Tastefully South African

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Hello Friends.

Since last speaking with you we visited the St. Lucia wildlife water system, fed by 5 rivers which flow into the Indian Ocean, causing a great meeting ground for wildlife: birds, hippos, crocodiles, and humans all converge to create this World Heritage site.

Then we went to Durban, a beautifully located city with waterside attractions, and high rise hotels along the beach, with a large Indian population, as well as black and white. Then we traveled through the rolling hills of the KwaZulu-Natal African countryside, seeing dozens of villages and small towns. The people live in small homes and thatched beehive huts. A we traveled from east of the country to the west, through the Eastern Cape, the life style became increasingly sophisticated and westernized. It’s no surprise to see huts just a mile or two from a modern shopping center with restaurants and cinemas.

The highlight of our tour was an arduous 2 hour ride, 40 km (24 miles) on a rocky bumpy road, up the Sani Pass to Lesotho, an independent country surrounded by South Africa. Lesotho is one of the poorest countries in Africa, and the people live like they have for hundreds of years. The young men, mostly shepherds, wear blanket-like coverings, even in summer, because at 2800 meters (9200 feet), it’s cold up there.

Now we are just a few days east of Cape Town, in the Garden Route, in Knysna, and today we will visit an ostrich farm. Evi promises to ride on an ostrich. Stay tuned for future travel blogs.

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Photos

Lesotho shepherds
These young men dress and live the life unchanged for hundreds of years. Covered even in the summertime with wool blankets, because it's cold at 2800 meters.

Tastefully South African
Modern supermarket in a shopping center, located just outside Durban. South Africa is as modern as Europe and the USA, but also extremely primitive. Some people are living on a few cents a day, others driving new Mercedes cars.

Modern home in Durban
In the suburbs, which remind me of Marin County.

Mosque in Durban
Durban has a large number of inhabitants from the Indian subcontinent, located just a few thousand miles away via the Indian Ocean. This is the largest mosque in the southern hemisphere.

Waterside in Durban
The coastline of Durban is full of pools, piers, amusements, markets. The only problem is the city is so dangerous, people can't walk there after dark.

On the beach
Enjoying the sand and waves in Port Edward along the Indian Ocean.

Driving in the countryside
Beautiful green, rolling hills, dotted with small towns and villages. Most people live in small square houses or round huts, spread around the countryside in a beautiful arrangement.

Elementary transportation
Women carrying their goods and moving from town to town the old fashioned way. By walking.

Outdoor restaurant in Port Elizabeth
Located in a gorgeous setting along a man-made lake.

Tough negotiations
Evi uses her fine-tuned negotiation skills to get the proper price for a souvenir. On the waterfront in Port Elizabeth.

Sani Pass Road
Our driver, in a 4 by 4, averaged 10 km per hour for 2 hours each way, driving up a rutted dirt road full of boulders and potholes, on the way up to Lesotho.

Car crosses waterfall
On the roade up the Sani Pass, just before entering Lesotho from the east.

The Beauty of Nature
Evi takes in the scenery on the way up to Lesotho.

Arrival at the top
At 2800 meters above sea level, entering Lesotho.

Shlepping sticks
Every day this man walks 5 km down the mountain to the level of trees, picks up the biggest bundle he can carry, then lugs it 5 km up the mountain for uses not including fire (it's too valuable to burn). Instead they burn animal dung for cooking and heating.

Returning from Lesotho to South Africa
This isolated border station is located in a beautiful mountainous location.

Beautiful scenery
Near the Storms River, in Eastern Cape.

View from the rear
Sitting in the back seat of our 8-seater van, put my arm out the window, and shot this scene.

Along the southern coast
Eastern Cape, Indian Ocean.

Suspended in space
Suspension bridge in Tsitsikamma National Park

Boat ride to paradise
Also in Tsitsikamma National Park

Comments

[Edi]

good pictures - and you two look good and happy ! so we are happy with you !

[Chods]

Long Time Comin', huh?
All Natural. I like the pictures of the locals, too. Did you give the "stick" man a ride? That'd be appreciated I'm sure.

[ablondon]

Hey Howie, pictures are amazing as usual. Looks like you're enjoying south africa to it's fullest. Make sure you go to the yuppy restaurants in Camps bay, you must hike up lion's head for sunset the views are out of this world. Love the picture of Sani Pass Road, it looks unreal