http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Free-State/Drakensberg/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Africa , South Africa , Free State , Drakensberg en-us Sun, 03 Jan 2010 12:53:44 +0000 Sun, 03 Jan 2010 12:53:44 +0000 The Great White Toyota hunting tour arriving in Cape Town and getting to the Kruger ParkWell wersquore now more than 2 weeks into this African journey and have spent 2 days in Cape Town getting our truck Toyota 4x4 sussed signed over to us packed and on the road 6 days travelling to the north end of the Kruger Park averaging 700 kday and 8 days in the park coming south peering at ever http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Free-State/Drakensberg/blog-422564.html June 20 21 22For the past two days it has been cold and both Chris and I were walking around with closed up noses and feeling a bit off so we have spent our days tucked under the blankets with boozing medicine. On 21 June we decided to try out the Pizzaria that we heard about and took a drive to the Tower of Pizza. We had the most fantastic pizza that I tasted in a long time. All the pizza n http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Free-State/Drakensberg/blog-413319.html June 19 2009 We woke up to unpleasant weather it was freezing outside and we had no intention to get out of bed in weather like that. So we watched Pirates of the Caribbean. When the movie finished we came outside to see that the day has turned out to be perfect and packed some lunch to go do some hiking. We went on the Gudu Falls trail and I think both our lungs was about to pop out the s http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Free-State/Drakensberg/blog-410519.html June 18 2009The morning we sat in front of the laptops checking emails and Chris edited some pics. We are so glad that there are some 3G available here. It keeps us in touch with the rest of the world.Well today we had to run some errands. We had to go to town to get some more supplies and then get the car checked out. So we went into the small town of Bergville. It is a bit of a one horse http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Free-State/Drakensberg/blog-410517.html June 17 2009We woke up this morning after a peaceful sleep with rain softly on the tent roof. It is even more chilly today Chris gave one of the workers the dishes from last night and figure the R15 we pay is much better than washing it ourselves.He gets right back into bed and we finish Die Hard which we didnrsquot manage to finish last night. We then decide it would be a good idea to dri http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Free-State/Drakensberg/blog-409475.html June 16 2009 We woke up to see what the damage was after a night of heavy winds. But we were lucky no damage done. Almost everyone in the campsite is packing up and going home I cant describe the feeling of knowing you still have a week when everyone else will go back to work. It is rather cold and miserable. The clouds are heavy and I excpct it will rain sometime today. Our energy levels http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Free-State/Drakensberg/blog-409448.html June 15 2009What a beautiful morning we were warm and we were still here. Chris is eager to see the mountains and pops out the tent as soon as his eyes open. There are plenty campers in the campsite and we get dressed in our warmest clothes. We start putting the rest of our camping gear up and make it home. When all is done we make a nice breakfast with some mutton sausages and semi toaste http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Free-State/Drakensberg/blog-409021.html Yea Got a night booked in Qwantani when the course finishes a kind of goodbye party as well for me and James and Maria in a way as well we're all leaving round about the same time but this is prolly the last chance we'll have with most folk to enjoy it. Kina sucks you have to start saying goodbye like a month in advance I know for a fact there's already people that I won't see again it suc http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Free-State/Drakensberg/blog-402585.html Hey guys Currently at Qwantani and the internet is downhellip total bummer Gunna save this and stick it up when I can pSo after last time I braaied at the Boma night Was awesome. Spoke to my Roy was falling asleep by that point thoughSun 17th hoyed the handwash itrsquos the most annoying thing ever sitting rubbing clothes Managed to find a group rope and made my own washin http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Free-State/Drakensberg/blog-401994.html ...well that's what it felt like Never experienced such ridiculously high winds while hanging off a cliffface trying to tie ropes to hangers and the like The ropes actually wouldn't go down the cliff I was throwing them and they