A Walk in the Drakensberg, Republic of South Africa Print
Written by Peter Burgess   
Sunday, 17 February 2008

Cathedral Peak Range from Didama Camp
Drakensberg
After being given the opportunity to visit the Republic of South Africa for two weeks I jumped at the opportunity.  With other educators in tow, a group of us spent two roller coaster weeks in a vast range of Durban schools, visiting the wide range of establishments in this beautiful, but still predominantly economically deprived country.  After an emotional second week for  four of us placed in our township schools, we decided to end our once-in-a-lifetime visit by arranging a night away in the Drakensberg.  Although only spending  a night away, we visited a location with cave paintings and I convinced our guide to let me go alone to the summit of Camel's Peak near the Lesotho Wall of the Drakensberg.

Snow clings to the slopes
Snow in Africa!
This walk, although not massively long, will reside in my memory for ever as one of those fantastic experiences.  Walking alone was spectacular and gave me time to reflect on the week I had just spent in one of the most deprived urban areas on Earth where HIV infection is 40% and where children have to pay for their education.  The experience left me in the knowledge of how privileged I am and a whole lot wiser as well.  Seeing a herd of wild eland and looking at snow in Africa was just one of those amazing things!   I hope the audio-visual at least gives you a taste of my special walk in the mountains.  The RSA is certainly an amazing place and I plan to go back one day:-

 

 



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