Drakensberg Mountains

Johannesburg to Cape Town Road Trip - Part 2

The further we drove from Johannesburg, the more relaxed we felt. It was not long before the urban landscape transformed into yellowed plains, and we settled in our seats for hours of scenic driving. After every pass, and around each corner, we gaped. South Africa was showing off her striking mountain ranges, hazy in the distance, the fields etched into her hillsides, village houses scattered amongst the farmland, and people, people everywhere. Near the villages, it was a regular sight to see school children walking along the road, regardless of the time.

A poplar-lined dirt drive led to a gate that was the entryway to our country escape in the Drakensberg Mountains. It was a small lodge with a wraparound patio, and the most difficult decision to make was where to sit with a coffee and breakfast. Bushland bordered one side of the grassed property, and the rest were endless fields of who-knows-what, and no one to be seen. This was how we imagined our retirement.

Glorious day for a hike in the Drakensberg Mountains

An exploration of the area provided many days of beauty to absorb. We spotted some antelope almost immediately commencing a day hike in the mountains, and followed the hiking trail through a valley and down to the dry, rocky river bed. Rock-hopping our way upstream, we ventured into a narrow canyon and carefully stacked some river stones on a large boulder to mark our presence. The hike was supposed to end at a viewpoint of one of the tallest waterfalls in the world, but as conditions were dry, we were treated to a view of some high rocky cliff-faces instead.

The next leg of the trip was to take us to various stops along the coastline, but we planned an overnight stop at the tiny town of Himeville to break up the journey to the sea. Quickly, we realised that our stay would feel far too short, as our accommodation was a cute studio flat in someone's backyard. The flat was perfectly designed for its surroundings, as the small stoep and picture window both faced the neighbouring green space. Fine, leafless branches of native trees cast fragile reflections on the dam's surface, and smouldering grass added an extra haziness to the low fog. Behind this tranquil scene, mountain ranges dominated the horizon, and we gaped at the ridiculousness of the region's beauty. The four friendly canines on the property were only too happy to receive our attention and cuddles, and we thought to ourselves, "This is how we imagine our retirement!"

Ridiculously gorgeous Himeville countryside with distant views to the mountains.