words from the world

To content | To menu | To search

Monday 4 August 2008

Southernmost tip of Africa

A short stop at Agulhas cape, the southernmost point of Africa. Not a lot of things to do except taking pictures, scratching the sand to collect shells or visiting the former lighthouse which has pride of place over the rocky peninsula.

IMG_4496-cape-agulhas.JPG
IMG_4502-cape-agulhas.JPG
IMG_4519-cape-agulhas.JPG
IMG_4519a-cape-agulhas.JPG
IMG_4525-cape-agulhas.JPG
IMG_4531-cape-agulhas.JPG
We leave again towards Gansbaai where we've taken an appointment with the great white sharks. En route, we cross a couple of whales which associate with the cold waters of this place. Calm and serene contemplation before the great dive among the sharks which is planned for tomorrow....

IMG_4533-baleines-hermanus.JPG
IMG_4533a-baleines-hermanus.JPG
IMG_4533bR-baleines-hermanus.JPG

Sunday 3 August 2008

too short sojourn at Tsitsikamma

the trip nearly ends and despite all the gorgeous landscapes we saw for these almost 2 months, the insatiable desire to want more, to go and meet unknown lands is still itching. And during this African escapade, one of the elements we involuntarily disregarded was the hiking. Essential component to live at the pace of the nature and the people we meet on the way and we call out to share a slice of life.
The otter trail in the Tsitsikamma national park- a 5-day coastal trek – in some way gives us a few regrets. We only walk 3 hours on this track and feel the urge to go more ahead. In the ocean, down below, a colony of dolphins play with the shapely waves. Rare appearances of humpback whales force the stop ; we admire their mighty jets of water which split the surface. They go back and forth with caring little about the onlookers sitting on the rocks. Onlookers we'll remain until we're back at the car park.

IMG_4404-tsitsikamma_otter_trail.JPG
IMG_4406-tsitsikamma_otter_trail.JPG
IMG_4408-tsitsikamma_otter_trail.JPG
IMG_4409-tsitsikamma_otter_trail.JPG
IMG_4413-tsitsikamma_otter_trail.JPG
IMG_4414-tsitsikamma_otter_trail.JPG
IMG_4417-tsitsikamma_otter_trail.JPG
IMG_4422-tsitsikamma_otter_trail.JPG
IMG_4423-tsitsikamma_otter_trail.JPG
IMG_4429-tsitsikamma_otter_trail.JPG
IMG_4430-tsitsikamma_otter_trail.JPG
IMG_4431-tsitsikamma_otter_trail.JPG
IMG_4434-tsitsikamma_otter_trail.JPG
IMG_4436-tsitsikamma_otter_trail.JPG
IMG_4439-tsitsikamma_otter_trail.JPG
IMG_4455R-tsitsikamma_otter_trail.JPG
IMG_4457-tsitsikamma_otter_trail.JPG
IMG_4464R-tsitsikamma_otter_trail.JPG
IMG_4464aR-tsitsikamma_otter_trail.JPG
IMG_4467-tsitsikamma_otter_trail.JPG
IMG_4472-tsitsikamma_otter_trail.JPG
IMG_4482-tsitsikamma_otter_trail.JPG
IMG_4484-tsitsikamma_otter_trail.JPG
IMG_4488-tsitsikamma_otter_trail.JPG
IMG_4488a-tsitsikamma_otter_trail.JPG
IMG_4489-tsitsikamma_otter_trail.JPG
After the coastal landscapes, we head for the Bloukrans bridge. An ordinary bridge thousands of vehicles take every day. But underneath the road activity, between 2 blocks of reinforced concrete, the bridge has its hour of glory. A world title at stake, the one of highest bungy jump in the world. 216 m of pure adrenalin.
The approach, with the sensation to have the feet in space, depicts the background. Then we arrive on a large concreted platform. Guardrails surround all the area except in one place... Shortcut to join the bottom of the valley. The wait seems interminable and somehow stressful looking at the face of the other harness-equipped mad people. That's my turn. The staff kits me out and put me at the edge of the parapet, with the toes beyond. It's high... Very high. Masochistic feeling of paying too much to be in this awkward position. The arms held-out, short of breath and the look towards the horizon. I throw myself. The drop seems endless, maximum rush of adrenalin. A few unique seconds of indescribable joy.

IMG_4495-bungy-jump-bloukrans-bridge.JPG


IMG_4495a-bungy-jump-bloukrans-bridge.JPG
IMG_4495b-bungy-jump-bloukrans-bridge.JPG

Thursday 31 July 2008

trekking in Lesotho

Since we came back in South Africa, our route mainly criss-crossed the Kwazulu-Natal province. This area, the Zulus are native from, collects inestimable underwater and inland jewels. To complete our Zululand panorama, we leave the coast to the Drakensberg heights, a mountain chain overlapping the Lesotho border. A country entirely encircled by South Africa. The Sani Pass in the south part sounds good. We drive to meet it but for the occasion we leave our car downhill and hop on a more suitable 4x4 vehicle. The hairpin bends draw a track which zigzags upwards the valley. The proeminent rocks dot the road. The car swings. 40 minutes to cover 8 kilometers. The Lesotho border closes the ascent. A barren land swept by a wind which lashes our faces.
We begin our short hike up to the Hogson peak. A 360-view promontory. At the foot of the hill, the track which splits the valley up to the Sani Pass, all around the desolate and serrated rock of the Drakensberg. Plain, massive and motionless. We feel far from the profusion of colours, the vivacity and delicacy of the coral reef we had as background a few days before. Thus, we can sum up the ends of Kwazulu-Natal. One day sunbathing close to the ocean and the next one wrapping up warmly to struggle against the cold of the mountain.

IMG_4302-drakensberg-sani-pass.JPG
IMG_4303-drakensberg-sani-pass.JPG
IMG_4304-drakensberg-sani-pass.JPG
IMG_4308-drakensberg-sani-pass.JPG
IMG_4309-drakensberg-sani-pass.JPG
IMG_4310-drakensberg-sani-pass.JPG
IMG_4311-drakensberg-sani-pass.JPG
IMG_4314-drakensberg-sani-pass.JPG
IMG_4315-drakensberg-sani-pass.JPG
IMG_4320-drakensberg-sani-pass.JPG
IMG_4337-drakensberg-sani-pass.JPG
IMG_4350-drakensberg-sani-pass.JPG
IMG_4352-drakensberg-sani-pass.JPG
IMG_4355-drakensberg-sani-pass.JPG
IMG_4356-drakensberg-sani-pass.JPG
IMG_4357-drakensberg-sani-pass.JPG
IMG_4370-drakensberg-sani-pass.JPG
IMG_4374-drakensberg-sani-pass.JPG
IMG_4376-drakensberg-sani-pass.JPG

- page 16 of 54 -