South African Adventure!

I went to visit one of my friends in the Peace Corp in South Africa several years ago. This was my first time out of the country and it was definitely a trip to remember. The flight was brutally long for me since I don’t like sitting still but the memories and pictures were worth it! My hobby has allowed me to take trips inexpensively and I will be posting about my ones I am taking in 2013. I have never posted about this trip and I thought this would be a great time to share my experience.

Walking this cute elephant

I flew from Houston (IAH) to Johannesburg (JNB) with Delta and wasn’t at all prepared for the long trip. I didn’t have enough snacks and I didn’t have a blanket/jacket to keep me warm. I watched movies most of the way which made the trip go by faster. My friend and I previously decided we were going to stay near Kruger Park so when we arrived in South Africa and went through customs, we actually rented a car to drive the 5+ hrs on the opposite side of the road with written down instructions to get there. It was a crazy decision hind site but I’m glad we got there safe.

Best part of the trip!

We stayed at the Sanbonani Resort using my parents time share. The resort was very cute and the accommodations were very comfortable. The only concerning part was the beware of Hippo signs we saw. I didn’t know they were dangerous but they are deceptively so. We spent almost a week there. Our adventures nearby included interacting with  elephants, zip lining, a safari, and visiting a rehabilitation center for animals.

Really close!

We also did some exploring around the area. There are many valleys that have breath taking views here. We came upon this lil place on top of a hill and there was a pool there. The view from that pool was gorgeous…I love taking in this scenery!

Gorgeous view!

After our week of taking in nature, we drove back to Johannesburg and visited the tourist places like Nelson Mandela square and the Apartheid museum.  We also did a tour of the city which included a visit to shanti areas. This was very disheartening because these families live in small spaces made of sheet metal. It was definitely an eye opener to the conditions some people live in daily. This trip has grasped my heart into traveling!