Trip in South Africa: The land of thousand faces and thousand contrasts

Our journey and 'started in CAPE TOWN, with half a Car, with whom we visited the town and its surroundings, the southern states of Western and Eastern Cape to Port Elizabeth.
Tuesday, June 13: CAPE TOWN
Thursday, June 15: CAPE TOWN - WILDERNESS (450km / 4h 30)
Friday, June 16: WILDERNESS - TSITSIKAMMA (145km / 1h 30)
Saturday, June 17: TSITSIKAMMA - Port Elizabeth (170km / 2h)

With a domestic flight, we then moved to DURBAN where, with another medium, large parks we visited HLUHLUWE-Umfolozi and Kruger, the independent state of Swaziland, the Mpumalanga area before reaching Johannesburg.
Sunday, June 18: DURBAN - HLUHLUWE (300km / 3h)
Monday, June 19: HLUHLUWE - EZULWINI (450km / 4h)
Tuesday, June 20: EZULWINI - HAZYVIEW (400Km / 4h)
Thursday, June 22: HAZYVIEW - HOEDSPRUIT (150Km / 2h 40)
Saturday, June 24: HOEDSPRUIT - Johannesburg (450km / 4h 30)
Here we returned the car after a distance of approximately 3500 kilometers and after about 10hrs of flight we came back to Verona.

 

The day of departure

By mid morning we go to 'Catullo airport of Villafranca. E 'come on the day of departure finally crowned our dream, to visit a part of Africa.

At 13.15 take-off on an Air Dolomiti flight to Frankfurt at a time, we stop here a little over a couple of hours and then take, at 17 o'clock, another flight with South African Airways with destination CAPE TOWN.

Arrival in Cape Town and excursion to Robben Island

The night passes off peacefully after about 12 hours of flying intercontinental and having attended to the customs formalities at last set foot on South African soil. It 'still dark because I am 5 am. Fortunately we should not make any change in time zone. We go then to collect our bags first and then to withdraw our cars with us for the first part of the journey. Unfortunately there is a little unexpected, as not being in possession of a credit card for the Europcar can not release our car.
After about two hours of negotiations we agreed to leave as a guarantee of cash, the second problem lies when we withdraw money from ATMs, banks in some of our ATMs are not working. Luckily, after walking for at least half an hour we find the right one and finally we can withdraw the money that will allow us to rent a car. Having paid around 500 euros as a deposit, we finally deliver a Toyota Corolla with automatic transmission and we put ourselves in search of our hotel, because we are a little 'tired from the long journey and we need to rest.

The LHD is a bit 'challenging, but following the other car is all natural. To achieve our first hotel we travel a bypass from the airport to the center of CAPE TOWN. After the exit of the parking lot once we see miles of shacks, the famous "town ship" lapping the track.
Although they are only 9 in the morning, the streets are very busy and we quickly realize that there are no rules, machines surpass both right and left, so be careful.
Arrive at the hotel with some ease, partly because the airport gave us some very detailed information.
The house is really beautiful, Victorian style beginning 900 completely refurbished, the room is very spacious and beautiful, nothing is missing. Give us even a bottle of wine to wish us welcome.
www.walden-house.com

We decided to rest a bit ', before going to visit the city.
At about 12:00 we head towards the old port of CAPE TOWN, renamed the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in honor of Queen Victoria and her son, after having retrained as a space tourist trade. We park our car and go boarding the ferry to reach Robben Island, the famous prison where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for more than 20 years during apartheid.
The journey, about 1 / 2 hours, was a real hell, the ocean was very rough, because the weather was not the best.

Arrived on the island, which since 1997 has been declared a heritage for mankind, we expect two coaches that accompany us during the visit of the entire island and the prison.
I ride the bus while I slept almost always, while Marica was very attentive to what our guide was explaining.
The inside of the prison has made a deep impression and our guide, which during apartheid was a prisoner, we explained very well the living conditions of prisoners.
Were filed based on skin color and on the basis of religion, and also the amount of food was divided by these criteria absurd.

Nelson Mandela's cell was extremely small, about 2m to 2m. One can easily imagine the conditions of hygiene and psychological prisoners had to endure.
At the end of the visit we had a little 'time to explore independently, the rest of the island, where he lives a colony of African penguins.
We took the ferry to return, much less traumatic, and arrived back to port we notice that some seals lying on the roadside in concrete, resting comfortably.

