Road trip #1..... we embarqued on our first trip/outting outside Pretoria in order to see what South Africa is really like. We rented a car, got a good deal with out connections which is always good and we drove to Rustenberg, a township close to Pilanesberg National Park/game reserve where we would go on a safari.
We stayed in an amazing bed and breakfast which was beautiful, we didnt even have to lock our doors and could sleep with the doors and windows open, which is quite different from Pretoria, where we have to lock everything and have numerous gates, fences and bars to keep us safe in our house.
The owner of the bed and breakfast turned out to be a water color artist named Bill McGill, who did art for the Pilanesberg paper. He was also one of the original guys who trapped game for the reserve. He had many many stories about all the animals and his adventures.
We drove through the reserve and saw giraffs, warthogs, tonnes if zebras, wildebeasts, springboks, elephants, hippos, kingfishers and lots of other birds. The scenery was amazing, and we spent most of the time admiring it.
Later we went to Suncity which is like a mini Vegas, but was trashy and not what we were expecting, so we ate dinner there and left to get back to our bed and breakfast. Getting lost on the way since it was dark out. It was quite scary since, it is not completly safe at night so we couldnt pull over, luckily we had Bill's number and he bailed us out by directing us safely back to his house after 2 hrs of unnecessary driving.
Overall, a great trip but I think that will be it for the game reserves that I want to see, they are beautiful, once you see one you have seen them all, I'm afraid. Next we bungee jump.. ;)
Thursday
Wednesday
Tuesday
Arrival in Beautiful SA
My flight was really long from Montreal to Amsterdam and then Amsterdam to Joburg, but when I got here I knew that it would be great. I met the landlord, or so you call her, Mrs. Lindeque.. who turned out to be alittle crazy. The next few days were so hot out and I met lots of other internal students, most of which are from Holland. All great people though.
We then began our orientation week, where we got a tour of the campus, which is the most beautiful campus I have ever been on. It is full of beautiful gardens, amazing architecture, and artistic sculptures.
After this we visited sites in and around Pretoria including the Steirkenstoff caves, or the Cradle of life which is the site that is believed to be where humankind originated from linking us to apes. Travelling to Freedom Park, a monumental site to commemorate those who struggled for freedom in SA.
Later to the township of Soweto where we drove down a street named Villa de Casa and saw Nelson Mandela's house, as well as the Hecter Peterson momument.
That is all for now and I will keep you all updated
We then began our orientation week, where we got a tour of the campus, which is the most beautiful campus I have ever been on. It is full of beautiful gardens, amazing architecture, and artistic sculptures.
After this we visited sites in and around Pretoria including the Steirkenstoff caves, or the Cradle of life which is the site that is believed to be where humankind originated from linking us to apes. Travelling to Freedom Park, a monumental site to commemorate those who struggled for freedom in SA.
Later to the township of Soweto where we drove down a street named Villa de Casa and saw Nelson Mandela's house, as well as the Hecter Peterson momument.
That is all for now and I will keep you all updated
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