Friday 25th April 2014 - 9 Peaks

Friday 25th April 2014
We were treated to watching the rare vultures come in and feed on the carcasses the lodge had provided. There were many tourists as well as a few of us standing in awe at the huge wingspan of these majestic creatures. After a leisurely breakfast and briefing we had packed an made our way back down Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge through Qwa Qwa to Harrismith then off to Estcourt in KZN where another special surprise was waiting for us.  Gershon had secretly arranged an impromptu together with the entire Meals on Wheels SA Escourt team who met us at a petrol station off the highway.  It was so special to meet the team.  We chatted for some time about their various community projects that they are putting together in Escourt and surrounds. I can’t wait to put them in touch with Khulisa Social Solutions as together they will move mountains. We had more photographs taken with some well wishes and prayers for our safety and we were off again.


Our drive to KwaDuma was a long one as we had had to detour passed Mafadi (3451m), south of Mont-aux-Sources in KwaZulu Natal and head off to the Eastern Cape all the way to the Lesotho boarder near Ongeluksnek. We drove through several back roads, dirt roads, muddy roads and road with huge pot holes. At one stage ‘the Slaves” Peugeot got stuck in the mud and brought back to light the banter between LandRover Pietermaritzburg and Peugeot Pinetown who had joked at the launch that the LandRovers where going along to help the Peugeots when they got stuck! And here we were with this exact scenario playing itself out, but luckily the “techno “ and “G” on the road” took out various gadgets and we were all back on the road again with muddy cars and a tale to tell around the next camp fire!



We arrived at our next destination in the middle of Matatiele in the dark (this seemed to be a trend with us!!) to stay at an amazing place which also gave us a great rate and had accommodation for 13 tired and wired people!! Kobus was over the moon this man loves his coffee and we had fresh cappuccinos as we arrived made by the owner himself. We all lined up in his huge farmhouse kitchen that looked straight out of Top Billing and then sat down in their stunning and huge wooden dining room. He was quiet taken back when we told him we were going to take on KwaDuma in the morning.  He said also informed us that it would take us the whole day and that we would finish after dark. He also informed us that he takes client up onto KwaDuma. I will be chatting to him again and find out his route as  this man knows this mountain really well and I would like to sit with him when I have the time and learn more and listen to his stories with a roaring log fire and endless supply of his awesome cappuccinos. We were not finished at Resthaven and we would have to come back for another stay after another long day and night on KwaDuma! This place has mini lodges which have four bedrooms accommodating eight with self-catering. Across the road he has a lodge type dwelling with huge rooms with spa baths hard to believe you are out in the country!

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