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Published: December 10th 2008
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29 Oct - a few sore heads after Janet's birthday but we head off bright and early to Zululand. The scenery is just getting better and better. We arrive at St Lucia Estuary and set up camp at the backpackers. First time camping for a few days and the heavens open while I'm on kitchen duty...although most of the tent was secure the window on my side was rolled up. Aaaaarrrghhh, v soggy sleeping bag and mattress, no nice. Campsite v muddy and the young backpackers are partying in the bar until 4.30am and then we're up at 5am for game drive, I'm not amused, as if I would be up partying until that time...on a school night...
30 Oct - drive to Umofolozi Game Park. Just sign up for a half day's game drive as I've just about seen enough animals to last a life time (except the tigers of course, that's different!). Great scenery in Umofolozi but hardly see any animals and those we do are in the distance. We're back at St Lucia by lunchtime so Charlie, Brent, Sat Nav and Manuela and me head to a great rooftop restaurant called Brasa for some yummy food. Group
dinner at the pizza place in downtown St Lucia (this is a one street town!). The usual crew then head to Monkey Lounge. Mid way through our many amarulas and jagers our night is interrupted by the cry of "HIPPO OUTSIDE"...we dash outside (leaving poor Errol looking after the handbags, lol) jump into some punters car for safety and watch a hippo wandering about just a few feet away. They're reknowned for walking the streets of St Lucia and there are many warnings on the roadside to this effect. V weird experience, not helped by the fact we stagger back to tent at 2am...was it all a dream???
31 Oct - make it to the jetty for 9am for our boat trip along the St Lucia Estuary, the proper home of those hippos. Scenery is pretty dull but we see a croc, BIRDS and loads of hippos. We see several large groups of them and are able to get v close in the boat, great creatures close up. They don't do a lot, apart from wallow, so you have to be v patient for that Lonely Planet shot of a yawning hippo...
Back on to Priscilla and we
Drakensbeg Mountains
Carrole beside her tent and our accomodation behind drive to Durban, Errol's home town. After driving along Braemar Drive (!) we reach our 'hostel'. Turns out to be two beachside villas. Without upgrading I manage to escape the dorm and have a room with a beachview sharing with the Singapore honeymooners Peck and Kanyee...and Brent, how romantic, lol. This is another part of the trip so we say farewell to Manuela, Livie and the Singapores and gain 13 new people. Dinner is a VERY noisy affair with soooo many people around but Errol makes us an extremely tasty bunny chow - a Durban speciality which is a chunk of loaf with the middle scooped out, curry spooned inside and then eaten with fingers and the scooped out bread is used to soak up the sauce.
1 Nov - during breakfast on the balcony looking over the ocean we spot dolphins, what a great start to this part of the trip. The newbies then board Priscilla for the first time...it's back to being a squash as we're at full capacity again, what a drag. Stop off at Shoprite in Kokstad for supplies...it's a typical Saturday lunchtime grocery shopping experience - supermarket is packed, long chaotic queues, the only
difference is I'm the only whitey!!
Drive through amazing scenery then arrive in the Drakensberg - the Dragon Mountains. WOW, I've been craving scenery like this. The weather has cleared so we have a panoramic view of bright blue skies and beautiful mountains, it's like being at home...only there's no snow on the peaks. We're staying on top of a mountain in the middle of nowhere that has just 3 round huts. There are 7 of us in our spacious, round, traditional Zulu hut. I'm on kitchen duty so we make a rather tasty macaroni cheese and bacon accompanied with carrot, apple and raisin salad, yum. The wind picks up early evening reaching near hurricane speeds, I was v tempted to pitch tent due to the amazing views but so glad I'm safe and warm in my zulu hut instead....unlike Charlie, Wayne & Carrole and the Ding Dongs!!
2 Nov - wake up energised and excited for the first time in ages, must be the mountain air. Head off at 8am and walk about 14km in the Drakensberg. We stop off to see some Bushman rock art on the way...just as exciting as Twylfontein...YAWN. Weather stays fine although
it's v windy on the peak. We can see the village and the mission we'll be visiting later as well as the River Jordan! Different country and deja vu...I know...but this community is extremely religious, hence the name. It's tiring and hot but great to get some exercise and be outdoors. A well earned Savanna when we return and hot dogs for lunch.
45 min walk to the village to visit the Mission. This is a very close knit, religious community. Our local guide Robert and the girls at our campsite are very friendly, so we're glad to be helping this social community-based program. What an experience at the mission...we only pass a few people on the way, it's a quiet Sunday afternoon. When we arrive at the church we sit down at the front pews expecting Robert to explain about the mission, etc but instead, suddenly the church is filled to the back pews with locals and there's prayer and song for 10 mins...then they all disappear, v bizarre. We look round the mission including the school area and see hundreds of boys in the canteen. One person pops their head in to take a photo then it's
complete mayhem as they all come rushing out shouting, laughing and posing for photos, hilarious!!! We then go round to the the girls block...they aren't quite as boisterous but are just as welcoming and start singing and dancing.
In bed by 8pm, it's been a hot, tiring day but fun packed in such a beautiful part of South Africa.
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