We decide to go eat something
and along the road we met a young single mother who is asking for charity, we are not having money we give him some shirts and pens, but rather she 'regretted is gone.

We reach the heart of Waterfront, offices, shops, luxurious restaurants and many bars, and one of them decide to have lunch.
The waitress was very polite and when we asked for information on ordering, our somewhat 'in difficulty with English you should seek help from a guy sitting next to us. He was an American who had spent their honeymoon in Italy and was ending in South Africa.
Let's take a trip to the Waterfront and then we head to our room, but because it starts to get dark and you should be very careful indeed before reaching the car we come across different groups of men to do as a suspect. We do turn around and reached the car we move towards our room.
Here we can expect a pleasant surprise, the fireplace in our room was on and made the atmosphere very romantic.
For dinner we decided to eat in a room next to our accommodation. The restaurant is called Arnold, is very nice and finally give us even a bottle of red wine. I forgot, in the meantime, outside the venue has unleashed a veritable downpour that holds us for a little 'inside the enclosure.
Around 10 once again reach our room. And 'our first night in South Africa and all day we wonder where we are, we can not believe it.
After months and months, we finally arrived in the much dreamed of Africa.

Excursion to Good Hope Cape

In the morning we wake up around 8:00, breakfast is very abundant and then by car: direction of Table Mountain. Arriving at the departure of the cable car because we do not recommend leaving the top is covered with clouds.
We decided to go and visit the Cape Peninsula via Camps Bay, Hout Bay, Chapman's Peak ...
We stop for a stroll on the shores of the ocean near the resort of Sea Point, and we pass between beautiful houses, here and 'really hard to think of being in Africa, not in California or Florida. Then resumed our way and pass the promontory that leads to the town of Hout Bay, situated on the legendary Chapman's Bay.
From here, after another brief stop, we advance to the Chapman's Peak Drive, beautiful scenic route across the bay, rising above the sea and once again reach the ocean on the east coast of the peninsula, opposite the great False Bay . After twenty miles we get to Simon's Town, and we stop a little further at 'The Boulders'.
This is' a beautiful area of small bays surrounded by large boulders rounded. At one of these bays and 'stable and prosperous for several years, a colony of penguins in South Africa, and recently in the area and' established a national park. We advance to well-kept trails that lead us at the beach, on which there are hundreds of little penguins, very nice, having already met someone as we approach.
The cold waters that characterize these areas clearly have been an ideal habitat for these penguins, which swim happily in fact, entering and exiting from the ocean rather quiet here, reaching the many nests that are located nearby.
Marica remained enchanted, so that contested the camera, he began to photograph anything that moves.
Fortunately for Christmas before we had given away the digital camera!
We continue our path until you reach the entrance of the National Park Cape of Good Hope.
The landscape is very barren, almost devoid of vegetation, there's only one road that takes us to Cape Point, where there is a small parking lot, a souvenir shop and a restaurant where we choose to eat, the view is breathtaking.

From here, with a short cable car, we come to the pitch, just all around the ocean.

After a long flight of steps we reach the new lighthouse, which in a dominant position overlooking the whole area.

The views from this vantage point, where are the highest cliffs in South Africa, nearly 250 meters above sea level, are truly magnificent, given even the fortune that we have to find a wonderful day. This promontory, called the most beautiful in the world, ideally divides the two oceans, the Indian Ocean with the warm Agulhas current of the Atlantic and the cold Benguela system. On the right hand you see the tip of the Cape of Good Hope, just over a mile away, described by Bartholomew Diaz, who rounded first in January of 1488, 'Stormy Cape'. For the descent we make use of the long stone staircases, built on the slopes of the high ground on which it is a lighthouse, and surrounded by beautiful greenery.
Let us take our car and head towards the Cape of Good Hope, the area is 'pretty wild, with some trails that lead into the surrounding hills and the beach and' algae-covered giant also about ten meters long, and beaten by large waves.
The smell of salt air I almost feel sick but I know where we are from an unimaginable sense of freedom.
Let us take the road back then, but after a few hundred meters there a big ostrich ran across the street, then we see in the distance is between the rocks almost as big as a rodent, a rabbit, the Procavia the head.
For dinner we go at the African Cafe, a local recommended inseparable from our guide, Lonely Planet.
The restaurant is beautiful and distinctive, all in African style, the walls are very colorful and the waiters welcome us with their great cordiality.
The menu is fixed and make us taste many typical dishes of Africa, from South Africa to Morocco, from Zimbabwe to Namibia, and so on.
African custom as a waiter he washes his hands and only then will we serve him throughout the evening. The dishes that we get are some very good, some less, but it certainly is a must do experience.
As usual, even in this case there is offered roiboos tea we drink very willingly.

