Well, after tearing ourselves away from our beloved Mozambique we moved on to South Africa. Almost as soon as we set foot in the country, we sensed a very different atmosphere than in Mozambique. It was less easy-going, less light-hearted, somehow. There are still bits of resentment lingering in the aftermath of forty years of apartheid. It's hard to pinpoint--more of a general atmosphere really. But don't get us wrong, we don't want to put South Africa in a bad light. We really like it here, and have come across both beautiful scenery and friendly people.
We crossed the border and went first to Nelspruit. From there we went on a one day safari into Kruger National Park, the most visited game reserve in the world--and with good reason. It was amazing. We ended up seeing three of "The Big Five: elephants, lions and rhinos (we missed out on leopards and water buffalo).
We also saw zebra, giraffes, alligators, monkeys, baboons and loads of antelope. Not to mention the breath-taking African landscape against which we witnessed this mishmash of wildlife.
From Nelspruit, we moved on to Johannesburg, where Judy and David, friends from Zimpeto, were awaiting us. Though it had only been a week and a half since we'd seen them, it felt like ages and it was wonderful to see them. With the reputation Johannesburg has, it was really nice to have a friend (slash protector) in the city. It was strange to see walled houses, barred windows and barbed wire around every corner, but Joburg was definitely worth a visit. We went to the Apartheid museum and out to a nice area called Melville.
[ We took Judy's dogs for a walk to the park with David, only to find the park scorched--the groundexhaling bits of ash and billows of smoke. Apparently the authorities burn it annually to ensure
the vegetation grows back nicely the following year.]
[In anticipation for a night out, Judy rushed into the walk-in closet only to collide headfirstinto a nasty door that had the audacity to be open.]
[David, Elise, Judy and Mindy, ready to go out]God bless,
- Mindy and Elise
4 comments:
Mindy looks like a character from The Matrix.
Brendan, though the content of your comments may be sometimes questionable, you are nonetheless one of our most faithful posters. So thank you. I look good in leather, I know it.
Another post already? Woohoo! Let's hear it for internet access! Did you girls actually take those wildlife pictures yourselves? That must have been such a ride!
It's so cool to see that you girls are meeting up with friends from past African experiences - how can such a big place have a community like that? It sounds...safe.
Love you ladies, pray for those of us who labour heavily under the weight of planning trips for non-committal mouth-breathers who don't understand the needs of organizers. Yikes, does that sound bitter?
Love Rachael
I bet there are cheap flights to India from South Africa.
Post a Comment