Eight days after moving into our new house, we set off on our annual summer holiday – this time for almost 15 days (which is a week longer than usual). And while this crucial annual break (usually just before school opens for the year) is most often in our province (because we have an abundance of beautiful locations here in the Western Cape of South Africa), this time, we went up north – to the Mpumalanga province. I’d never been there before, so it promised to be an adventure.
What made it even more unique was that it was the first time my wife’s family and I would all be travelling together in one vehicle – given that road trips were the order of the day.
So, 11 of us bundled into a minibus (generously loaned by a family member), and we traversed the roads of the Foreign North – where potholes are the order of the day (we have a comparably first world local government and infrastructure down in Cape Town), but the landscapes are magical.
The first week was mostly spent in a sleepy town where my wife’s family live. “Sleepy” because to us, it was more or less a dead zone. It’s a relatively small town (though growing) with not much to do (though we did find some outdoor activities which were awesome). Just being in a mall felt like a highlight, and we spent much of the time just relaxing at family homes. It was good to be exposed to a different way of life, and I think it was something I needed – given the fatigue I felt after 7 weeks of intense renovations and moving house. I found myself exhausted every day, and often napping in the daytime – all of which, I think, was my body’s way of recovering from the madness of recent months.
Early on, we were also treated to some amazing thunderstorms – which are common in that part of the country, and extremely rare down in our city. I find lightning and thunder beautiful (as you may have gathered from this recent poem), and the sheer volume of rain was also lovely (and a stark contrast to the dryness we face back home).
We left the town a week later, heading to a resort near the famous Kruger National Park – which is one of the biggest national parks in the world (measuring almost 20,000 square kilometres). And while I had thought that the Kruger would be our most frequent stop, we actually only took one game drive there…which was fine with me because, to be honest, I’m not really into that kind of wildlife anyway (and have been to a few other game reserves too…so it feels like there’s nothing new to see). For those of you in other parts of the world, I understand the fascination, though. Africa is considered exotic, and these are sights you don’t get elsewhere.
Anyway…
One of our first stops was a place called “Bourke’s Luck Potholes”, where the rock formations would probably feel familiar to those in North America.
Next up was a small hike up to “God’s Window”, which was this incredible viewing point that looks out over a vast expanse of rolling hills and mountains. While we have similarly beautiful landscapes back home, the difference here is the greenery. Mpumalanga – like my home province of KwaZulu Natal – is incredibly green, unlike the dry Western Cape region which I now call home. In fact, most of the locations on this trip actually reminded me of my original home, so I felt instantly comfortable.
Following this, it was off to the small town of Pilgrim’s Rest – which was instrumental in South Africa’s gold rush. I loved the historical buildings (old things fascinate me…I love glimpses into the worlds of the past), and the pancakes there were also good 😊.
The final stop on that action-packed day was Graskop Gorge – which hosts one of the world’s highest cable gorge swings…basically, bungee jumping from the top of a waterfall. A freefall for 70 metres (reaching 140 km/h in three seconds) before the jump rope pulls the participant into a high-speed arch where they swing from one side of the gorge to the other.
No. I did not do the jump…
However, the other attraction there was a glass lift that went down below into a forest beneath, with walkways and lots of educational info on boards.
The Sudwala Caves were another highlight – made out of rock that was first laid down about 2800 million years ago, with the caves being formed about 240 million years ago. These are, apparently, the oldest (known) caves in the world.
Outside, though, there’s a zipline which runs 150 metres above a valley.
And yes – I did this one 😊.
The 65 metre high Mac Mac Falls was another beautiful sight, though we didn’t get to go close to it (which we’re accustomed to with our waterfalls back home on hikes).
The Lone Creek Falls – on our last day – was more accessible, though it was quite an effort to get there.
After all the excitement, we returned to the town we started in for an overnight stay before heading home.
But for us, “home” was not the same place we’d been settled in for 12 years. It was this new house, which was fitting: a new year, in a new house, hopefully being a base for many new and wonderful experiences.
I think the timing of this trip was perfect – for all of us. For me, I think it helped provide an important emotional break between our old home and the new one.
Home has always been so central to my spirit and identity, and losing my beloved home of 12+ years was a major event for me. The day before we left – which was the last Friday of the year – I ended up back there for a little while. And I just soaked it in. It was empty, but I still felt the warmth of the place. The atmosphere. The memories.
I took a video of those moments, too, because I wanted a visual record of the end. This was a milestone visit: the closing of that eventful year coinciding with the closing of that chapter of my life.
And I think because we went away for a relatively long period right after that, it made it easier to say goodbye. I mean, until we sell the place, I can still go there whenever I want to. But I don’t want to. Not anymore. Because I like to believe that I’ve now put it behind me, and I am now settling in a new home.
My intention, before we got off the plane coming back, was to go into this new year, and this new home, trying to be positive and trying to be patient. This, for me, needs to be a year of settling. Finding balance.
The sadness of that farewell has passed, and being in such different physical environments for two weeks provided a perfect bridge into a new life.
And that life has now begun: I started work again on Tuesday, and the kids went back to school the following day (as did my wife, who is a teacher), and we are now settling back into the routine of what life is like for most of the year.
And as I think back to where we were just last week – driving through stunning locations and being so relaxed – I appreciate the holiday, but I also feel good about being productive again, and I feel far more ready to take on a new year.
And here are some random shots I felt I should post… 🙂
slip-sliding away..... 
Wow, what an amazing adventure, Yacoob. The photos are stunning. And to be so close to elephants, giraffes, etc. — obviously, you only see those in zoos in our part of the world (though I do come from a place where loud thunderstorms are a weekly and sometimes daily experience during the spring and summer). And packing 11 into a single vehicle — that should win you some kind of Lifetime Trooper Award. Very much enjoyed this post and learning about your travels.