Traveling to Wilderness passing through Stellenbosh

We wake up around 8:30, the usual copious breakfast, and then we start to visit the Table Mountain, but before we have time to make a panoramic photograph the entire complex of mountains from the balcony of our room. Considered rather 'you!

The weather is perfect and then taking the cable car and reach the summit of the famous mountain, which encloses the heart of the city, we enjoy a spectacular landscape. On the right you can see the harbor and the island of Robben Island, while all around the Atlantic Ocean that is lost in the horizon with its thousand shades of colors.
It 'just the third day, but given the many things that we see we decide to have us send the memory card with a courier from one of our. hotel. Unfortunately, the time available is short and then after walking the length and breadth it is time to return to the car, however not before being passed in the souvenir shop to buy some souvenirs.
Arriving at the car, we begin our long day exploring the area famous for its vineyards, Stellenbosh, encountering the usual town ship on the street, many people on the edge of the roadway that is hitchhiking and many crowded schools.
Reached Stellenbosh, a beautiful town nestled among vineyards and hills, we go from farm to buy a couple of bottles.
There are about 10 in the morning but it is inevitable not taste these wines, and then after a couple of glasses hopelessly us feel a bit 'dazed.

Let Stellenbosh reached the N2 and continue towards Wildernees. During the trip we stop to eat something in Swellendam, where we stopped outside the country to give some t-shirts to the children who were coming meeting.
We continue our journey without stopping until Wildernees, roads and beautiful for the most part straight.
We arrived around 18:00, it is already dark, the room is not exactly the best, because maybe there was too well accustomed with the previous one in CAPE TOWN. However rest a bit 'and then we go to dinner.
www.proteahotels.com / protea-hotel-WILDERNESS-resort

We have dinner in the restaurant at the Protea Hotel, where we are staying, a famous chain of hotels in South Africa, and we realize immediately that here the portions are very abundant.

Destination Tsitsikamma, passing through Outdshoorn and Knysna

Wake up at 9:00 in the morning, have breakfast and then we decide to go see the beach Wildernees. E 'but it is amazing the desert landscape that surrounds us behind the mountains and forests, before the Indian Ocean.
Wildernees The area is also famous because it is the beginning of the famous Garden Route, which in summer becomes a frame of many colors thanks to the large and varied vegetation. Unfortunately, in this period of early winter the vegetation is very lush, but you can easily imagine the spectacle of this stretch of coast.
At one point for exploring the surroundings of the town, we encounter a very particular way, to go beyond this point we have to forcibly cross the train tracks parallel to our peril because there are no visual cues will let alone bars.
Only after passing it we realize that the train would pass a little later, a steam train in its most full glory.


We decide to make a short detour through Outdshoorn to visit the city of ostriches, famous in the nineties, when they were fashionable ostrich feathers. We pass near the city of George, leaving the coast road and headed inland, towards the region of the Karoo.
The road becomes more and more tortuous, and climbs up the Outeniqua mountain range, across the green expanses of fynbos. After about twenty miles, we stop at the Outeniqua Pass, a mountain pass with magnificent views both on the distant plain surrounding mountains.

Across the mountain range extends the region of the Little Karoo, the landscape 'rather arid and sparsely populated, and the landscape as it changes, and the road becomes almost flat. A few kilometers later we spot on the side of the road, a herd of ostriches in the place famous.
A few tens of miles and arrive at the town of Oudtshoorn, the tourist capital of the Little Karoo.
Following the directions of our inseparable guide we're going to eat in one of the famous restaurants in the city where they cook the dish of the place.
Although we have traveled more than 100 kilometers they have been extremely worthwhile, the ostrich meat is delicious and very tasty.