actually came right back out to the side and nearly knocked me out p good times Managed to fix it though eventually had to go to the bottom and freeclimb back http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Free-State/Drakensberg/blog-399436.html Sometimes a lack of planning lands us in a money pit of a situation like arriving at Koh Samui with no hotel reservation. Other times planning too far ahead is the most expensive mistake like purchasing Baz Bus tickets in South Africa. We've suffered the consequences of both and striking that delicate balance between them is really starting to become an art.Our trip to South Africa was by f http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Free-State/Drakensberg/blog-370452.html Lots of Pictures today I couldn't narrow them downThe backpackers where I am staying is in the Northern Drakensberg Mountains right at the base of a spot called the Ampitheatre an 8 kilometre stretch of cliff and canyon. Today I signed up for a tour that would take me to the top of the Ampitheatre. I was hesitant to sign up out of concern for what the hike would be like because of my fear http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Free-State/Drakensberg/blog-355704.html Irsquom in the Drakensberg mountains. And they are beautiful.This afternoon I went horseback riding. I wanted to go at some point during this trip and through the mountains seemed like a good choice. I was driven about 25 kilometres from the hostel to the edge of the Royal Natal Nature Reserve where the stables are. I then saddled up for a two hour ride through the foothills of the Norther http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Free-State/Drakensberg/blog-355703.html Today we head into the moutains of the Free State. We are going to stay on a horse ranch yee haa. I will update you later.... http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Free-State/Drakensberg/blog-346449.html Histoire d'un week end au Drakensberg et plus exactement Cathedral Peak. L'arrive dans le Drakensberg commence par un pic nique au pied da la chaine montagneuse appele Cathedral Peak. Aprs avoir pris notre ration d'nergie nous voici en route avec ma collgue pour l'ascension du sommet Cathedral Peak. Ascension qui fut courte par la riviere qui nous a fait rebrousser chemin. Impossible de http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Free-State/Drakensberg/blog-327180.html Histoire d'un week end randonne dans le Royal Natal National Park situ dans le nord de la Chaine montagneuse de l'Afrique du Sud Le Drakensberg. Seulement 4 heures de route de Joburg distance idale pour profiter du week end. Arrive le vendredi soir dans mon chalet que j'avais rserv au coeur du parc thendele camp. Quelle surprise au rveil 6h30 quand au moment ou j'ouvre les rideaux http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Free-State/Drakensberg/blog-267132.html Hallo zusammenWas haben wir nicht alles ueber Mozambique gehoert Von es war graesslich nach einer Nacht sind wir wieder nach SA zurueckgefahren ueber am Kosi Bay Zoll gibts keine Visa und doch gibt es aber die kosten doppelt so viel wie normal oder man wird fast mit Waffen von Polizisten gezwungen eine Autoversicherung abzuschliessen bis zu You'll love it up there. Also haben wir en http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Free-State/Drakensberg/blog-216043.html Woke to an amazing view of the Mountains I didn't know how much I loved the Rockies until I haven't seen them for 2 months. Headed to the kitchen for breakfast where Cassidy was awesome enough to prepare us eggs and beans and bacon. Hot breakfasts are a rare occurrence around here so it is a notable event when Cassidy does make them.After breakfast I headed for a walk with Steph and Liz Ireland http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Free-State/Drakensberg/blog-204305.html I know I know. I am already home back in beautiful Canada but I promised myself I would finish this blog even if it is from the comfort of home. I apologize that this is not authentically written from Africa but at least I wont leave you without the ending of my trip. We left St. Lucia early in the morning and headed south down the coast to Durban. Durban is a beautiful coastal port t http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Free-State/Drakensberg/blog-204296.html An EXTENSIVE day's drive from Port Saint John to the northern part of the Drakensburg Mountains probably 9 hours with a number of wrong turns in there pulled into our guesthouse near the foot of Cathkin Peak near sunset. The Drakensburg Mtns or at least the area where we stayed have recently been deemed a World Heritage Site c. 2001 they form a good portion of the border with Lesotho pro http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Free-State/Drakensberg/blog-197176.html