With the Explorer in Africa.

[turtlemichael]

Don't wish to usurp his ron_ness. but had mine in front of me
half a page in and they blew a whole page out..

Big stamps?

 

[casanovawa]

Somewhere on here i took a photo of the pages of my passport with the stamps for South Africa, Botswana and Zambia...

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ns/passport-running-out-pages-size-35660.html

 

[drron]

Both the entry and exit stamp were of a size comparable to Australia.Useed up slightly less than half a page.But certainly stories of people sent packing from South Africa if there are not 2 clear pages in the passport.
But back to the story.At dinner the first night we splashed out on wine.Had the dearest bottle of Sav Blanc on the list-168 Zar($21)It was very good.Slept very well as the place is very quiet.The breakfast buffet was extensive and quite reasonable.
We decided to send our stuff to the laundry as the dearest thing on the laundry list was trousers at 20 Zar($2.50).We were booked on our helicopter flight and the weather looked OK.First though we noticed this visitor-

Like a lot of things in Africa this grasshopper was very colourful.We had to walk up to the Helipad so left early as neither of us very fast uphill.Some different views-

As we got to the helipad we were hopeful as the cloud was high-

We checked out the views and mrsdrron made sure the landing zone was clear-

The chopper came back and the pilot reported that on the other side of the mountains visibility was poor so our flight was postponed-

So we drove down to the nearby lodge which had a small museum of San Bushman art-

 

[drron]

Some more San art-

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Outside the museum there was a little craft market where Mrsdrron bought 2 baskets for 74 Zar($9.25).I gave the woman and her daughter 80 Zar and told them to keep the change.From the expressions on their faces they thought I was Father Christmas.There was also this sign which we paid little attention to-

There were also some birds-

After this we decided to go to the golf club and have a drink-a glass of Sav Blanc and a bottle of very nice cider was 41 Zar($5).Good views from the clubhouse over the course and back to the hotel-

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Next-an unusual golf hazard.

 

[drron]

Then we noticed something unusual on one of the fairways-

And soon there were more-

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The young ones were just like children,rolling down the hills and playing chasings.However these golfers came back with a cautionary tale-

Played the shot on to the green,the baboon raced in,picked up the ball and ran off.I immediately thought of JohnK and his luck.Then it was back to the hotel to have lunch.You cross this picturesque river-

They do a very nice grilled trout for lunch-

It cost 72 Zar($9.50).As a bonus the birds are easily spotted-

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[drron]

Cathedral Peak is a great place if you are young or still very active.Bushwalking,golf,quad bikes,trout fishing,horse riding,helicopter rides and a few other assorted activities.It is also great for just relaxing.So after lunch we went back to the room for a couple of hours sleep.
The place seems like a little piece of 1950's England.Tonight it was roast lamb or pork.The pork was delicious.On the buffet there is always a curry,a vegetarian dish,a pasta and a couple of specials.desserts always looked nice but the taste wasn't as good as they looked.The pecan pie tonight though was very good.Back to the room by 2100 and we went to sleep almost immediately.

Monday we woke early.As usual there were a few morning visitors-

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But today was hopefully the day we got our helicopter flight.So it was early to breakfast.Finished by 0800 and clouds were beginning to form.Finally got on to the pilot ~0830 and once again the walk up to the Helipad.Our bird was waiting

take off over the little river and below was the trout farm,then to the magnificent Drakensbergs.I will let the pictures tell the story-

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there were a few Cape vultures also flying that morning-

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More of the Drakensbergs to come.

 

[drron]

So some more photos of the Drakensbergs from the air-

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next we come to the reason for our visit.

 

[drron]

Our reason for coming to the Drakensbergs was to see the Tugela Falls-the second highest waterfall in the world.Our first granddaughter is Tugela.Hiking in was not an option.Unfortunately when the area was declared a world heritage area helicopters were not allowed to fly over it so our vision was to be from far off.We first saw this level area-

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Thisv was a perfect helipad.We were offered champagne straight or with orange juice-

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There were great views into the Amphitheatre where Tugela falls are except in the direction of the falls.The cloud was blocking the view of the top of the falls and because of the shading I could not get a clear picture but at least I could make out the falls so was happy.

So took some pictures on our stop-
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-c04UIE0OT0U/UUtxx_HI4cI/AAAAAAAA_6c/4IAFUpR--UI/s400/africa%2520224-001.JPG.