Return along the main road and continuing on the Garden Route towards Knysna TSITSIKAMMA reach, famous for the town ship and the many local craft markets.
We decided to send us in the township, driving us feel a bit 'and we also observed a little' fear. It 'incredible poverty of these areas, accustomed to our standard of living is difficult to understand their situation.
Keep going for about thirty kilometers we arrive in Plettenberg Bay, where we stop just time to take a picture of the ocean. Brings us to Tsisikamma, a beautiful resort in the middle of the eponymous national park, famous for forest yellowood.
The hotel is very nice and charming, we are just in contact with nature, the direction of some animals unknown to us and the birds singing, make it very attractive, even if the temperature is significantly lowered.
www.proteahotels.com / protea-hotel-TSITSIKAMMA

Flying from Fort Elizabeth to Durban

We wake up with the chirping of birds and after breakfast we resumed our road to Port Elizabeth.
Let's take a short detour to go see one of the major attractions of the area, the 'Big Tree'. After some research and left the machine in a small parking lot, we begin a path to a path tools, which can penetrate into the tall trees of what is one of the most spectacular forests in South Africa. After a few hundred yards we get ahead of the 'Big Tree', a tree species yellowwood of nearly forty feet high, and near another sample fell in size almost equal.

Unfortunately, as usual, time is short and so we put ourselves in the car and reach up to Jeffrey's Bay.
On the way we pass several vans carrying workers. It 'the most used and least expensive way to logically move from home to work.
The locality is characterized by vast beaches, bars by giant waves, which made the most famous of South Africa and the world, for surfing.

Arriving at the beach immediately understand why many surfers challenge the waves higher and higher to be maneuvered more difficult waiting for the perfect wave, while some children enjoy with their carefree moments of fun.
We arrive in Port Elizabeth at 12:00 and with some difficulty we find the airport. Unfortunately, after buying souvenirs we are forced to buy even a small backpack to avoid problems at the airport. We decided to go downtown and fortunately there are many stalls selling just about everything. We find the bag that is right for us and then we move with all haste to the airport. Here we leave our midst, and take off on time, and after about an hour we arrive at the destination. Baggage claim quickly and handle the formalities for removal of the half that we had already booked in Italy, and we are given an identical model to that which we left only hours before, the only thing is that it has automatic transmission and effectively I realize now.
We head towards the Balmoral Hotel, which is located near the ocean and right on the long Marine Parade.
Just got out of the car we notice that the temperature is significantly raised and there is also a strange smell in the air made by the many spices used in the preparation of Indian dishes.
The hotel is one of the longest, but it is very well kept. By deciding to go and visit the promenade. Markets everywhere and therefore in this circumstance, Marica can not not buy, paintings, masks and numerous wooden statuettes.
Eat something in a bar near the ocean, but then we decided to go in the room watching the match of World Cup Italy play today against the United States.
After a very painful, the result is equal to 1 to 1.

Our first game drive inside savannah

DURBAN is a subtropical city with a mild climate all year round, and the charm and intense sun, especially in such a beautiful day like this. After breakfast we walk to the magnificent avenues of trees, crossing a lot of people of Indian origin, the Indian community because the city is the largest of South Africa, with nearly one million individuals. The day is beautiful and also very hot. Here, as in Jeffrey's Bay there are many surfers. We really need to take a bath, and above all to take a few hours of absolute relaxation, but not having much time we have to lose again on the march, because we get to the next stage in 13:00.
We walk a bit 'on the waterfront and on some of the long piers, from which you have beautiful views of the city, and during the return to our hotel to pick up the suitcases, we recognize a distinguished man in a suit and tie who was enjoying a few minutes before the first waves of the morning. We continue on our ever N2 just outside DURBAN, and we realize that the landscape becomes more and more "African" villages scattered right and left with traditional circular thatched.
We get up to HLUHLUWE and try to locate the entrance to the private reserve where there booked our room for a day.
www.zululandtreelodge.co.za

We enter the reserve, and after we pass a few meters impala, we are very excited, but then we realize that it is the most common animals and then we'll see everywhere.
After being greeted with an aperitif of welcome, our ranger accompanies us to our lodge. And 'beautiful, all wooden and built on stilts to prevent the animals can be annoying.
Our ranger tells us that lunch is at 13:00 and at 16:00 we depart for the afternoon game drive.
Lunch is pretty good, but it is the framework that makes it so unique, because the restaurant is outdoors, so we are visiting all kinds of animals, monkeys, impala, warthog, nyala, etc..
At least 16 quarter, after we rested a bit ', we prepare for our first game, it's very exciting to the idea of spending two hours in the middle of the African savannah. Arriving at the entrance of our lodge ranger is waiting with his off-road ready, we go.
Today the safari takes place within the private reserve.
Our first animal of the day, after shooting for about half an hour, among other very interesting, and a giraffe that is being bathed in one of the ponds of the park is beautiful, its image is reflected in the clear. After a while 'I get another and their movements alternated on alert to indicate that they are not being attacked by some predator.
We leave the giraffes and little later we find ourselves in front of two rhinos, among other things are enormous and are also very scared. At one point one of the two, turns to us and threatening to do, certainly annoyed by our presence, we tip. At this point the ranger precaution shifted into reverse, but once the danger we stay a little longer 'to see these amazing animals up close.

