Drakensberg is a strikingly beautiful area of South Africa.  The mountains are the main feature, however there are also some vast farms in this area.  Most seem to be raising livestock - cattle or sheep.

November 1, 2008 - Saturday - Durban to Drakensberg

We are up at 5am this morning so we can leave Durban and arrive in Underberg early enough so people can embark on a 4x4 expedition to Lesthoto. I opt to skip this excursion, stay with the bus, and go for an early check-in at the Drakensberg Gardens Resort.  We are warmly greeted at this nicely appointed and vast resort.  They have their own 18 hole golf course, multiple dining rooms and bars, hiking trails, a pool, spa, and lots more to do. I have a nice lunch on the patio and then go back to my room and sleep for a couple of hours this afternoon. Feeling better, I go for a hike along the river for an hour before dinner.

This evening's dinner is included in the tour and is served buffet style. I'm seated with the Dutch contingent this evening.  Some of them speak good English, and they are always a lot of fun. We get along very well, as they buy me wine and I buy them beer. The staff of the resort performs a floor show of Zulu singing and dancing. They are quite good, and I take some video.

November 2, 2008 - Sunday - Drakensberg - Coffee Bay

We drive through the Transkei Province on our way to Coffee Bay on the Wild Coast.  Transkei is a former homeland area for blacks when apartheid was still in force in South Africa. Many black people continue to live in this region despite there being a chronic lack of water.  We travel through Mtatha aka Umtata, which is the provincial capital and home of South Africa's most famous citizen, Nelson Mandela.  Mr. Mandela no longer lives here, however some of his family do continue to live in the region. He comes back to his hometown to celebrate his birthdays. He celebrated his 90th awhile ago, so he is getting to be quite old.

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