The pools were full of tadpoles.And here I am taking that shot-

So we began the trip back-

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[drron]

The flight back was across the valley-

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But passing close to outcrops often with cattle-

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But no less enjoyable than the dramatic cliffs-

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Though there were still some cliffs-

 

[drron]

Well the last few shots from our flight-

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We really enjoyed the flight.An hour and the cost~$650.Thoroughly reccomended and it was through Westline helicopters.
It was then time to go back to the room and download all the photos.We then walked down to the river passing their chapel.There had been a wedding there on our first day.What a wonderful backdrop-

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And some different views-

It was then back for afternoon tea.Always ready to try something different I had a Burdock and Dandelion drink-a cross between a cola and sarsparilla.Noticed the birds nest in the palms-
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And this fellow decided to land right beside me-

 

[drron]

Another colourful visitor joined us for afternoon tea-

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The internet was down for the rest of the day so a nap before dinner-we both had some grilled trout and the roast beef with Yorkshire pudding.Saw our last sunset-

We were up early next morning and saw our last sunrise over Baboon rock and the mountains-

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We were at breakfast by 0730 and left at 0830.Got our last view of the Drakensbergs-

The road was pretty empty but the women were already out doing their washing-

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We passed a little village that in some respects had a more accuraye name for the region-

We took a bit of a detour and went through the town of Winterton.There really was no reason to stop.So we drove on to Bergville crossing the river we came to see-

We then went through the village of Bergville but decided it was not a place we wanted to stop.So on we went towards the battlefields.Stopped in Ladysmith to refuel and then in Dundee where we looked at the shops and had a light lunch.There was one heart in the mouth moment driving from Ladysmith to Dundee when a fellow coming the other way decide to overtake the vehicle in front of him when he was about 25 metres from me.
Next Islandwana.
Review of lodge here-
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ws/isandlwana-lodge-kwa-zulu-natal-48622.html

 

[Major]

Another colourful visitor joined us for afternoon tea-

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They look like Grevillea's :?::!:

 

[docjames]

Wow, amazing pics.

 

[casanovawa]

So got a copy of Zulu or Zulu Dawn to watch to set the scene???

Was the movie Zulu meant to be about Rourke's Drift was it while Zulu Dawn was about the defeat at Islandwana???

Haven't watched them for a while...

 

[JohnPhelan]

So got a copy of Zulu or Zulu Dawn to watch to set the scene???

Was the movie Zulu meant to be about Rourke's Drift was it while Zulu Dawn was about the defeat at Islandwana???

Haven't watched them for a while...

Yes, Zulu was about Rorke's Drift (the Mission Station where 11 Victoria Crosses were awarded). It was the earlier movie (shot in 1964). Zulu Dawn was shot about 15 years later, about the British defeat at Isandlwana which took place immediately prior to the Rorke's Drift action.

As an aside, if anyone's going there, I can highly recommend Isandlwana Lodge as a place to stay. It's magnificent, and the tour guides there do really good battlefield tours.

 

[drron]

John I agree fully with your comments however on our first night there was only 1 other couple who were leaving the next morning to be replaced by another couple who arrived the next day.But this meant I was in luck.At first Rob Gerrard was very upset when mrsdrron said she was not doing the battlefield tours.He said he doesn't do his tours for 1 but he relented,we hit it off and I ended up having a most amazing day.On top of that it was his last day before going on holidays so very lucky.But more of that later.
The lodge is built into the side of a mountain.Above the lodge is where the Zulu leader stood on the day of the battle-

But the dassies are everywhere-

The birds are everywhere-

This time my brightly coloured friend came with his much plainer mate-

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We awoke early.Already below the lodge people were out and about.The herders were taking the cattle out.Kids were walking miles to school.Then a funny thing happened.A maid came to service the room.She opens the door and then says "knock,knock".Happened every time they came to the room.

After breakfast it was time for me to meet Rob on the balcony as he gave an overview of the battle.Certainly easy from this vantage point.Then we drove to the battlefield.Rob lives and breathes history.His account is moving.But probably not more so than the actual battlefield where the cairns of white rocks mark the burial spot of at least 5 English soldiers or local police and militia.

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This last is the path many took to try and escape but ran straight into the right horn of the Zulu attack.Amazingly some did escape.I then climbed the rise for a better view but this was also what a few soldiers were forced to do but sadly to no avail-

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[Stoopidsteve]

They look like Grevillea's :?::!:

That's what I thought, and bottle brushes on previous page too! Aussie exports...!

But thanks for great TR as usual. More places on the bucket list thanks to AFF!

 

[JohnM]

That's what I thought, and bottle brushes on previous page too! Aussie exports...!

But thanks for great TR as usual. More places on the bucket list thanks to AFF!

S Africa is full of Australian plants, some of which are serious weeds - just like the reverse.

 

[drron]

Yes there are many Australian natives in Africa.Later on we saw extensive plantations of Tasmanian blue gum.But back to the story.The last Englishman to die on the battle field is said to have died in this cave-

Then it was a different format to the usual tours.The 2 half day tours where combined into one and we took a picnic lunch.This gave a lot more time on a one to one basis with Rob and made for a very interesting day.We next travelled to Fugitive's Drift and had to cross the Blood river-

I then had a bonus,giraffe and Blesbok-

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Then to Fugitive's Drift the site where the 2 officers who tried to save the unit's colours crossed the then flooded Blood river.Sadly Melville and Coghlin did not make it up the other side-

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Again saw the giraffe on the way back to Rorke's Drift.At Rorke's drift the Storehouse(now a church) and the hospital-

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There we first had our picnic-beautiful steak sandwhich,nice sangas and a couple of Hansa beers.
More of Rorke's Drift next.

 

[drron]

mrs.dr.ron here I will comment on all of this after we get home. Currently in Pretoria and heading to Botswanna tomorrow. Looks like Ron is a bit behind in his TR