After about an hour and a half's safari begins to get dark, the sunset in Africa takes your breath away, the colors that are intertwined with those of the savannah are unforgettable.
As soon as the sun goes down we realize that we are in winter the temperature drops considerably and then we are forced to use the blanket that our rangers had put at our disposal.

We still see impala, the Grimm's duiker, the greater kudu antelope with a big huge twisted horns and many species of birds do not know his name and many many other animals.

Arrived at the lodge we drink a good hot tea, and we await the 19:30 for dinner.
There are many people and in fact the menu includes many traditional dishes, more or less good.
After dinner we head for our room, but looking up to heaven, we realize that there are thousands of stars, the show is impressive. We had never seen a sky like that, this is possible because there is no light pollution, as we were isolated in the bush.

Trip to Swaziland

At 5:30 am a phone call awakens us with a start, it was our ranger who gave us a good morning.
At 6 we had to be ready for our excursion to the HLUHLUWE-Umfolozi Park.
After about half an hour, the jeep was discovered and it was terribly cold, we arrive at the entrance of the park.
It 'still dark, so you could see virtually nothing but after seeing the sun rise on our street starts

in front of an elephant, the ranger tells us that it is a male about 30 years is beyond description to see an animal like that in their natural habitat.
The landscape is postcard of the morning mist envelops the plains of the area.

The elephant will keep us company for about half an hour without being able to overtake, and photos taken, of course, are endless.
Then finally our traveling companion and should you decide to scratch along the banks of a dry creek that ran along the road.
Continuing encounter a zebra with his inseparable friend. The little bird that makes cleaning.

We reach a plateau and we stop for a break, the usual roiboss tea and some pastries.

Are more than two hours that we are around, and meanwhile we spot more elephants, impalas, giraffes and zebras, then at some point, just the way we see the African buffalo, is enormous, but to tell the truth is not quite so beautiful.

At about 9:00 we return to our reserves, with a little 'running we have breakfast and then head towards our next destination.

We decide to make a short detour to visit a Zulu village, but unfortunately, tell us that the village was deserted, remained only the huts, which are re-used once a week to do a show for tourists.

We put back in the car with destination Swaziland, the landscape is constantly changing and we see more and more often isolated villages with buildings typical of Africa.

On the way we happen is incredible. Given the time, about 3 in the afternoon and had not yet had lunch, we stop along the road where some ladies are selling the fruit. They do not speak English and then
was not easy to explain. We wanted just two bananas, while they understood that we wanted the entire helmet.
After a while 'is approaching a young girl who speaks a little' of English and helps us.
The cost of bananas was 2 rand and we give him 20, not wanting the rest of the lady started to scream and jump with joy.
The happiness and the smile of the Lord has filled my heart with joy.

Finally we arrive at the border, we need to get off the machine, enter the office for a visa because they have to complete the documents, all meticulously hand, the procedure is very laborious, but eventually they let us pass.
Swaziland and 'a country with predominantly agricultural economy, rather poor but also very decent, ruled by a monarchy, that which we believe, in no way improve the living conditions of population.
Before arriving at our hotel we stop to give way for some new shirts and some pen to children returning from school.
One difference however, between South Africa and Swaziland we noticed right away, because in this small state is not seen racism, I will let alone the street among the people.
E 'afternoon but nevertheless decides to bring us to visit the nearby Swazi cultural village. Proceed for several miles in a picturesque landscape, rich in rivers and vegetation, near which is located between the other nature reserve Mlilwane.
At the entrance of the village are waiting for guidance from a nice colorful costumes, which accompanies us in the long and interesting visit. They let us visit only part of the village and therefore not come into contact with the population but only with the guide that illustrates in detail the living conditions of population. The village 'consisting of a dozen large huts, and reconstructs the various environments
of life of the Swazi population, based on breeding livestock. In some you can enter the low and narrow opening, while the guide describes the functions of English in various environments.
Then our guide takes us to see the mountains and the waterfalls were once started the youth of the tribe. Now this practice has been suppressed because the police are very strict and careful in these customs and then we run the risk of prison.

