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Johannesburg and beyond.... Our visit here actually began with a visit to the Cullinan diamond mine. Jack and Dawn Wiid of Pioneer Plastics took us to see the site that produced the world's largest diamond (535 carats!). Unfortunately, I did not have my camera with me. Anyway, I know that Orla isn't really into diamonds.... Our next stop was a once in a lifetime experience. Gary Lategan of Atlas Plastics arranged a visit to one of the deepest gold mines in the world, Noligwa gold mine belonging to AngloGold - it is also one of the most productive, producing 5% of the world's gold supply.
This is not a tourist trip - you have to be kitted out just like a miner for the day. Orla is standing in front of the mine head where we were dropped down the first shaft 5000 ft (1500m). After walking several hundred feet, we were dropped down a second underground shaft to 6400 ft (1939m) or 1.16 miles below surface! The lifts drop at a rate of 15m/s (34 mph).
After reaching Level 64 (6400 ft), we had to travel by train for 3.2 km (2 miles) to reach the gold face. Look at the determination on Orla's face - 'Now where did they say that gold was?'
This is us with Gary right at the gold face where they blast the gold bearing rock for extraction and processing. They told us that we could take as much ore as we could carry as a souvenir - the only problem is that there is only about 12g (0.4oz) of gold per ton of ore!
Our next stop was Krugersdorp Game Park where we spent the night in a lodge by the hippo pool. We were fortunate enough the following morning to see them wallowing after breakfast. The park has a host of other animals including wild rotomolded tanks in their natural habitat (between the antelope and lion above)!
For a traveling consultant, a group of wild supervisors can be even more dangerous - especially if they are not given enough nicotine breaks! The shopfloor management team at Kaymac Rotomoulders proved to be a vicious bunch with their challenging questions, molding problems and general production issues!
Our next stop was in the Drakensburg mountains at the wonderful Cathedral Peak hotel. This is the view into the valley around the hotel that is now a World Heritage Site.
The park is a hikers paradise and has some spectacular scenery as well as all sorts of wildlife and plants. Orla adds her own little touch of beauty to the surroundings.
Doreen Falls in the midst of the park is a cool spot to stop for a break.
On to our next location to experience some Zulu history. We spent three days at Isibindi Zulu Lodge in the middle of the Battlefields area near the Drakensberg. This is a wonderful spot with only 6 rooms in the style of Zulu beehive huts. This is two of our fellow travelers, Sue from Pietermaritzburg and Sandy from the UK.
Our trips had to include a battlefield tour. This is the site of Isandlwana where the Zulu rose and inflicted the largest defeat on the British in the history of the empire. Our tour guide, Prince, presented us with a wonderful retelling of the events that led to the battle and the gruesome event itself. Over 2000 Zulu warriors died along with 1350 British Redcoats. In the photograph are resident historian, Prince, Dave and Clare from Scotland, Sandy and Orla.
On the following day over the border in Natal, the outpost at Rorke's Drift was defended by 139 British soldiers against 12 hours of onslaught by the Zulu. The Michael Caine movie 'Zulu' was inspired by this battle. Over 700 Zulu were killed but just 18 of the British died. They were awarded 11 Victoria Crosses (the highest honor in the British army), largely in an attempt to deflect attention from the embarrassing defeat at Isandlwana.
Our evening was completed with a Zulu cultural experience. Local dancers from the surrounding villages put on a display of dancing and stick fighting to the accompaniment of drums. Marvelous stuff.
Of course, no Zulu experience would be complete without a chance to eat some traditional food in a traditional hut. Here's Orla being very brave as she nibbles on local delicacies. |
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