DURBAN MARINA!South Africa,Nov2013

It was a daysail from Richards Bay to Durban.weather window too short to go further
400 berth marina,and it was full.we were put in international section
2lovely yachtclubs.we would often meet at royal natal yachtclub at 6 pm to discuss the weather with other cruisers.
it was lovely to meetRoy from the Peri Peri net- so helpful talking to him on the Hf radio as we crossed the Mozambique channel,and then to Durban,and later to Capetown
It took several weeks till we got a weather window,and it was worth waiting for,the best for a year or two,allowing us to get all the way to Simonstown

FACES IN LESOTHO

LESOTHO

We entered from the south at QachasNeck.a lovely impressive drive along orange river with arid mountains,big river gorges,little rural villages,simple stone or mud and stick houses,men on donkeys,herders minding goats and sheep,not many vehicles,many people walking,manybwearing the traditional basotho blanket.

It felt different to the other southern african countries

LESOTHO 17-18/11/2013

We dis a 2 day drive through Lesotho

It is a small,poor,country,surrounded by South Africa

It has one of the highest HIV rates in the world,about 26%.this is not obvious.there were few signs about HIV or its prevention.we saw no obvious victims.drug treatment must be working.

Swaziland rural scenary

SWAZILAND NATIONAL MUSEUM.11/11/2013

This was a lovely little museum.

Enjoyed the beadwork,videos of dancing,wildlife panoramas and history of first king after independence,with his yank tank collection,the map and the evolution drawing

Sondzela Backpackers.Swaziland

The child in the rhino photo is now the manager of the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary.

Old style breakfast

Kerry and the cook

MLILWANE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY 10-11/11/2013

We drove through this wildlife sanctuary in Swaziland,on way to our baclpackers.saw some nice antelopes and wildebeast.

Swaziland Phophonyane Falls 11/11/13

A short detour for a waterfall walk

SWAZILAND !

This small independant country is ruled by the last absolute monarch in Africa.he has 14 wives,who live in his two palaces.

Swaziland was a british protectorate,so was never part of south africa,.independence1968,

HIV 26%! We are only saw one or two signs about HIV.

Kruger - MONKEYS

These monkeys at Skukuze,the main camp in Kruger,were very cute

KRUGER LIONS

On our night safari we heard about a recent buffalo kill by lions.on the dawn safari the next day we saw them,a large pride of lions,with full bellies,with buffalo carcass.most impressive

KRUGER

The biggest and most famous gamepark in South Africa

We wanted to see a leopard to complete the big five

We spotted on,actually saw all the big five here.plus lots of other game.not as much,and not as easy to see as the Okavango and Moremi.no where near as many rhinos as Hluhluwe.

The leopard was resting near this cave.he got up for one leisurely stroll,then went back to sleep

BRC - THE THREE RONDEVALS

This is the best scenary in the canyon

A rondeval is a round hut with a conical hut

Bourkes Luck Potholes

Another pretty stop in BRC

The museum had some nice prints