Twenty years ago Leanne had done a teaching practice at a school in Swaziland, at Big Bend. She was keen to visit & so we all went to Swaziland for a few days.
The view from the balcony at Pigg's Peak Hotel.
We crossed the Jeppe's Reef border post without incident on the 13th July & through nice upland scenery, made our way to Piggs Peak & booked into the hotel there. It was a rather large & kind of soul less place, but the rooms were comfortable & we enjoyed sun-downers on the balcony before having an excellent dinner at the restaurant.
Magaga Dam
The hotel
Breakfast overlooking the dam.
The more natural un-dammed side
of the Komati River.
We awoke the next day to rain & low overcast skies! Not what we were hoping for! So we set off on a little detour around the Magaga Dam. This proved to be a great choice & the weather slowly improved as the day progressed. Robin was particularly impressed by the dam construction.
Swaziland is renowned for its handicrafts.
A little bit different!
Our chalet home on a local farm for two nights.
After an excellent breakfast at a local lodge overlooking the dam we drove slowly towards the Erzulwini valley, looking at the local handicrafts before spending the night at a chalet on a local farm.
did her teaching practice.
The next day we took the rather long & slow drive to Big Bend, which is a sugar company town. The organisation of the entire town was impressive - everything immaculate!
Kevin & Leanne entered the school alone & within seconds had located the headmistress Gloria who recognized Leanne! Amazing after twenty years absence! So we were all shown around the school & had a thoroughly enjoyable time.
Leanne & Gloria.
The gang next to the dam on the nature reserve.
The afternoon was spent at the local private game reserve, where we spent most of our time around the dam seeing a few birds. A game drive produced both Impala & Blue Wildebeast. After an equally long drive we spent a second nice at the chalet on the farm.
We packed up & left the next day saying our goodbyes to Kevin & Leanne who were flying to Cape Town for a week. Robin & Anne hopped into my truck driving on an un surfaced roaroad to the border.
Anne admiring the view.
On the road.
The way to the SA border!
Very informative displays were along the route.
It was a magnificent drive as the hills slowly unfolded around us. We crossed back into South Africa at the Bulembo border post and drove towards Barberton. This route follows a geology trail & it was both scenic & informative.
