uKhalamba Drakensberg National Park

After returning to South Africa Monday morning, the scenery continued to be beautiful with the golden fields and rock bluffs. We had a long lunch stop in Clarens because one of the women had been ill for a couple days and this was the first opportunity to see a doctor. She got meds and started feeling better after a few hours. Clarens was a nice place to hang out, as it was a lovely day and the town has a square with European-type shops.

After an hour on the road, we entered Golden Gate Highlands National Park, a highway through a beautiful area. It was photo time again, 

and we were able to stop at the mountain pass to make it easier.

The next area with a special name was Little Switzerland. Our Swiss woman didn’t agree, but Matt said it’s very green in the summer.

We arrived at the resort at 4:00, and all were especially happy to arrive before dark for the first time.

Tuesday morning we headed to uKhalamba Drakensberg National Park for a hike. The destination was a waterfall about 3 km up the mountain. 

A few people stayed at the rock pools lower down, but I wanted to be walking; so I joined the walkers after talking with Matt about my slow speed. He arranged for Benjamin, the driver, to stay with me so the others could walk faster, which worked out well. It took about two hours to walk each way. 

After the rock pools, the trail was a corrugated concrete path with some steps that went almost straight up. I couldn’t help thinking of Chinese steps up their mountains, which I think will always happen when going up mountains with some steps.. This was challenging in a different way as there were few breaks in the going straight up. 

After that, the trail was dirt and often went around and over roots and rocks. The first part was open with beautiful views of the granite mountains. 

There we saw a group of elands in the distance. 

The last part was through the forest, which was much cooler. 

We encountered baboons in the trees and could hear then barking at each other, which was fun, as I hadn’t seen baboon in a forest or heard them before.

At the waterfall we relaxed and ate our packed lunch. Matt told me he was proud of me for making the trip and that I am the oldest person he has taken on that hike. He was impressed with how well I did.

After emerging from the forest on the way down, we took a different trail back that went through grasslands and areas of low trees with views of the mountains. 

We later learned that the trees are mountain cabbage. It was a good walk. I loved being in the forest and viewing the mountains and walking in such a serene setting.

On the way out of the park, we stopped to see the San Bushman rock paintings. A guide met us, took us up to the cave, and explained the paintings which are about 500 years old. Paintings are only done on sandstone, which I hadn’t realized, as sandstone will absorb and hold the color. 

The paintings include several eland, which are a sacred animal for the San people. 

Many of the drawings depict images from the shaman’s drug-induced hallucinations. There are also paintings of a leopard and a cobra.

We returned to our resort in time to relax for a couple hours before dinner, which was welcome. This was our last dinner at the truck, and Thandy, the cook, had made a beef stew. But, as always, she made a chicken version for me that was quite tasty. Although I enjoyed the chicken she prepared for me, I felt like I’d had more than enough to last me for a month or so.