So… here we are with exactly 2 weeks to go before the big day. Things are getting very exciting now, the closer we get to the start of this adventure, the more exciting it gets!
For the first time in our history we actually feel that we’re going on this trip more organised than we have ever been before. We have purchased all our clothes for the Safari, remembering that it is advised not to wear bright coloured clothes on Safari and that clothing needs to be light but warm because of luggage allowances. So with this in mind we have purchased lightweight Safari clothing, hiking boots and hats. Well … Anaconda had a sale on outdoor clothing so we made a beeline there, and bought up! Only problem is we will look like the Bobbsey Twins because we’ve got the exact same clothing .. and hats!!! Anyway not to worry, we are organised, not packed yet but all our safari stuff is loaded on the spare bed, ready to be packed. The to-do list is getting smaller … YAY!
Our travel book arrived on Friday, “Lonely Planet Southern Africa”, which Karen proceeded to read excerpts from on the way to the Gold Coast yesterday The more she read, the more excited we got about the whole thing!
Well finally, here we are, the morning that we are about to leave on our great adventure. Karen and I are packed, camera gear is packed (the most important) and even Sir Winston has his little overnight bag pack (red and green checkers). So Sir Winston is off on a home stay with a lovely family who are taking him on a farm stay for the weekend.
Karen and I will take our bags to the airport and get them wrapped then chill for the rest of the day.
We arrive at 5:00am to a cold Johannesburg. Our J’Burg guide, William, was there to meet us, and off we went to check into our accommodation, the quaint Sleep Eezy Cottages http://www.sleepeezy.co.za What a charming little B & B in the suburbs, very close to OR Tambo International Airport! Our lovely hosts, Moira and Lawrence, made us feel very welcome, even turning the heaters on in the rooms beforehand to make them warm and cosy. Moira and Lawrence put on a wonderful breakfast, after which we set off again with William on our day tour.
Breakfast at “Sleep Eezy Cottages”
First stop was the Sterkfontein Caves. These caves form part of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, and are world famous for their fossil finds. They are also home to hominid fossils, “Mrs Ples” and “Little Foot”, the latter being an almost complete Australopithecus skeleton dating back more than 3-million years. We navigated the 200 steps to descend down into the caves where we were rewarded with views of complex formations, fossils and an underground lake. It was a great experience!
Known as Elephant rock or Map of Africa.
Next stop was the Maropeng Visitor’s Centre (in the same site as the Sterkfontein Caves). Maropeng means ‘returning to the place of our ancestors’, and the Visitor’s Centre is designed to resemble a burial mound. The extensive modern exhibition takes an interactive approach to the history of life as we know it from the big bang to the evolution of humankind, the discovery of fire and the spread of people across continents. Our visit started with a fun boat ride through the ages before we entered the museum proper where we saw educational displays complemented by examples of the kinds of fossils and tools which have been found in the Cradle of Humankind.
Next stop was a late lunch at the Lion and Safari Park in Kalkheuvel. Very pleasant having a light lunch and beverage overlooking the giraffe enclosure. A couple of giraffes even stopped by and graced us with their presence!
Karen & Giraffe (Karen is the short one)Di & Giraffe
Then on to our last stop for the day, the Lesedi Cultural Village, situated within the Cradle of Humankind site. We looked through the locals’ marketplace there and bought a few handmade crafts. We were then treated to a dance display, and lastly a fascinating insight into the cultures and traditions of the people of Africa, visiting five traditional homesteads inhabited by Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Basotho and Ndebele tribes who live according to tribal folklore and the traditions of their ancestors. It was most interesting. Norman ate a dried Mopani Worm (didn’t get the thumbs up)! After all this, we enjoyed some traditional African fare for dinner in their Nyama Choma restaurant. The buffet included such exotic dishes as crocodile, kudu, and staple sides including pap, creamed spinach and pumpkin.
The Girls shopping for beach wear
HUGE day … we were constantly on the go since our arrival in J’Burg at 5:00am! Back to Sleep Eezy, and in bed at 10:30pm.
