Nathan's Insights

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

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  • World Trip 2006: Day 16 – Drakensberg to Ladyband, South Africa

    Thursday 13 April 2006
    Highlights: Bushman paintings

    Walking most of the way to our truck (the 4X4 picked us up near the end) was probably a good way to recover from the hike from yesterday. The major thing today was seeing Bushman paintings at Ladyband and putting some of our group in jail at the same time!!

    Niels who was a little sunburned from yesterday’s walk proved he is very tough by getting into the very cold swimming pool, we all watched from a distance in awe.   I also don’t believe I’ll stay in a better room during my entire trip (this was not a Drifter’s property).

  • World Trip 2006: Day 15 – Drakensberg, South Africa

    Wednesday 12 April 2006
    Highlights: Seven hour nature hike, exploring bushman caves

    Some people on the tour really enjoyed the fireplaces in the rooms last night; I think some wood was missing from outside my room reflecting how keen people were to keep their fires going.

    Today was all about the 7 hour nature hike.   It was extremely hard at certain points, I remember looking down as I was climbing a rock face (with Jan’s help) and thinking it was a very long way down.   The walk was so hard because their never seemed to be a flat bit (always up or down). I think the hike really bought the group together.   We were all watching the threatening clouds hoping they would stay away (they did thank god!).

    The bushman caves proved interesting.   Marjia keep finding new places to explore and the rest of us just worried about getting out from this small damp cave.   It’s very sad to think these bushman were hunted and killed, they live a very simple life.   Their paintings leave some clues to what they saw in their time.

    After Marjia fell off her horse (only experienced riders allowed) we all took long showers and walked (slowly) to a well deserved dinner by candlelight (to save power).

    The Drakensberg area is actually an environment success story by the Drifter’s group.   It’s good to think we were actually helping the environment for once instead of destroying it.   Drifters are continuing to restore the land to its former glory in this area.

  • 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.

  • 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