Arrive at the hotel where we accept it with ...
... A glass of iced tea!
We smile but we ignored it. We have dinner with optimum cost and then to bed after almost 300km already and thinking that tomorrow we will do the same, not yet knowing what it was about to happen.
www.ezulwinisun.co.za

Some rest inside a manor at Mpumalanga

As usual we start after a hearty breakfast, we visit a local craft market and then head toward the border.
We met several more markets are situated along the road, and at some we stop to buy more friendly and contacts with the local population.
Sellers of the place, mostly women, Exposing their artifacts, we infect them with cheer by continuing to sing folk songs. And 'do the inevitable comparison with our culture, much more reserved and more selfish.
Along the way some children dressed in banana leaves, dancing to the beat of a drum, are very small and there are a lot of tenderness. We give all the money we have and then distributed.

Before reaching the border we cross several villages scattered right and left of the main road. The houses are just made of mud and wood, incredible.
To reach the border we must walk a stretch of unpaved road.
Again, as for the entry in Swaziland, we have to stop and fill out the documents to set foot on South African soil.

After the border we expect again a stretch of unpaved road, just very funny but in the end after traveling almost 100km of dirt road, reviews of new asphalt seems like a miracle.

During this stretch we met several plantations of pines, firs and larches, but we have not met any person. If we had had problems with the machine would be a real mess.
We come to HAZYVIEW, hundreds of banana plantations, right and left and many plantations of sugar cane.
With a little 'effort, we finally arrive at our accommodation, Casa do Sol Resort.
www.relaishotels.com / casadosol

Charming Mediterranean-style villa surrounded by greenery with manicured gardens and amenities of all kinds.
Let's take a ride in the park, the vegetation is very lush and healing after a hot shower, we go to dinner.
The food is delicious and both the local and the waiters are very very chic.

Excursion along the Blyde river Canyon

In the morning we go to visit a village tribal "Shangana" entry our guide tells us that we need to ask permission to enter the village chief, who after making us kneel nods his head and makes us enter.
The village is very small but we can well imagine how the lifestyle of this tribe.

Some women are building a kind of mat to sleep and men build objects of various kinds.

Inside the village there is even a doctor or a wizard who cures diseases with roots and herbs of the area.

We put ourselves back on the road to continue our journey with destination Blyde River Canyon.
The first viewpoint is the pinnacle, a rock formation that rises very high into the sky by a dense forest, but beyond this nothing else.
Continuing towards the Blyde river reaches the town of Graskop, famous for its savory pancakes and given the lunch we decide to stop.
The pancake is really good, the restaurant popular with tourists allows us to exchange a few words with two newlyweds in Bologna, even in their honeymoon, and considered that for about 10 days did not have any Italian gives us great pleasure to chat with them.

We salute you and we started walking again until the next stage, "The God's of Window". The view is really impressive, along a small path that leads us fitted on a projection that shows us the landscape below about 1000m lower.
We return again to the car and before leaving we visit the many local craft vendors.
Continuing along the canyon reach "Bouke's Luck Potholes.
After a short walk, we come in sight of a small canyon carved into the rock by the river, where the eddies of the river have formed over millennia of bizarre cylindrical holes.
The scenery is truly magnificent, some bridges cross the river in this dry period, the better to admire the spectacle that nature reserve.
Then resumed the road to the north, and km in the following we stop a few times in different vantage points on the Blyde River Canyon, which at this point reaches its maximum extension.
This' third-largest canyon in the world, and in this area is truly spectacular, and characterized by strange rock formations, including "Three Rondavels", three great towers of rock covered with natural vegetation, the shape just three huts .

Remain enthralled. The scenario that is unfolding before our eyes is indescribable, we remain at least an hour to admire and take many photographs.
From here on the road slowly loses altitude, descending to the plains, where they soon after the town of Pilgrim's Rest, very famous at the beginning of 1900 for search of gold. This town is very characteristic and suggestive now become a tourist only after the researchers have abandoned the gold when gold began to run low.
Begins to get dark so it is better to come back to our accommodation. After about an hour's drive we arrive, we prepare ourselves and we go to dinner in the villa's second restaurant, as usual dinner is very good, as always accompanied by an excellent wine.
Only today, after about 10 days of travel, I realize that in a bit 'all this will end, but first we wait until the last reserve and consequently the safari. Inevitably assails me a little 'homesick but unfortunately all good things are bound to end.
BUT WHERE IS THIS ENORMOUS NONSENSE WRITTEN!

