After a long busy day visiting Lesotho, our last day at Sani Lodge was a bit more relaxed. Most people opted to watch the rugby at the hotel down the road from our campsite in the morning, then a few of us took a walk to a nearby waterfall. There is something very special about swimming in a waterfall, especially when you've had to trek and clamber over boulders to actually reach it. The water was invigorating (a.k.a freezing!) but so beautiful and clear. It's just a shame we didn't get there earlier in the day when the sun was still out and we would have had more time to relax on the rocks.
Sunday was essentially a transit day but with a lunchtime stop in Mtatha to visit the Nelson Mandela museum and enjoy our first McDonalds meal since Egypt! It is strange being in South Africa as it is so westernised in comparison to most of Africa. Good motorway type roads and service stations rather than bush toilets. However, as an outsider looking in, one of the most striking elements is the massive divide between rich and poor, and whites and blacks. Definitely a country of contrasts.
From Mthata we headed to the Wild Coast and a place called Coffee Bay. Rolling green hills, rugged coastline and brightly painted round huts (rondavels). Coffee Bay was a strange place in that it almost seemed to be stuck in a time warp - quite hippyish. Nice backpackers though - it even had hairdryers in the toilets. A blow dry for the first time since leaving the UK over four months ago rates as an exciting event!
From Coffee Bay, we continued along the coast to Cintsa Beach where we are for two nights. Last night turned into an inpromptu party night - that's what happens when you start drinking at 4.30pm - so some sore heads today. Luckily for myself, Claire and Cherie we had booked to go horse riding so we definitely blew away the cobwebs galloping along the beach this morning. The horses loved to go fast and race each other so it was really good fun. Our last ride in Africa but one of the best..
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