Blogs from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Africa - page 5

Constructing Houses For the next two days Renata and I and the rest of group B volunteered in the construction of two houses. One of the sites was for the Gunede Family. Eddie is the father of the house. Currently he and his wife and 3 children live in a one-room house. The second site was for the Jobe Family. Currently on their plot of land there is ten residents living in three one-room houses including one grandmother, her two sons and six children. Cement and Concrete Flooring For the two houses we worked on mixing concrete for the concrete foundation in the two five room houses down the road from one another. Other member of the group worked on laying bricks for the septic tanks. It was an amazing and educational experience. I learned how ... read more

Veyane Cultural Village Today is our first volunteer day with VESA. Our first stop was the Veyane Cultural Village where we learned about Zulu culture. We learned some Zulu phrases which I have now forgotten. Furthermore, we witnessed and took part in some interesting Zulu dances, wore some traditional Zulu dress and explored comforting Zulu homes. After the Zulu cultural center tour we had lunch at the village and then it was off to our first volunteer destination: The Emdoneni Cheetah Project. The Emdoneni Cheetah Project At the Emdoneni project we didn't have time to volunteer but we got the opportunity to learn about the conservation efforts at the lodge. The aim of the Emdoneni Cheetah Project is to care for and rehab orphaned or injured Cheetahs, Serval Cats, African Wildcats and Caracals (Lynx). Also they ... read more

Beeing in South Africa now for about 1 week, the day of the arrival of our spiritual master, Paramahamsa Vishwananda, finally had arrived. He was expected at Durban airport at around 1 pm. So we took it slowly in the morning. We slept in late, and went to the empty beach for our daily morning meditation. It is always so amazing to meditate on the beach, especially when it is empty and one is not distrubed by cows or dogs (this is what happens in India always :-)). Afterwards we enjoyed a lovely breakfast in our appartment and then it was time to get ready With our friends we jumped into the car and drove south to Durban airport which was about a 30 minute drive. At the airport it was a big reunion of our ... read more

In every country we go, we associate a certain smell with it, a certain feeling. The air is different, the sky is different, the dust ist different (if there is any), water tastes different. Did not Desmond Tutu talk about this in his opening speech of the FIFA World Championship in 2010? He sais: "Can you feel it? Can you touch it? This is Africa." By visiting the Northern Drakensberg we had exactly this feeling: "this is Africa". It was the dust, the smell, the smiles of the superfriendly people, the joy of life, the joy of love which we experienced. And well, also this mindblowing, amazing landscape. Of course, the Drakensberg is just one facette of South Africa. But it was exactly here, int he beginning of our trip that we really got it: we ... read more

Very busy last two days with several game drives in both Kruger and now kawunga reserves. Up and away by 5.30 for 3 hours. Back for breakfast 9.30. Bushwalk after. Lunch. Afternoon/ evening drive then dinner. Fall into ‘tent’ about 9pm exhausted but happy. Seen Lion and cubs, Cheetah and cubs, Jackal, Zebra, Giraffe, Elephants, Impala,rhino, hippo, Croc, wilderbeest (and ate the steak!), and countless others. Still to see the elusive leopard. Very swish ‘tent’ with wildlife all round. Also man with gun! Back to Joburg for night tomorrow with 7 he drive them flight to Victoria Falls Monday in Zimbabwe. Can’t describe the feeling of seeing lioness with cubs just a few yards away and a dozen elephants literally brushing past jeep. ... read more