South Africa and Swaziland, Christmas 2006

Blyde River Canyon

Blyde River Canyon

Blyde River Canyon

The following morning we left Swazi at 8am, heading straight out for the Blyde River Canyon after breakfast (some of the group cleverly elected to have the full cooked buffet breakfast at the restaurant for only 19Rand per head (~£1.50)). A long drive over Pigg’s Peak and out of Swaziland, then another long drive up to Blyde River Canyon followed.

We stopped at a Spar (local supermarket) to pick up supplies, and I had a fabulous time reliving my childhood by stocking up on all the chips and chocolates that I haven’t had in years (Mrs Balls Chutney chips – a thing of beauty!). It was an unbelievably hot day, and at God’s Window the condensation effect was creating massive clouds of fog in the valley below us.

We moved on to Bourke’s Luck Potholes, and then the Three Rondavels. Finally, late in the afternoon, we headed to Toro Yaka, our home for the next two nights. This is where, to me, the tour has a weird setup: We go to Swaziland from Johannesburg. Ok, that makes sense. Then we drive up, way past Skukuza in the Kruger Park, to Toro Yaka. Stay there two nights. Then drive back down to Skukuza for two nights. Then drive back up to Toro Yaka for five nights. Then drive back past Skukuza to return to Jo’burg. Weird. Why not go to Skukuza on the way from Swazi to Toro Yaka? Then head to Toro Yaka and just stay there. Makes more sense, less driving, and less packing and re-packing of bags.