left. The population is small, and in any case concentrated on the West side. Whilst the men are teenagers they work as shepherds - its pretty much the only work there is there - then when they are older they tend to stay in South Africa, visiting their families back in Lesotho from time to time.
Its a barren but beautiful place - and at high altitude - it boasts "the highest pub in Africa" near the border.
The other highlight of my Drakensburg experience was a gruelling hike up the Amphitheatre - a group of mountains in a semi-circular shape, boasting the second highest waterfall in the world, to which we hiked.
Starting at about 2500 metres above sea level, we climbed to 3121 metres - hard to do when oxygen is lacking! It was so worth it though - breath-taking (literally) views, and a great feeling of achievement. Then a slightly scary climb down 2 50-rung ladders thrown in to help us get back down the mountain...
Now in Johannesburg catching up on admin/laundry etc before my safari trip into the Kruger national park - and then its on to Oz! 4 weeks in South Africa has passed very quickly.

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