Manston

At some point one needs to concede and start to believe in Science and Physiology!

Traveling from St.Lucia to the Drakensberg is a variation of 1,500m above sea level. Running up here at Monks Cowl this morning was a whole lot different experience! Altitude is a killer and now you will be pleased to know, at last it is a proven fact! Some will argue that the lack of 'Captain Morgan's' performance enhancing capabilities, may also have played a part in the lack of output this morning.

What a stunning view from our campsite of Champagne Castle on the left and 'Dragon's Peak' and 'Dragons Back'! Way back in the distance, it was so clear that a glimps of 'Giants Castle' was also visible. That was at 05:30 this morning but by 09:00 thick banks of mist had already formed and settled, covering all the peaks.

It must again be said, that it is sinful not to have spent quality time, right here. This is an awesome place! Not one photograph (and by now you have already seen many, but far from most), not one photograph captures this beautiful place. You just cannot even fit it all in. We spent the better part of the morning here, packed up and moved on.

Hitting the road out of Monk’s Cowl, a bit later than planned meant we were again behind, meaning and regrettably we had to make it up on the road. Essentially, and against my plan a large portion of the distance/time had to be made on the road. We joined the N3 at Estcourt and got off at Howick about 100km later.

From there on in, we followed Bulwer (R617) => Underberg where we arrived at our pre booked destination of Khotso Horse Trails & Campsite just outside Underberg. Now Khotso (meaning Freedom), was all along worrisome to me! Not knowing the meaning at all, did not resonate too well with me.

However what a stunning place, not many sites and again mostly empty, just a few families all from KZN.
Bathrooms clean and a cottage style finish, and all other requirements perfect. Luckily not situated on the direct Sani Pass roads, so no Sani tourists around👍🏻 The roads here are a thriller especially with a caravan in tow. KZN’s answer to severe potholes is that it is easier to create at least 3 equally severe speed humps right across both lanes in ahead of the pit, than to repair the road! They will argue that they are there as ‘traffic calming’ interventions!

The countryside and farms in particular here in this part of Kwa-Zulu, are beautiful. The Umzimkulu River which terminates in the Indian Ocean, is a foul brown muddy, murky and polluted dishwater, up here very near its source, is crystal clear and flowing 10/10. Fishing here must be heaven!

We packed out our full campsite for a two night stay, tomorrow being an epic highlight of our journey!

Love, Peace and Light,
M&K.

(You will please just need to be patient with our posts, as the signal in most areas here is poor)😖😖😖Read more