Soweto

On my last day I managed to get a quick tour in of Soweto...it a shame that I didnt have longer there but still felt what I did see was important and was in marked contrast to the 5 star treatment that they give you on the game reserves from which I'd just come back from. I don't think Soweto is quite what it used to be and certain parts of it now are even really touristy...to a point.But there is still intense poverty,with the majority of people still living in shacks, and alot of crime.On the other side there are schools,hospitals,play areas and even a huge shopping centre.Obviously with the football world cup final recently taking place so close by (within a mile) money has been put into development of certain parts, but most of the people still dont have it.Being able to drive round hearing about some of the stories and seeing the range and structure of the classes that still live here was really interesting and important...events in the past here have changed history.

   

  

Animals - Shitloads

  Has taking me a while to get round to getting these pics up due to the fact that I've been busy getting home and there was a whole lot of sleeping involved in that. But anyways...

  I left Jeffreys Bay drove to Port Elizabeth and flew back up Jo'Burg to meet my sister.After a solid night of eating lots of meat at a braii at a family friends house we got up super early and drive down to the province of Kwazulu Natal to the Nambiti Game Reserve. where we spent two days lying around, eating and od course ripping round the bush in a jeep trying to spot some animals. We saw four of the big five, leopards being the only only not seen, but they're elusive sneaky cats anyway. Was an amazing experience...seeing the sunrise come up over the plains and hills, and spotting the animals grazing, feeding or generally just lying around as they themselves are either waking up to the new day or sheltering from the  midday sun. Jeffrey, our guide on the drives was an absolute legend, sharing loads of information about the animals and the area around us.Apparently this 22,000 acre reserve was once the site of battles in the Zulu - Boer wars, and as a result there were plently of unmarked graves scattered across the hills. Here's a few of the pictures I took from the 40 hrs I spent here.

Sunrise over Kwazulu Natal

  

Jeffrey hooks up the breakfast out on the drive

Sunset in Nambiti

Jeffrey's Bay and Other Thoughts and Snaps.

So basically just been relaxing since arriving here.Due to all the warnings and advice I can't just go wandering and exploring towns as I'd like. I guess it's one of the drawbacks of traveling alone in South Africa....basically crime central.It s pretty annoying, not that its been shit but it would've been good to see some rawer parts of the town. There definitely seems to be serious tensions here, maybe I'm noticing it more because it's my first time here but in a supposed, now, developed country there isn't freedom. With rules of where you can and can't go, what you can and can't do it's hard to completely relax and find out what it's all really about.You can tour the townships but it's just voyuerism, getting a 'sneaky look at the other side'. I'd really like to feel safe talking to locals and seeing the other side of what is a beautiful country. Not to say everyone I've met hasn't been super friendly but there seems to be something missing. I definitely don't fancy getting mugged but I would like to see more outside of the tourist trail. I wonder if it ever will sort itself out with this much paranoia around, there's security patrols and electric fences everywhere!
  Most of these shots are from over the whole trip and then a few at the end from Jeffrey's Bay.

Robben Island Prison

An ex-politcal prisoner

Jeffrey's Bay

Unfortunately standard.