To Jo'burg

Thursday was the day for packing up and moving on the the next stage of our holiday. John had a final browse through the photo archives, while Pat packed up ready to go. We took the scenic route back to Durban through the 1000 hills. This is obviously an area where one could spend some time, but unfortunately, the visibility was not good and the following photos were the best that we could do.





We enjoyed lunch at the Pot and Kettle at Botha's Hill from where we took this panorama.




Our flight was only slightly delayed, so no panic this time. We took the Gautrain from the airport to our hotel in Johannesburg where we will stay for two nights. The Gautrain is a new, fast train linking Jo'burg, Pretoria and the airport. The first part opened about 3 years ago and the final part has been opened for only 6 months. The hotels that we are staying in in Jo'burg and Pretoria are both close to the line, so it will be easy to change hotels.

Pat and John on tour

Back to Pietermaritzburg

We woke to the sound of the Egyptian Goose on the roof again, but this time at the more reasonable hour of 6am and John got a direct hit with the water bottle.


Once packed, we had time for breakfast on the terrace before we left.


There weren't too many geese around this time, but before long, we understood why ... the man who feeds the geese came across the field with a long line of geese behind him.





Then came the monkeys!





This is a mother and baby, who is holding on underneath and has its tail wrapped round mum's




Finally, the horses arrived and galloped past us on their way to their field.





After that, we were on our way back to Pietermaritzburg via the Drakensberg Sun hotel for the view and to view the hotel, rather grand compared to the Champagne Castle Hotel itself.





A shot en route




This was followed by a stop at a chalet where Michael's niece (who is about the same age) and her husband were staying for a few days, together with a couple of friends one of whom was born in Salford and went to school in Swinton. We enjoyed our first taste of mealie bread.








We passed an impressive dam on the way home




The afternoon and evening were spent with John and Georgina trawling Georgina's family archives and John finding some treasure.


Pat and John on tour

Bird show and a long walk

We have had super weather in Drakensberg with temperatures ranging from 26 to 34 degrees. Tuesday dawned warm and clear, so perfect weather for a 'Birds of Prey' show. After breakfast on the terrace, we set off for the morning show, not far away. The location was perfect, as was the weather.








The show lasted for a hour and included wild birds that clearly know when it's show time and they might join in the feeding. Greg was quite a showman, encouraging the birds to swoop down time and time again. Eventually after they had entertained us, the birds would be fed chicken necks.








Black eagle




Spotted eagle owl




African fish eagle








There were three hunting dogs in attendance that were part of the show, encouraging the birds to focus on where there might be some prey and they were constantly trying and failing to get to the meat before the birds.
After lunch and a rest, we set out on a walk to the Crystal Falls near to our chalet. The walk was easier but longer than our walk the previous day.








Was a landscape gardener here?








We have seen a number of these ancient ferns which are legally protected.




Our hotel is in the middle of this photo, you can just see our chalet.




Finally we reached the falls which are at 1750m.

The top of the falls




And the pool below




In the evening we ate in the hotel restaurant before preparing to leave the next day.

Pat and John on tour

Drakensberg (2) in including wild life

We awoke early in the morning to a loud noise which sounded like "up, up, up .....". The light had yet to break so John went out to confront the offending animal, which turned out to be a duck, perched on the top of our roof.




John set out to persuade the duck to move on - man versus duck! Clearly the duck had the high ground and, no doubt, had been encouraged to move along before, without success. John flapping his arms had not the slightest effect, and a bottle of water thrown at it similarly had no effect. In the end, a large golf umbrella flapped at it persuaded the duck to move on, not without scars to John from the umbrella! John is therefore happy that he won the battle of duck ridge, but there is still a plaster on his finger.

In addition to the baboons, which we saw on our first day, we have geese that live in the pond at the end of our garden. They also go out around the chalets and we watched, with amusement, the antics of a column of geese determined to head in a particular direction versus a couple of children in another chalet, playing football and chasing the geese away.

Eventually, the geese won and we saw then when reached their chosen destination




where a deer was perched on the fence




We also watched the antics of Guinea fowl which run around the hotel site. The females seem willing to fly when required, but the male runs up and down the fence trying to find a way through a wire mesh.




There are some interesting birds around including the masked weaver.




We spent the morning shopping and seeing sites in the area known to Georgina and Michael from other trips. They will be here again in a few weeks in a timeshare overlooking a golf course.




In the afternoon, we went out for a walk in the mountains above our hotel and these are some of the scenes.












These ferns are many hundreds of years old and are protected




We spent the evening on the terrace chatting and watching the wildlife.

Pat and John on tour

Drakensberg

Georgina and Michael had booked three nights in the Drakensberg hills.
We set off on Sunday morning, stopping first at Andrew and Lisa's house for a family photo.




We then called into Marian Villa, the residential care home for the elderly of which Georgina is the Sister in Charge. In addition to the accommodation for those who require special care, there are independent units with gardens. We were shown around and met many residents and care workers, one of whom is called Patricia Stewart. The large site was once a private house and then a convent.

This is the old house




The independent units




After that, we were on our way, via the Mandela monument which marks the spot where Nelson Mandela was arrested in 1962. This is the spot, by the side of a road and a railway line.




The monument is very close and looks like this




But when you stand on the right spot it looks like this.




After browsing round the museum and having lunch we set out for
Champagne Castle hotel in the Drakensberg hills.

Our chalet is perfect and probably the best available. It can accommodate six but is best for four. We have a perfect view of the mountains with a big fenced in garden. This is the view from the terrace. The pond is home to geese which chatter away.








The mountain below is Monks Cowl.




While we were sitting on the terrace, we saw baboons in the field nearby








Some inside views of the chalet.








From our bed looking up at the thatched roof and eucalyptus beams




Good night.

Pat and John on tour