We loaded up the car and set off on stage two of this unforgettable journey. My cousin’s husband ensured we had sufficient petrol and the rest of us stocked up on water and snacks.
We travelled through Zululand, now part of the new South Africa. There were minimal fences so animals regularly wandered into the road where markings were ignored! Cars shot past on blind rises causing potentially fatal, but luckily for us, near miss collisions. Unbelievable if I hadn’t seen this reckless driving with my own eyes!
We arrived at our destination late in the afternoon and pulled up outside a beautiful chalet. We carried our luggage into our rooms and met outside for a sundowner. It was then that I looked across at one of the most spectacular views I had seen in years! The majestic Drakensberg mountain range stretched before us, slightly hazy which added to its mystique. The sky had begun to turn crimson and a stillness settled over us as we sat in awe, lost in our private thoughts.
We had our own barbecue and ended the day with a delicious meal and plans for my cousin, husband and I to embark on a hike the next morning. Unfortunately we woke up later than planned so, like ‘mad dogs and Englishmen’ went walking in the mid day sun! Only three kilometres were in some kind of shade, the last five were very hot and the most strenuous. But we did it! Our ‘Fitbits’ were happy and we got back to our chalet feeling very smug! We also hadn’t come across any snakes! A huge bonus and a very real fear!
The next morning I looked out of our window to see a cloudless blue sky and the mountains clear and inviting. But today we weren’t going on a hike. My cousin and I went to the spa for a treatment and then, after lunch, we all drove to see the amazing, world class, Drakensberg Boy’s Choir! What an uplifting experience. This holiday just kept on producing more and more delightful surprises!
None of us knew what to expect. We presumed the programme would be primarily classical so a choreographed rendition of ‘Portugal Man’s’ ‘Feel it Still’ was not something we had envisaged! A little boy in the front row was mesmerising. His rhythm was superb and he was obviously thoroughly enjoying himself, as were the rest of the boys. The ‘Gumboot dance’ in the second half was equally enjoyable! We are eternally grateful to my cousin for arranging the booking. In fact, she had arranged this whole wonderful holiday which proved to be faultless!
That evening we sat outside, once more in awe of this magnificent mountain range that stretched as far as the eye could see. The setting sun once more spread its crimson hue across the darkening sky. Tomorrow we would go on another trip of discovery but this time we would make an early start because the heatwave was showing no signs of abating. The coals on the barbecue glowed brightly, emitting a delicious aroma of sizzling meat and wood fumes. I leaned back in my chair, closed my eyes and felt at peace with the world! 👠
Jenny Burrell 