Drakensburg Part 1

As is so special about travelling the world, you meet people and go on unplanned adventures. Sunday evening whilst relaxing at my PMB youth hostel I met Stuart and Arrianne (sorry if I've spelt that wrong guys) from Edinburgh who were moving here for a couple if years to take up a job as a doctor and NGO worker respectively. They had arrived in Africa just a week before like me and found themselves in PMB for a week since Arrianne was taking a course at the university. Stuart had a lot of free time so we agreed to go to Sani Pass together since he had already got a hire car and do some exploring and hiking.

So at 930 Monday morning I find myself riding shotgun in Stuart's Hyundai i10 trying to find our way out of PMB. We eventually find the way to the freeway and are on our way. The drive through the mountains was pretty scenic until we stopped in the town of Underberg to stock up on food and beer. Stuart and I seem to get along pretty well, better than the Rylan impersonator on the bus last week. He's a med graduate from Edinburgh and had the same wit and fun adventurous attitude to life as other med students I know. On the way to Underberg we pick up a couple of locals needing a lift to town. Stuart's parking left bits to be desired and it turned out our passengers didn't speak a word of English so we couldn't really have a conversation. They offered us fuel money which we refused and sent them on their way.

Sani Backpackers Lodge was pretty special, a stunning location with a laid back lodge type feel. Dorms are clean and at about £9 a night you can't grumble at all. That afternoon since we couldn't get permits we just went for a local walk up to a nearby peak and to a waterfall via the local hotel. The humidity was up so the sweat was on but the views were stunning and we saw plenty of grasshoppers including one with a piggy back which we coaxed onto my shoulder, Stuart got lots of photos which ill have to get some time. Back at the lodge we grab probably the best milkshake in South Africa then down a beer sitting on the veranda reading a book admiring the views, fantastic.

Dinner was an odd job of stuff then another beer whilst playing cheat with a Belgian couple here on a 3 week roadtrip around the country. We had a great laugh and met some awesome people.