Going Vertical in 'Harties' area
Trip Start
Mar 30, 2008
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129
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Trip End
Mar 31, 2009
Hartbeespoort,
North-West South Africa,
South Africa
Monday, February 9, 2009
Friday 6th February - Hartbeespoort Dam,
Waking up this morning without the folks was quite depressing. It seemed that we had to have such a quick goodbye at the airport and now there was just the two of us to think about again all of a sudden. We really wanted to go to Mozambique to dive there, but first we needed to spend the morning thinking about how that was going to happen and how much it would cost. We also had the problem of finding new accommodation as we couldnt stay at The Randberg Inn much longer, even if it was the cheapest hotel in J'burg.
First of all we went down to Randburg Waterfront Mall for breakfast from Pick n Pay and to do some research on the internet. Tofo in Mozambique was not going to be the easiest place to get to. Flights were not the cheapest, busses would take two days and then there was the diving to pay for! We also found out that a visa would be required before leaving, just another obstacle in the way before seeing Whale Sharks. The next priority was to find somewhere more affordable to stay whilst in J'Burg. So we looked at a backpacker nearby and were shocked at the standard, it wasnt much cheaper, but was in a right state. We left and went to Budget Car to return the hire car. As we were still none the wiser as to where we would live we decided to downgrade the car to keep our options open.
Whilst changing our modern Toyota Corolla for a tiny Chrysler we found out about a nearby Mall in Cresta which had travel agents. There we had more bad news about Mozambique; the visas could not be acquired until Monday and would cost R750 each, over a hundred pounds for the two of us.
Despondent and having had enough city life for now we made a bee line for Hartbeespoort Dam area. We had heard this was lovely and after passing various town ship and suburban areas of J'Burg we reached the country and tried to phone a place we had seen on the net. Go Vertical directed us to their place in the Maganesburg Mountain Range. It was not easy to find, but my gosh it was worth it. After travelling a fair way on dirt roads and after beginning to think we were completely lost we turned into the most wonderful establishment. The manicured gardens led to a traditional tobacco farmhouse, now converted into reception and shop. We were shown to our ex tobacco store dorm that we were to have all on our own.
After settling in for a couple of hours and having overcome the guilt that our folks were not still in SA to share this with us, we headed over for dinner. For only R70 (thats 5GBP) we had a meditterranean salad starter, roast chicken and farmhouse pudding! This place is diamond, come to SA, find it and stay here! Tomorrow we may do a short bush walk from here and later in the week enroll on a beginners climbing course. Looks like we may not be seeing Mozambique this time around!
Saturday 7th February - Hartbeespoort area Megaliesburg Range, Krugersdorp, The Cradle of Mankind
Today we headed out to find a town and do our internet things and some shopping. I was really pleased and somewhat amazed to find an email from Adrian Nance in Mozambique. I emailed him back asking for information on the 'Wings of Eagles' project there and await his reply. Perhaps with his help we could make our way to Maputo to assist before a quick hop up to Tofo to go diving, fingers crossed. We did this all in Krugersdorp where I am sure I have been as a child, but have absolutely no recognition of. It was a huge town so far from the city with all sorts of characters.
After having done some food shopping and to prepare for a vegy feast braai tonight we moved on to the star attraction around here. The cradle of mankind is home to some of the most ancient remains of humankind. The oldest fossil here and perhaps the most important found to date is that of 'Little Foot'. It is believed to be between 3.3 million and 2.2 million years old and was found in the Sterkfontein Caves. Mrs Ples was also found here in 1947, her skull is the best example of an adult Australopithecus africanus ever found. As well as these there are innumerable other fossils that have been found in the area that give huge clues to the descendent's of modern Homo.
The huge expensive displays in Maropeng (www.maropeng.co.za) guided us first on a journey back from modern man and our world back to the beginnings of the earth as we wound our way underground. Once their we were loaded on to small boats on a river through the earliest days on earth, with warm seas, volcanic activity and smashing tectonic plates. As if that wasnt exhilarating enough after passing through a dizzying spinning vortex tunnel we were shown a video about the origin of modern continents including the Indian subcontinents super fast journey north before smashing into Eurasia and forming the Himalayas Range. The rest of the display concentrated on the path of humankind including a worrying reflection about our uncertain future.
With consideration for our future we drove back to the beautiful surroundings of 'Go Vertical' for a dip in the pool, some reading and looking forward to an evening braai.
Sunday 8th February - Go Vertical, chilling! Hatbeespoort Dam and Harties,
Had a real easy morning, Clare sunbathing, me writing blog! In the afternoon I got camp fever as usual so we took a drive out to 'Harties' Dam. The dam wall is quite a site watching the water cascade out the flood gates and over the rocks, but the dam itself is highly polluted and green. Garth has done canoeing there before only to come out with his skin burning! Had a look around the town and then went back to a rather unsuccessful Braai, for some reason I couldn't get it lit properly! So Clare took over and made sure I was fed!
Monday 9th February - Go Vertical, climbing, supper together
Garth and Leigh Ann took us on a days climbing today. Leigh Ann was there to check on all the paths while Garth guided our climbing. This was traditional climbing and Garth lead each climb with me belaying while he used various shaped locking devices pushed into crevices for his safety should he fall. Once 'upstairs' Garth would belay us up the climb and we would collect up his equipment on the way. The first climb was a relatively easy single pitch climb to warm us up. Later Garth took us up a double pitch climb. This was a real first for both of us. It meant that we had to climb 2/3 of the rock face before securing ourselves their while Garth repitched for the second part of the climb. Belaying him whilst sitting on a thin slab of rock was rather exciting and this second pitch was quite challenging, but great fun. We both made it safely to the top, but on the final scramble to the hilltop without ropes a rock that Clare was climbing over splintered causing her to chin the rock above and obtain the scrage on her chin!
After lunch rain threatened so we headed back down to pool and beers. That evening Garth and Leigh Ann with their manager Lee joined us for dinner; Moroccan beef. They gave us loads of tips about Mozambique and backpackers in SA as they are all very well travelled..
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