Hotel Splice Riviera Johannesburg

... Mankind – the area where the oldest human fossils have been found. The tour takes you deep into the cave where the remains were discovered. The exploration and findings were very interesting to learn about, but I have to say the most memorable part of the trip down under was the other people in our group. It was this couple from the UK that were probably in their 70s. I really thought we might have to evac them out. Once they finally made it down into the ...

... an “African massage”... speed bumps. The Black Taxi service is everywhere in Soweto and the VW taxis come in every color except black. One highlight of the day was when we drove to the street where Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu lived. It is the only street in the world that has claim to two Nobel Peace Prize winners. Tonight we got to swim in our freezing hotel pool and ate at McDonalds. I was able to order corn as a substitute to fries in my happy meal! 

... was getting completely out of control. Yeah its cool when you first see it and yeah he's a man cause he can grow a big beard, whatever! At the end of the day he grew the beard for three months before I said anything about shaving it off and he grew it for a further month after I objected to it. There's your compromise! Anyway we found a guy in the hostel who had an electric razor and asked him if he'd shave Alan's head too as he wanted a haircut. Christian shaved Alan's ...

... late Nescafe lunch. Clare and I finally found our Giraffe we wanted, wooden only of course and everyone else found nice stuff to take home from the Flea Market there. Unfortunately the last venue of the day was the O.R. Tambo International Airport (named after one of freedom fighters jailed with Nelson Mandela) where we dropped off the folks to a sad farewell before returning to the Randberg Inn, alone and missing them all.

The procedure at the airport took quite some time, but after 90 minutes we are off to our rental company. They give us a lot of tips and information and make us feel very prepared and comfortable. The vehicle is new, clean and full of things that one supposedly ...

... It was beautiful, but to climb into a down sleeping bag wearing 2 tracksuits is not my idea of fun!!!! I strongly recommend GGNP - but stay in a chalet. We had the most beautiful view of the mountains but unfortunately never went for a walk. I think it is quite high above sea level and they do get snow on the mountains there. They also have a really nice traditional village there -we even got the sample some traditional southern Sotho food ...

... white, of the Apartheid era. And we also got to experience the first of our many storms of our trip. On our first night in South Africa the heavens growled, thundered and opened to drench the city with rain and hail. If that was not enough, a power cut of a few hours was added to the "fun". Not a good start to summer in South Africa!

After enduring thunderstorms and crazy hikes its time to get back to Johannesburg to embark on the next leg of our journey... Weve said bye to our trusty Chico... oh the memories!!! Kruger National Park, Mozamique and Zimabwe await. Will keep you posted... If we dont get a chance to get to a computer in the mean time, Have a really good Christmas and a Happy New Year...

... 29. Getting my hair plaitted (and extensions) African style (Kabale, Uganda AND Maputo, Mozambique) 30. Walking to the ...

... On the way back we passed the taxi rank, which can be unsafe due to taxi wars. There was also the 'muti', or tribal medicine shop. It's not witch-doctor stuff, the individual is known as a 'sangoma' and it's more 'traditional' than black magic. It has jars and jars of dried things in the window. What they are, I hate to think, but the place gives off a pungent smell. My evening was taken up getting to know the inhabitants of Rainbow better. The main ...