Holiday in South Africa – Cradle of Mankind – 22nd April 2010

The only advantage of being stranded in South Africa because of the disruption due to the volcanic eruption  in Iceland was that it gave us some more time for sightseeing.

We took a trip north from Johannesburg to the Cradle of Mankind; so known as it is the area where the oldest known remains of human ancestors have been found.

We visited two of the sites: firstly the visitor interpretation centre at Maropeng and then later that afternoon the museum and caves at Sterkfontein.

Maropeng

Sterkfontein

 

Holiday in South Africa – South African National Museum of Military History – 15th April 2010

We were due to fly home in the evening so I took the opportunity to go to the South African National Museum of Military History which was just a few minutes drive from our friends’ place.

There’s lots to see in the museum and the extensive collection photographs from the Boer War were especially  interesting.

Holiday in South Africa – Durban – 10th to 13th April 2010

We drove down to meet our friends in Durban and stay at her brother’s beach house there. The next few days were spent relaxing and enjoying the beach and the great weather.

 

Holiday in South Africa – Rorke’s Drift – 10th April 2010

The next morning, on our way to Durban, we stopped in at the battlefield of Rorke’s Drift. Fought later in the same day as the defeat at Isandlwana, this was an epic last stand where the British soldiers managed to hold the small mission station against overwhelming odds: 139 British against an estimated 4,000 Zulus.

   

Rorke's Drift Lodge where we stayed for our visit to Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift.

Holiday in South Africa – Isandlwana– 9th April 2010

Today myself and Matthew, Thomas not very well, took a guided tour of the battlefield and surroundings of Isandlwana.

The Battle of Isandlwana 22nd January 1879, which was the first of the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, was a major defeat for the British Army.

View of the battlefield and approach – the white “dots” in the mid to left centre of the picture are stone cairns built on the places where the British and local Natal soldiers  fell.

Close up view of the main area of the British camp with more cairns and monuments.

Close-up of one of the many monuments to those killed in action.

View of the small visitor’s centre/museum where permits to visit the battlefield need to be purchased.

Panorama of the battlefield and the approaches.

Mangeni Falls

Holiday in South Africa – Johannesburg to Rorke’s Drift– 8th April 2010

After a night’s rest in Johannesburg we made the long drive ( over 5 hours) south-east to Rorke’s Drift in Kwa-Zulu Natal: the location of the epic stand by the British Army during the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879. This battle was the subject of the famous movie Zulu starring a very youthful Michael Caine. Nearby is Isandlwana where the British suffered a major defeat earlier in the same day before the victory at Rorke’s Drift.

Rest stop at Harrismith:

A view en-route:

The last part of the journey was on a pretty rough dirt road;

Holiday in South Africa – Pilanesberg National Park Night Safari– 6th April 2010

The evening/night safari was even better than the early morning one as we saw many more animals and at at a much closer distance from our vehicle; we even saw two lions right at the end of the trip but only one very poor photo of one of them I’m afraid (I was too busy watching them to take any good pictures!).

The pictures below show Kudu, Rhino, Impala, Elephant, Springbok and Lion (believe me it really is a Lion!) followed by some pictures of the park.