KwaZulu-Natal Tour Days 5 and 6

Museum at site where Mandela was captured before being sent to prison

Interesting sculpture - individual vertical rods that show Mandelas' face when viewed at the right angle

Installing a thatched roof

Our accommodation at Giant's Castle resort

View of the resort from the trail leading to the Bushman Caves

Bushman cave drqwings

Incredible scenery

Ardmore Ceramics Gallery - plates showing gallery artists who have died of HIV/A|ids - 30% of the black South African population has HIV/Aids

Examples of Ardmore ceramic art

Howick Falls - 95 metres high

Heritage Day costumes

KwaZulu-Natal Tour  Days 5 and 6

Sept 25, 2016

Friday morning we drove to the site where Nelson Mandela was captured along the side of the road. People wanted to build a large monument there, but Mandela would only allow a simple memorial. Across the street there is a museum documenting his life, work, and much of the apartheid history with lots of photos. It is very moving. Like Gandhi, he grew as a person through his tough years. I'd like to read his autobiography now. They are in the process of building a larger museum on the site.

In the afternoon we continued driving higher into the mountains. We slept our last night at a lodge in another game park. This one is a world heritage site. The reason is a collection of old rock paintings in open caves. We hiked into the site in the morning and a guide introduced us to the art and its possible meanings. They have been done by the original natives called the San or Bushmen. Their skin is more yellow with slightly oriental eyes. There are not many of them left in Africa now, unfortunately. Scientists think that the first homo sapiens originated in this area.

The temperature dropped again to around freezing overnight. It was a beautiful, quiet location with many alpine plants and birds. And the staff fed us well despite no towns in the vicinity. Other guests were there to do extensive hiking.

On the drive back to Durban we stopped at Ardmore Ceramics, a well known company making ceramics using local artists. We were allowed to watch them at work and take photos. There are figures of African animals on most pieces.  The work was beautiful, unique, and expensive. We stopped for a late lunch at a waterfall in Howick that is as high as Victoria Falls but much less water. It was a national holiday, Heritage Day. We got a chance to see some people dressed up for the occasion.

Arrived back in Durban Sat evening. Today, Sunday, we are unpacking, doing laundry and repairs. The inside of the boat was draped in wet and salty clothes as it never stopped raining last weekend. Now we are waiting for good weather to sail to Cape Town. Ideally we would like it nice for a week and go straight there. Otherwise we will start travelling and stop at the few possible places for shelter. This next section is called "The Wild Coast".