Visiting Friends and family in SA to Zim

Africa » Zimbabwe » Bulawayo
January 27th 2009

Published: January 31st 2009

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Rad and Kat

Cape Town

My aunts dogs were not happy being left alone.

I sometimes feel like we are moving to another planet, not to Australia. With Australia on the other side of the world, it won't be easy visiting friends and family in Europe and Africa. It was with that in mind that we planned an extra month in Southern Africa to spend time with old friends and family.

Hiring a car in the Cape we started the 5 day trip along the southern coast of Africa. Driving along the Garden Route, which started at Oudtshoorn with its 400 Ostrich farm, we continued through to George then Widerness, an area renowned for its natural beauty. The following day we travelled throught the luxurious holiday towns of Knysna and Plettenberg Bay before continuing on to Tsitsikamma National Park and Storms River, the self appointed adventure capital of South Africa. After a few days in Port Alfred visiting Dave and Tracey Painting, we joined the Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape. The Wild coast is in the Transkei a former African homeland. The area is sparcely developed with mud huts covering endless plains and its roads infested with goats and school children who seem to have no concept that cars could kill them. The

Cape Town

View of Table Mountain from the waterfront.

Sunshine Coast was more to our liking but with the rush to meet Kathryns parents in Durban we pushed through and spent a few days with them and Kathryn's Grandad.

We stopped in Joburg for a night before continuing to Zimbabwe. Travelling straight up to the Zambezi River, where, courtesy of the Fergusons, we stayed at their lodge in Masuna complete with air-con, chef and boat crew. Pure luxury. Unfortunatley I could not match the father in laws efforts in the fishing department, but I wasn't really holding out much hope, anyway, spending time relaxing on the river drinking a few beers was what I came for.

Back in Bulawayo for 2 weeks we learnt first hand just how hoplessly difficult it was for our family and friends to exist in our homeland. Day to day survival was the goal for most and a task totally foreign to visitors' like ourselves. I just hope for the sake of the people left in the country that something soon changes for the beter.

Back down to Joburg we said our goodbyes and spent time with as many people as possible. It was now time to focus on the