Travel Africa Today
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Touching Lives
  • Top 10 SA
  • TripAdvisor Reviews
  • Run Africa

Travel Africa Today - blog

Scotland in Africa

31/10/2015

Comments

 
Pack pack…quick quick - that's the joy of timeshare - too easy. We are headed to a place we have never been before, the Magoebaskloof area…wherever that is? Leaving Hazyview we head back through Hoedspruit and then on towards Tzaneen and then to Magoebaskloof.

As we ascend the Magoebaskloof pass the weather begins to change rapidly. “Wow. Look at that. It's 19 degrees,” we say looking at the temperature gauge. Then it's 18…17…16…15…14. A thick mist hangs over everything as we drive through a transformed world. What a contrast to what we are used to.

There is an air of excitement. It feels like we are arriving in Europe. We’re staying at my cousin Susan and Don’s home, and we’ve been told to wait for them at pre-determined spot so they can lead us to their home, because “there are no signposts or road names”. Sounds interesting. We follow them in their Jeep along a gravel road, past a dam, through forests…
“My hat,” I say as we wind along, “how did they find this house?”

The mist is thick as we pass sheep roaming in the road before finally arriving at a beautiful home set above a stunning dam. We have stepped out of Africa and arrived in Scotland, made even more authentic as we sip whiskey next to a roaring log fire, while outside the mist wraps in cold wisps around the house.

Arising in the morn, in this wee bit ‘o the Scottish highlands, we ease into the day chatting over a cuppa tea while a log fire crackles warmly away in the hearth. “Let's go and look at the village,” Susan suggests, and so we leap into our cars and are soon winding our way along the misty gravel roads. Haenertsberg is a tiny little village set at the top of the Magoebaskloof pass.

The quaint little shops and pub are like a small version of Franschhoek. We wander along the street in the light mist, which creates a surreal feel, looking at the shops. “This is the cannon the Boers blew up when they were retreating from the British,” Don says as we stare at the remains of a large Long Tom cannon. There's even a small museum with more about the fascinating local history.

After our stroll we stop at the pub for some lunch before following Don on a different route back, through a lovely forest where the mist hangs like a bridal veil in between massive pine trees that reach heavenwards like silent sentinels in silky garments.

“Ask Don about the bikes.” Susan whispers to us conspiratorially. “If you don't get him moving it will be too late.” And so we raise the topic of the quad bikes - much to the glee of he children. Soon Don has taken the four bikes out of the garage and kids, Don and dog are off on a quad adventure.

After a while, the kids arrive back with coat hanger grins stuck to their faces. “This is so amazing,” they gush, “there are so many cool roads to ride on.” It's the parents turn and so Nicky and I head out. We wind our way along gravel roads, dirt tracks, through dark forests, past ponds and grazing sheep.

It's a stunning ride in beautiful surroundings. I can see why the kids enjoyed it so much.
Returning home we're in time to catch sunset over the lake and the somewhat disappointing exit of the Scottish rugby team. However, as the log fire crackles away again, I raise my glass in toast to a grand display of rugby and a beautiful country - Scotland….in South Africa!


Enter your email address to join us and get the latest blogs fresh for the bush/beach/berg:

Comments
comments powered by Disqus
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    4x4
    Adventure
    Africa
    Beach
    Boat
    Botswana
    Cape Town
    Cederberg
    Coffee
    Cycling
    Desert
    Dragon Peaks Resort
    Drakensberg
    Drakensberg Gardens
    Drakensberg Sun
    Driving
    Durban
    Elephants
    Etosha
    Fairways
    Franschhoek
    Game Reserve
    Hazyview
    Hiking
    History
    Hole In The Wall
    Horse Riding
    Hotel
    Kagga Kamma
    Kruger National Park
    KwaZulu Natal
    KwaZulu-Natal
    KZN
    Langebaan
    Monks Cowl
    Mozambique
    Mpumulanga
    Namaqualand
    Namibia
    Outreach
    Paragliding
    Paternoster
    Picnic
    Port Alfred
    Port Edward
    Rafting
    Reviews
    Route 62
    Running
    Safari
    Secret
    Sedgefield
    Skiing
    South Africa
    Stellenbosch
    Sundowners
    Swimming
    Tires
    Umhlanga
    Video
    Waterfalls
    Western Cape
    Wild Coast
    Wildlife
    Wine Farm
    Zambia
    Zimbabwe

    RSS Feed


Unique Experiences

unique destinations

For the
Unique Traveller

Picture


​

"If you only visit two continents in your lifetime, visit Africa - twice" R. Elliot

​Find out why by following our blog posts and experience some of the most unique places in all of the world!
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Touching Lives
  • Top 10 SA
  • TripAdvisor Reviews
  • Run Africa