Bushbabies Monkey Sanctuary
Teaching English at Bulungula
Elephant Roadblock (Kruger Park)
isiZulu and Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Muzi Pan Canoeing – Zulu Culture, Hippos, Wetland Creatures
Orpen Bush Walk (Kruger Park)
In the hot, baking sun we drudged ourselves, albeit rather willingly, behind two armed game rangers from Orpen Camp in the Kruger National Park. Our guides, Carol and Thomas, had fetched us in their open game-drive vehicle from the ablution facilities at Tamboti Tented Camp where we were staying. After introducing themselves and giving us a briefing of the walk, we headed out into the bumpy bushveld. Continue reading
Self-drive (Tips) Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve
On my birthday, Marcel and I headed out to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, about 40-min drive from Leopard Walk Lodge where we were staying. We arrived nice and early as the gates opened, and after signing in, we were rewarded with a lovely sighting of warthogs right at the gates. What a fab start to the game drive! The sun was shining and the wildlife obliging.
The office manager had shown us various routes we could take, so with map in hand, we headed out, eagerly taking in the helpful spotting tips and great overview of the animals we might catch a glimpse of. Continue reading
Working with local Zulu communities
Port Shepstone Lighthouse
Marcel’s parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in February 2008 and organised a fabulous apartment in Margate for all of us. They’d arrived a week earlier and had found a fabulous little restaurant renowned for their fish & chips in Port Shepstone, so decided to treat us for lunch. Before going to lunch, we couldn’t miss out on visiting the Port Shepstone Lighthouse, which was built in 1902(5?) and is situated on the mouth of the Umzimkulu River. Continue reading
Finding Our European Roots
“No matter where you come from, as long as you’re a black man, you’re an African. No mind your nationality, you have got the identity of an African“. ~ Peter Tosh
Albeit in reverse, Peter Tosh sings about the way I felt a lot of the time while growing up in South Africa with my pale skin – I felt out of place in my country of birth. The old apartheid “European Only” signs indicated that a white skin meant that we were European, but we felt African. So, who and what are we? Are we South Africans? Are we English? Are we Dutch? None of the above? Continue reading
Three weeks around the coast in S.A.
The plan was simple. We wanted to see as much of the coastline of South Africa as possible, as we were emigrating to Europe. Having shipped our belongings, we closed the door of the house for the last time and handed over the keys to the new tenants. There was now no turning back and we had three weeks until our flight from Johannesburg International Airport.
Armed with our trusty white VW Golf (no aircon), a handful of maps, a bag of clothes and some cash, we decided to head west. Firstly because we had never been that way to the coast before and also following our instinct to “Go west, young man”… Here follows our diary of the trip. Continue reading
Tiger Shark Dive – Aliwal Shoal – Umkomaas
Shore-entry Navigation Dive
During our Master Diving training course, we were instructed to do a shore-entry navigation dive in our buddy pairs. This meant kitting up on the beach, gently easing into the waves, setting the appropriate navigation course, putting fins on, submerging beneath the waves and setting off in the right direction.
The intention was to swim out 30m, surface, wave to the instructor, take another bearing back, submerge and return. Being near-professionals, currents and swell needed to be taken into consideration. We had calculated how long it took us to swim 30m, so the time had been set. Continue reading
Type your key words here:
What’s being said