Travelogue :  Gosandra travels round the world

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I didnt intend to stay in Durban more than one night and after some heavy springtides (up to 7m, caused by moon, winds etc, no tsunami but nearly so) the beaches were out of the question anyways.
I decided to head northeast to the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game reserve, since people told me that it is much better than Kruger. well, I'll see! Getting there was a bit of a journey, since Bazbus didnt leave that day and I took one of the minibusses. At first I was a bit reluctant, but what the hell, I've done it before (I guess its more the "I havent really gotten into the proper backpacking mood/mentality again"). So, first I'm the only white person i can see far and wide, second the bus only leaves when full - now thats nothing new. so, basically i spent 3 hours waiting for the bus to leave and 3 hours for the drive to Hluhluwe. I guess I'm getting back in the mood!
I stayed at Isinkwe Bush lodge in Bushlands, very lovely, especially their pool is very inviting after a long day on the road. Luckily I met Jon, who was there with a rental car and so we made arrangements to go game viewing the next day. The park is really lovely, fairly small but with very many different ecosystems. Spotting animals was quite difficult but we saw loads of giraffes, zebras, rhinos, buffalos, antelopes and the odd elephants. still looking for my first lion or leopard.

I only stayed there for a day and then went back to durban to head up north into the mountains, the majestic drakensbergs.
Again I hitched a ride, with Robert, who was also going to the Sani Lodge, the loveliest backpackers I've been so far (mainly because of the setting and the people i met there and the cosyness, can recommend!). We did the Sani Pass on a tour with 4x4s, its the third steepest mountain pass in the whole world and dirt road all the way. quite exhilarating! While there also visited the highest pub in Africa. A must!

I did hikes for three more days there, including one to look at lovely bushman's paintings (recommended viewing: "the gods must be crazy", south african movie on a lovley bushman chap. unfortunately the real bushman or San are long extinct....)

In the northern Drakensberg I went to stay at the Amphitheatre lodge, not as cozy and not as nice, but whatever. The Royal Natal Nationalpark there is also quite stunning, especially the Amphitheatre, a rockface with a 1000m drop and the second highest waterfall in the world. we went on top of it, and it is quite stunning (although the weather could have been better, as always).