eSwantini and Sabie: Waterfalls and mist

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Leaving Mkuze we made our way to Pongola to fetch Carol’s passport from the local Postnet. Amazingly the system works. PE to Pongola no sweat no fuss. With passports bagged we headed for the Onverwacht border post, the transition between lush sugar cane fields and subsistence farming. Determined to find a pretty licence disc sticker in Knysna, I was distracted and failed to complete the task. The eSwati border police jumped at the prospect of an early morning fine. Fortunately I think the, no idea, concept triggered his sympathy button. Carol snipped away with her trusty knitting scissors and Florence was legal again, ready to roll.

Not for long, about 10km into Swaziland we hit the first police roadblock. Can’t remember what made her giggle but she waved us on without an issue. Next thing we have a police motorcade driving next to us gesticulating frantically. Fortunately Sarah, more in tune with the requirements of a “blue light brigade” interpreted the signs. We pulled over and were passed by 3 bus loads of supporters on their way to The King’s birthday. Must have been quite a shindig. Massive tents, a Luna park and armed guards on every street corner keeping everyone safe.

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Sarah returned to the Midlands after the long drive through eSwatini and the next team tagged in. Enter Brett, Claire, Mick, Dave and Greg. My mission for Sabie was to take the Graskop Gorge elevator and explore the sites from below. No luck, the lift, she not working. Dave Carol and I sat down to tasty pancakes to contemplate the option of 270 steps down, and up again. Nah, skip. Instead we traveled the Waterfall route. Well worth it. We did satisfy Carol’s step hungry watch and climbed the steps up to God’s View (more like God’s Steam room). Total white out. Not having much luck with mountain views.

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