|
DATE
|
KALAHARI
BUSHMEN
2004 ITINERARY |
Day
1
Apr. 4–5 |
Leave
home city in the US on April 4th. Depart from Atlanta to
Johannesburg on April 5th arriving in Johannesburg on April 6th
and traveling on to Durban. |
Day
3–4
April 6–7 |
Arrive
in Durban and overnight for two nights at King Edward Hotel.
Depending on how the group is feeling, we can make an optional
visit to the Ghandi Centre or the local Hari Krishna Temple in
Durban. Dinner and Overnight at Edward Hotel D/B/B. |
Day
5–6
April 8–9 |
Hluhluwe
Game Reserve: Drive to Hilltop Camp for a 2 day Game
Viewing Program at the and Hluhluwe National Park, home to the
Big Five of Africa and famous for the conservation program that
saved the White Rhino from extinction. Game Viewing Program in
open topped vehicles at Hluhluwe as follows:
Thu. 08 April – Afternoon Game Drive.
Fri. 09 April – Morning Game Drive and Evening Game Drive. Dinner and Overnight
Hilltop Camp – Hluhluwe Game Res. D/B/B |
Day
7
April 10th |
Drive
to Giant’s Castle in the Drakensburg,
part of the uKhahlamba-Drakensburg Park World Heritage site and
the one-time traditional summer
home of the San Bushmen. Our lodge is situated on the grassy
plateaux among the deep valleys below the sheer face of the High
Drakensburg. Originally proclaimed a protected area in 1904,
the peak that gave the region its name, is one of the most conspicuous
and recognizable
of all within the world heritage site. The Giant, as it is popularly
known, can be conquered by walking and scrambling up Giant’s
Castle Pass or taking one of the several rock-climbing routes to
the summit. Mafadi (3446m), Injasuti Dome (3379m) and Makheka (3461m),
are the 3 highest peaks in South Africa. Also prominent within
Giant’s
Castle are the three long, unbroken rock walls Red Wall, Trojan
Wall and Long Wall, plus the passes that were dynamited during
the 19th century to prevent the San Bushmen from launching cattle
raids against white settlers in the valleys below. Dinner & overnight
at Giants Castle Reserve. D/B/B. |
Day
8
Apr.11th |
After
breakfast, we will take a gentle hike along the pathways of the
reserve to the Main Bushman Caves in the area. Giant’s
Castle caves contain San art and we will visit the Main Cave’s
museum, where audio-visual and standing displays depict the ‘home
life’ of these tragic nomads. A leisurely return to our
Camp and free time to relax in the idyllic surroundings of the
magnificent Drakensberg. Dinner & overnight at Giants Castle
Reserve. D/B/B |
Day
9
Apr. 12th |
Today
is a Leisure day at Giant’s Castle to commune with nature
and take time out to integrate the many impressions that this
tour will undoubtedly evoke.
Dinner & overnight at Giants Castle Reserve. D/B/B. |
Day
10
Apr. 13th |
Thendele: Check
out after a leisurely breakfast and we travel north for a scenic
journey to the northern section of the Drakensberg Mountains
(Dragon Mountains). This World Heritage Site is the product of
millions of years of sculpting by the elements. The foundations
of the mountain range reach back billions of years. Its formation
provides a fascinating story, and its imposing rock walls and
deep, green valleys have provided a home for an ever-changing
variety of life through the ages. Eons before the Drakensberg
mountains were formed the place was part of a shallow depression
fed by inland waters. It was an enormous inland lake, the waters
of which floated upon a vast area of an ancient land mass called
Gondwanaland. This supercontinent included Africa, Australia,
New Zealand, South America and Antarctica..
Dinner and overnight at Thendele Camp. D/B/B. |
Day
11
Apr. 14th |
Today
we explore our spectacular surroundings and tune in to the sacred
Mont-Aux-Sources, the highest dome rising from the 4 kilometer
Amphitheatre wall and the source of 5 rivers. Of these, the Thukela
plummets 948m in five clear leaps, making it the world’s
second highest waterfall. In winter the Fall’s in the upper
reaches occasionally freeze to create dazzling columns of ice.
Mont-Aux-Sources is energetically linked to Table Mountain and
a sub power place of the great spinner wheel situated in Cape Town.
Other prominent peaks that we will see include the Eastern Buttress,
the Sentinel, the Inner Tower and Devil’s Tooth
Dinner and overnight at Thendele Camp. D/B/B. |
Day
12
Apr. 15th |
This
morning we check out and drive around the top of Lesotho to our
next destination - Rustlers Valley, situated in the Maluti mountain
foothills, between Fouriesburg and Ficksburg, just 5 kilometers
from the Lesotho border. Our accommodation is in Rustic Stone
Cottages and the ‘Saucery’ restaurant specializes
in home grown organic vegetarian meals. Dinner and overnight
at Rustlers Valley. D/B/B. |
Day
13
Apr. 16th |
Today
we set off for nearby Clarens to visit the Great Mother Cave,
also known as The Cave of Matsupa, named after a 19th century
prophetess and sister of the ruling King Moeshweshwe, who made
many correct prophesies about South Africa including the advent
of Apartheid and AIDS. The more widely used name of the Great
Mother cave comes from another ancient African Woman called Mmemholo
who was known as the The
Great Mother. Sangoma's and Healers have used the Cave as a sacred
place of healing for many years and today carry out rituals there
almost full time.
A visit entails a fairly lengthy walk and we will take along a
packed lunch.
Dinner and overnight at Rustlers Valley. D/B/B. |
Day
14
Apr.17th |
On
departing Rustlers Valley after breakfast we drive north to Magaliesburg
and settle into Naledi. This evening we enjoy a short visit with
Credo Mutwa before dinner. Dinner and overnight at Naledi. D/B/B. |
Day
15
Apr.18th |
Most
of today will be spent in communion with Credo Mutwa who will
share his knowledge and wisdom of African Culture and Spiritual
ways with us. This evening we will transfer to Johannesburg Airport
Holiday Inn.
Overnight at JNB. Airport Holiday Inn D/B/B. |
Day
16
Apr. 19th |
Kalahari: A
very early wake up call and transfer to catch our flight departing
at 06h00 to Upington where our coach will be waiting to drive
us to the Kalahari desert. This afternoon we will take a Bushveld
walk with our San guide – Petrus
who will share his extensive knowledge of the ways and culture
of the indigenous Bushmen. Persecuted for centuries, these gentle
and sensitive people have settled in the arid semi desert region
of the Kalahari where the
Government has allocated them their own land adjacent to the Kgalagadi
Transfrontier National Park. Dinner and overnight at Molopo Lodge
D/B/B. |
Day
17
Apr. 20th |
Following
breakfast we meet up with our local San Bushman Guide and with
other Bushmen Elders. We will interact with the local people
and experience what life is like for the San today. We will also
visit a local Cave site and join in sacred ceremony with the
Women Elders.
Time permitting we will enjoy sunset at a nearby Pan.
Dinner and overnight at Molopo Lodge D/B/B. |
Day
18
Apr. 21st |
Today
we have the choice of spending more time interacting with our
Bushmen friends or take a full day visit to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier
National Park to do some game viewing in the rough and dry terrain
of this arid region. Dinner and overnight at Molopo Lodge D/B/B. |
Day
19
Apr. 22nd |
Morning
at leisure with the local Bushmen and a visit to the Craft Center.
We depart after lunch for Upington Airport and the return flight
to JNB (departing at 17h30).
Overnight City Lodge – Airport |
Day
20
Apr. 23rd |
B/B.Morning
at leisure before transferring to Johannesburg Airport for the
evening flight home. |
tour