Return to Johannesburg

We decided not to go on the 5.15am safari drive for an hour before we left at 8am! Instead we finished packing ready to leave. We drove via the Blyde Canyon where we could see down into the deep gorge where there was a dam. The three Rondvels are quite interesting geological structures as they stand side by side and look like three African “houses”. They reminded me of the Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains. The gorge is the third deepest in Africa. Lunch was at Dullstroon as on way to Safari.

It was lovely to be back at the Safari Club for 3 nights. There are a number of lodge type buildings set in quite large grounds with many shady trees and garden furniture so we could relax outside. As we found the beds hard, the owner, Alastair, went out and bought mattress toppers for us! Have a look at their website: www.safariclubsa.co.za

The day after our return to Johannesburg, we repacked the ski bag and threw out lots of summer clothes we wouldn’t need for the rest of the trip. The following day we went into Johannesburg and met Gerry Gallows,  a school friend of Joan Kitchin’s.

Gerry in interested in archeology so was a great person to go with to the interesting Origins museum. This sets out the case for development of homo sapiens coming from the Sala tribe of South Africa. Later we visited the Art Gallery where there the main display was of peole standing in flood waters. So many different expressions and situations. Gerry attends concerts there too.

On Friday we were not flying until 8pm, so Alastair organised a driver-guide to take me to the Apartheid museum and to see Soweto. This was so good of him. It was the safest way for me to travel as going on my own wouldn’t  have been sensible because of the crime and security problems in Johannesburg. I found the museum very interesting and can understand the reluctance of some locals to visit it. There was a temporary display about Nelson Mandela which I found fascinating. Then I was driven around Soweto seing the ordinary suburban places with the sqatter camps on the outskirts. The squatters are mainly people coming in from the surrounding countries who have no work or accommodation. The driver fended off the many vendors and men wanting to show us parking places etc. at Mandela’s house and was able to tell me a lot about Soweto. I didn’t want to go on an organised tour with visits into Mandela’s house etc. The house seems to be hidden behind glass walls now.  On my return to Safari Club it was time to finalise packing and to go to the airport for our overnight trip to Zurich, a complete change of climate!!