Inside a natural reserve near Kruger Park

E 'morning, and after we had woken up and had breakfast, we prepare ourselves, against our will to reach the last stage. Passing through the lobby of the villa in charge over there with a bag of food, dried fruit, biscuits, fruit juices and much more, really very kind.
Along the journey that separates us from Hoespruit, about 150km, we met several women who work the fields. Note that to reap the fruits of the earth these ladies get in really awkward positions, especially for the back.

The landscape changes completely in the meantime, until after the last curve, the road becomes increasingly flat. From here begins to sweep over his eyes very wide expanses of savannah, not after much effort and reach the entrance of the private reserve.

It 'very characteristic and after having offered us an aperitif accompanied us to our room. It 'really beautiful and very evocative. We have assigned the lodge of the cheetah, as one of the 5 big five, which overlooks a creek and with a little 'luck, we might see some animals that come to drink.
www.edeni.com

We lunch at the restaurant, also overlooking the river, and after visiting the other areas that the facility provides us, swimming pool, a shop and a garden, finally leaving for our safari.

Let's start off with our Jeep, we are in two groups, there is a ranger who leads the jeep and the trucker who follows in the footsteps of animals and communicate it to the ranger.

After shooting a lot 'at last we see an elephant that is freely grazing, shoot lots of pictures and then immediately go in search of some other animal.
The private reserve is very large and offers the chance to see all the big five, even though we had already seen all'HLUHLUWE National Park, the elephant, the rhinoceros and buffalo.
Now made himself later, and while we're reaching the lodge we come across two lionesses hunting, we spend almost a foot from the car, is a sight beyond description, but unfortunately it's too dark to take pictures, patience will be for next time.

A whole day in the Savannah

At about 6 am to wake us our trucker, but we were ready, and after drinking a little 'tea climb back into the jeep for the safari in the morning, is quite cold, the first animals we encounter are two jackals.
Then our ranger takes us on the path where the night before we crossed the two lionesses,
and like magic we see at once that there's just arrived to complete the pack.
The leader, a young male, two lionesses and two cubs.
The size of these felines are impressive as are their footsteps that reach around the width of the tread of our jeep.
Remain firm for more than half an hour to admire these amazing animals and then we resumed our journey.

E 'come snack time, and reached a pitch we camp.
Shortly after we spot a group of impalas that blows horns are playing the post to be the dominant male of the pack.

Then we spot a big buck, a group of warthogs, giraffes, elephants again, wildebeest, and many other animals.

Then all of a sudden our trucker sees in the bush, a suspicious movement, and after doing a little 'maneuvering, we see that a cheetah is calmly eating his food, unfortunately is an impala, the sound of bones that break makes me shiver. Unfortunately the location is not the best and then the photos are not exactly razor sharp.

For dinner, set up a large fire where they will cook the meat after all eat together in joy.

Our last day in South Africa

The sunrise in the bush is spectacular as the sunset, and the tranquility of these places makes you free.
Shortly after, in the same pond, we can see a hippo who is resting in complete relaxation.

We are now on the way back, partly because they are almost two and a half hours that we are about, but suddenly we are lucky to see a leopard right on top of a tree, our ranger who was in South Africa for about a year had never seen, and taken the camera has started to take many photographs, as we have done all.

The last animals we see are these two magnificent specimens of giraffes, which have been made to approach without fear, so that you can see them more closely.

We packed for the last time, and after an abundant breakfast, we leave this corner of paradise in spite of us and we resumed our road to Johannesburg, because we have many miles to go before reaching the airport, while Before us stands the great spectacular mountain range that leads to the high veld.

During the stretch of highway that separates us from Johannesburg, specifically to Withbank we stop at a service area to eat something, and unfortunately we are deceived by a group of men who rob us our ATMs.
This unfortunate incident should not ruin our holiday, even if for a moment I was veramentefurioso. But given the situation and being able to block the ATM from Italy we put back into gear.

Now we are walking the last few miles that separate us from the airport, while we leave behind not only the miles far distances, more than 3500, the indelible memories that we carry forever in our hearts.

This magnificent place with its extraordinary people will always live in our memories and surely, and we are absolutely sure that this is not a goodbye but a see you.