We left our hotel early to meet our bus taking us to our next stop in the Drakensberg. We were the only passengers on the bus with a driver Mduzi and guide.Ishmael the guide gave an animated and informative commentary.As we talked more we realised that what we thought was a simple transit to our hostel was in fact a fully curated tour.
The landscape initially reminded us of home later moving into grasslands with buttes ,mesas and plateaus.
On our journey we also experienced the SA version of motorway stops.The competing cultures of Dutch vs English were on display with Biltong Shops and Wimpy burger bars both being represented.
Paused at the Striechfontein dam,SA’s third biggest.Our trip went through three distinct biomes defined as a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat.They were grasslands, savannah and thicket.
Late in the afternoon we arrived at the Nelson Mandela “capture site”.
“The Nelson Mandela Capture Site is a cultural and historical exhibition that is situated at the site at which Nelson Mandela was apprehended for his anti-Apartheid activism acts in August 1952.
Mr Mandela had been travelling in disguise as the chauffeur of the car he drove, and was on the R103 road between Durban and Johannesburg. Apartheid police had been hunting Nelson Mandela down for 17 months and, as he passed along this stretch of road, they were finally able to capture and arrest him. This marked one of the most significant moments in the history of the Apartheid era, as well as the future of this country.” from www.SA-venues.com
We arrived at Sani Lodge at about 7pm and checked into our rondavel.
