And then there were two

As I said in the previous post S left Durban on the 28th to go back to the motherland and me and Frieder headed up to the freezing yet majestic mountains of Drakensberg.... the original plan was to go there with S and only spend two days or so but, I am glad that things changed as we got to stay there for 6 days and still it felt that so much could be done also with S gone (remember she was the one that got tired whilst we were mountain biking downhill) we could pursue outdoor activities without any fear of someone being left behind... ...

The landscape is breath taking and words cannot describe them so, I will let the pics speak for themselves (I will upload pics another time cause this internet connection is super slow and I can t stay here all day)..... on the first day we arrived to Southern Drakensberg (or as the local call it " the Berg" we sorted out a visit to Lesotho (one of the Countries within South Africa)... the trip involved using a old trade road - know as the Sanny Pass - using a 4x4 (funny enough we were going to try it with our Fat Cat as Frieder's book stated that a 4x4 was recommended hence, not absolutely needed) into Lesotho... was we got in the country and after driving about 60km (the country is tiny) we changed transport to use a horse (or a over grown pony)...

I have never seen such lazy horses... no matter how much I would kick it in the ribs or scream AI AI AI (as did the horses owner) he would only have two speeds... slow or slower... that is unless the owner said it at which point we would gallop as if running for his life... at night we stayed in a local village where we were served a typical Lesotho dinner (although of course meat was a luxury which not many people can afford...)... the country like so many in Africa was increadibily rich up until the population increased so much that, all the food they used to export was needed to feed the population and, eventually they required also to import much of what they need having since become on of the poorest countries in Africa....

The experience at the village was quite rewarding and, despite them being used to host tourists, it is always from what I gathered a reason to celebrate whenever foreigners were there... on the way back because the ground was freezing my horse was going even slower than the slowest speed which was absolutely fine by me however, the owner seemed to disagree.... as he ordered my horse to galope he obeyed and eventually slipped on the ice and, of course we both fell... fortunatelly I was able to take my leg out so he didn t crush it and I was jst shaken up nothing more and I can thank luck cause I don t think it was my cat like reflexes (which are nonexistent :P)

After we left to Central Berg (Injisuto) were we did some more trecks... we S gone we also have opted for the tent rather then staying in dorms... the difference is not much but, as they say in Tesco every little helps and over the course of the remaining 2 months that I have left it will make all the difference..... The only problem is that at night it went to -5 C which meant that during the morning we woke up to freezing cold and even inside the tent there was ice... we sucked it up one more night whilst in Injisuto but, eventually opted out to go back to dorms once we arrive Northern Berg... Again we did some amazing treks but, one in particular " The Gorge walk" was by far the best one... in terms of landscape all were quite similar however, this one took us along the river into the foot of the Amphitheater wall... Frieder who is becoming ever more portuguese left the map in the car... this was a very demanding walk where many time we had to climb steep metal ladders... we though that we were going off track as we met a mother with two small kids (the older no more than 8y) and carrying another in her back said she was making the same walk... once we passed by a straight in which there were some spikes we had to climb we were sure that we were in another track only to hear (when we stopped for lunch) the kids screamung wuth excitment after they finished climbing the same straight we though was so hard... this of course shattered completely my feeling like Indiana Jones ....

Hluhluve-Umfolozi and Santa Lucia and Cape Vidal National parks were our nxt destination for some more self drive safari and of course going back to the coast and the warmth.... and of course to the tent :D

The next stage was Sodwana bay were we stayed inside of the national park for some great diving.... the day before I got there the group had gone out to the 9 mile reef and saw not only whale shark (which I have been chasing since 2006 without success - although Jacques Cousteau only saw 2 in his entire life so I guess I ll just have to keep hoping) and hump back whales.. in the same dive... I paid (in South Africa don t know if I ve mentioned it before but duvung here is reallllly expensive) for 2 dives and, if it was amazing I would go for another two... one the day of the dive came, everything was great until I actually got into the water.... my mask was letting water in and because my nose was clogered so I couldn t expell the water and I had a panic attack... I was only at 19m so it was short way up and I tried with a different mask but, it even let more water in and the second time it was worst... after I had no other choice but to go back to the boat and of course no refund.... second day ended up not going diving and, have to wait to Mozambique (where I am at the moment - in Maputo) for the whale sharks.....

As I said I will try to post some pics however I make no promises as tomorrow I am going to Tofu for diving and after to Tofinho (close by) to surf and internet there is not only very expensive but also extremely slow...

Hope everyone is ok..

Cheerios