Nathan's Insights

World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas


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  • World Trip 2006: Day 14 – Dolphin Coast to Durban to Drakensberg, South Africa

    Tuesday 11 April 2006
    Highlights: 4WD drive to our remote accommodation

    Unfortunately no dolphins decided to say good morning to our group.  This it might have been the result of a drunken party in the area 🙂

    We headed off to Durban for a quick stop.   I spend most of our time here with my new friend Inge on the Durban Golden mile and having a heart to heart with her like only two people from different continents can. After a very long drive we arrived in Drakensberg which is actually in the mountains.

    Our truck could not make the drive so we transferred to a 4WD for the last 2 kms.   The Inn is so remote that there are no phones or electricity lines; it is run on solar power which you try to save.

    This place has seen lots of snow in the past.   Amazing to think in the morning we were on the beach and now we are 3,000 miles above sea level.

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  • World Trip 2006: Day 13 – Zululand and Dolphin Coast, South Africa

    Monday 10 April 2006
    Highlights: Zululand High School performance, Witch Doctor predictions

    We started today with a visit to a local Zululand high school and village and the students put on a dancing performance during a morning assembly.    Anika was pulled onto the ‘stage’ and showed us all she really could dance (didn’t sing however).   I already have an order in for the video Jacko was taking.

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  • World Trip 2006: Day 12 – Zululand, South Africa

    Sunday 9 April 2006
    Highlights: First sighting of a black rhino

    What a huge day!!!  After a night of learning a new card game called “Kings in the corner” (thanks Jan), we got up early for a walk in the forest around Lake St Lucia.   Actually we walked across the lake since it was dry!

    We then returned and had some fun in the pool (about the only water in the area) before heading off to a visit of the Hluhluwe Game Reserve. In the reserve Jan got us into trouble for going into a restricted area, good buffalo in that area however :).   We saw black rhino, giraffes, impala, elephants, buffalo, nodding zebras and warthogs.   Life was everywhere (but again not the ‘cats’).   What a cool day.

    Hluhluwe Game Reserve
    Hluhluwe Game Reserve
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  • World Trip 2006: Day 11 – Kruger National Park, South Africa and Swaziland

    Saturday 8 April 2006
    Highlights: The stunning countryside, it’s good the be the King (of Swaziland)

    Today we left Kruger National Park and passed through the tiny Kingdom of Swaziland.  Our guide Jan told us that the King, his father and grandfather have over 600 kids.   The King gets to pick a new wife each year and I believe has over 15 now, it’s good to be the King 🙂

    We enjoyed a rare lunch stop on the side of the road a change to relax and take in the views of this area.

    Swaziland
    Swaziland
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  • World Trip 2006: Day 10 – Kruger National Park, South Africa

    Friday 7 April 2006
    Highlights: All of Kruger National Park

    Kruger National Park, well all I can say is stunning.   Elephants, giraffes, and springbok you name a Southern African animal and we saw it (except the big ‘cats’).   The truck is a great way to see the animals; we even managed to find a couple of hippos.

    According to Jacko we also saw one in the swimming pool 🙂 The pool at this place was very relaxing, however how big kids (Jacko, Niels & Anika) got kicked out of the 6 year old and under version.

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  • World Trip 2006: Day 9 – Hazyview, South Africa

    Thursday 6 April 2006
    Highlights: First sighting of buffalo, getting pushed into a pool, excessive drinking (mother’s milk is a killer)

    Leaving our campsite we saw a large number of wildlife on our way through the Balule Nature Reserve including giraffes and my first sighting of buffalo.   Once at Hazyview we went on a short nature walk just enjoying nature.

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  • World Trip 2006 – Day 8: Balule Nature Reserve, South Africa

    Wednesday 5 April 2006
    Highlights: Sleeping in a Nature Reserve, Giraffes, Zebras and spiders!

    Had a wonderful night’s sleep, you should try sleeping out with nature; elephants make interesting noises early in the morning.   We started with an early morning walk and along other things Jan (guide) bought out a nasty looking spider, I stayed way back!.

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  • World Trip 2006: Day 7 – Johannesburg to Mpumalnga to Balule Nature Reserve, South Africa

    Tuesday 4 April 2006
    Highlights: The tour starts, Bourke’s Luck, the Three Rondavels, Elephant sighting!

    Today we took off early for the Balule Nature Reserve (bordering Kruger National Park). Our group includes Jan (guide), Marjia, Roger, Andreas, Carola, Anika, Niels, Jacko, Inge & Joern.

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  • World Trip 2006: Day 6 – Johannesburg, South Africa

    Monday 3 April 2006
    Highlights: Test Match South Africa vs Australia

    Well I enjoyed another great day at the cricket, I have to say this has been one of the best matches I’ve seen live.   Australia needs 44 more runs and Damian Martyn for once might actually score runs when we need then the most.

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  • World Trip 2006: Day 5: Johannesburg, South Africa

    Sunday 2 April 2006
    Highlights: Apartheid Museum

    Today I went to the Apartheid Museum.   I spent around 5.5 hours but easily could have spent a lot more (but my taxi was booked). On entry there is a ‘police’ vehicle used during the 80s when a state of emergency was declared (for about 5 years) which looked more like an assault vehicle.   You get a different experience while in the museum based on your race to drive home how the system used to work.

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