Soweto June 17th

Last sunday a few of us did a private tour to Soweto. Was amazing. We went through the sections that had huge houses - with no electric/razor wire fences for a change, to informal settlements (aka shacks) and squatter camps.

The conditions in most instances were appalling - no water, electricity and one chemical toilet for hundreds of people. But there was planty of "mary jane" growing everywhere!

But the people were really friendly and the kids damn cute. We also went to Nelson Mandelas house and a few significant sites (the 1976 school kids massacre and other apartheid sites). Guides were great and I actually ate that worm in the picture. Most disgusting thing ever. Was like a mouthful of sand...washed down with josie beer which is only fermented 1.5 days and is more comparable to a malt thickshake...average!!!

Anyways, was great to get out of the "white" areas of Josie and see some real stuff!

Magaleisberg Canopy tour 9th June

Flying through the canyon on a wire...awesome fun!

more cape town pics..

Cape Town

Drive along the Cape Penninsula to Cape Point and Cape Of Good Hope. Getting attacked by baboons was a highlight!

Africa Penguins@ Simons Town

Wine tours at Stellenbosch and Franshoek




Clifton Beach

Table Mountain

This weekends adventures was a trip to Cape Town. Was so much fun!!! Friday we took our "Chico" volkswagon (quite possibly the crapest car ever! but really popular here??) on a mission of the western cape penninsula. Was spectacular, lots of windy seaside roads and gorgeous beaches. Saturday we hired a driver and went on a wine and cheese tour. The fact we all slept on the way back to town was an indication of how much we enjoyed it (and the night before on Long St)!
Sunday we hit the beach for some much needed rays after some cold weather in Joburg, and then took the cable car up Table Mountain. It was a really clear day and we could see all the way to the Cape of Good Hope. Eerie being so high above a city, as it was so quiet.

Would have to rate Cape Town as the most naturally beautiful city I have been to. And a great place for a weekend away!

Drakensburg....

Some street shots on way to the hike in the Drakensburg

This weekend our Australian Brigade headed south east to the Drakensburg.

Stayed in a beautiful hostel surrounded by mountains and then did the Sentinal hike on Saturday. The first few pics are a few drive by shots (ie. in stealth mode so people dont get angry!) on the way to the hike.Was absolutley fantastic! We walked 14km to the Natural Ampitheatre which is a large escarpment that boasts the second highest waterfall in the world (3100m). Spectacular views! Was pretty scary though as the wind picked up and then we had to go down 2 x 15m Vertical ladders!

Sunday we came back to Joberg via Clarens, and little pictureque town surrounded by mountains, and the Golden Gate NP. Was great to get out of the city into some fresh air and some altitude!

Housewarming

German Beer Fest

A few pics from the weekend. Saturday we went to the German Beer Festival where we saw some local SA Bands and had some tasty beer in the sun. On Sunday, headed north about an hour to Hartebeestpoort Dam for some market shopping and scenery.