The maximum temperature here today in the Charente is 10⁰C, minimum 5⁰C. South-West winds of 22 km/h with gusts up to 46 km/h. We have now had our annual rainfall plus, and it is still raining as I type this.
Returning to March 2023 an unforgettable 3 days going to and climbing the Sani Pass between South Africa and
Lesotho. One for your bucket list, the narrow pass is 33 km long with the first 14km having been tarred,
but the rest is loose gravel with frequent tight hairpins and no guard rails! Google the photos!! Best
traversed in a 4WD driven by an expert! The road climbs at 33% (1 in 3 in old money!) from an altitude 1,500
metres (5,000 feet) in South Africa up to over 3,000 metres (10,000 feet) in Lesotho. Even in summer at
the top, there's a strong cold wind. The Lesotho angora goatherds wearing thick coats are everywhere,
riding horses to control the 4-legged fortunes! Grateful thanks to Gordon and Julie for making this trip possible. Especially Gordon who was our expert driver.
Most photos are self-explanatory but where needed I have added a comment.
Stunning scenery.
Volcanic rings in the rocks.
Balancing rocks!!
Jackal Buzzard (Buteo rufofuscus). Its name refers to the jackal because its call is similar to that of the black-backed jackal.
A smiling herdsman with his warm clothing.
Another herdsman keeping watch over his Angora goats.
One of the Proteas but I do not know which one.
Savanna Baboon / Yellow Baboon (Papio cynocephalus).
View from the pub but a bit cool to sit outside!
Warming up. Shorts were probably not the best thing to wear at this height!
Just a small section of the road up the mountain. It is quite narrow so you hopefully do not meet another vehicle going in the opposite direction!
So beautiful.
One of several waterfalls.
My plant ID might be questionable but I am trying.....
Cape Bells (Wahlenbergia family).
Cotyledon or Kalanchoe Species. It might have been easier if it had been in flower.
Euryops-tysonii.
Lotononis species.
Heading back down the mountain. This was an easy part of the road I was too nervous to take photos in the bad sections!!
We were met by this river on our return home.
Midmar dam near Howick heading back to Pietermaritzburg.
Construction work began on Midmar Dam in July 1961, submerging 5,000 acres of land. The dam cost R4.5 million to build.
Still so many photos of game reserves and special places that G and J took us to but will I get them done before the next trip????
The road must be quite the experience! You take us to such incredible heights, Diane. It doesn’t look like you could turn around on that road or even pass someone. You are adventurous souls. Thanks for taking us along. Incredible.
ReplyDeleteHi Marie, no there was no way that we could have turned around but Gordon and his 4x4 worked their magic. Glad that you enjoyed these photos. Keep well, Cheers Diane
DeleteThose scenes in SA are just so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks Angie, a truly beautiful place and so worth seeing. Keep well Diane
DeleteMarvelous photos! Incredible sights. Thank you for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteThanks Denise and glad that you enjoyed the photos, sorry it has taken me so long to do this blog!! All the best Diane
DeleteNo apologies necessary Diane, absolutely worth waiting for.
DeleteGreat memories of our own visit into Lesotho, Diane. We were very sensible Canadians I smugly say. We had on long trousers, an undershirt, shirt and a windbreaker. My favourite memory is of seeing a Lammergeier (Bearded Vulture) dropping bones onto the rocks. Great visit! Bonne journée et gros bisous chère amie.
ReplyDeleteSo glad that this brought back good memories. We did all have jerseys on and Julie and I had long trousers, but both men stuck to their shorts!!! We did see Bearded Vultures but too far away for photos. Bisous, Diane
DeleteWhat fabulous scenery, Diane. I'm pleased to know that you only attempted it with an experienced driver. It brought back to me an experience that Lindsay and I had in Spain a number of years back. We'd heard about a really deep canyon and wanted to explore it in the car. The first and second access roads that we found were closed off, but a third one was open. We set off down the narrow trail, and had only been going about 10 minutes when the going started to get really rough. I said to Lindsay that I'd turn round at the next available place. There was an almost vertical drop down into the valley below on the right, and almost vertical up on the left. I started getting worried in case we met something coming the other way as passing would have been impossible. After about an hour, we came across a huge boulder that had come down from above and landed on the left side of the road. I paced out the remaining gap in the road and the width of the car and found I'd got about 3 inches to spare. I also noted that the falling boulder had cracked the surface of the road. Reversing back would have taken hours, so I got Lindsay to get out of the car and watch me get round the boulder, having little confidence that the road wouldn't crumble under me. We made it past, but the trail got worse, with the bottom of the car scraping on rocks as we went. We spent four. hours on that road before it came out of the gorge at the other end The next day, I ached all over from having been so tensed up. We subsequently found that the road had been closed for some time, but somebody had removed the closure sign on the bit that we entered at. It was the most frightening driving experience that we've ever had, and every time we find ourself at the start of a road that looks a little rough, we say 'Spain' to each other!
ReplyDeleteI hope that Nigel's situation is improving and that all is well with you.
My very best wishes - - - Richard
Hi Richard, oh wow that does sound scary, I wonder who removed the closure sign, that sounds like attempted murder to me. So glad that you both survived but what a memory!!
DeleteLesotho is a beautiful place and the country side is stunning.
You two take care and I am hoping for good news for you as well. Cheers Diane
Absolutely gorgeous. My kid and of road. Didn't make it to Lesotho.
ReplyDeleteIf you return it is well worth the trip. Hugs Diane
DeleteI think that this had been a fantástic, incredible, and lovely travel in this beautiful and savage natural áreas of Southafrica. The photographs of all are amazing.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the visit and the kind words. It was a very special trip. Cheers Diane
DeleteWonderful places and great sights. I would like to visit S.A. and Lesotho but unfortunately my wife is scared of flying.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the photos.
Thanks for the visit. Do you have to fly? There are cruises that go everywhere. Keep running, Diane
DeleteYour latest weather report sounds familiar although I must say that this morning at least, we have sunshine.
ReplyDeleteThat “road” trip was quite an experience Diane. Like you say, an experienced 4 x 4 driver with a good vehicle was an essential, plus nerves of steel for all involved. Nowhere neat that but scary enough was a drive up into the mountains of Fuerteventura some years ago, not helped by some idiot drivers who thought it fun to tailgate! I like your photos and especially the pub where I guess you felt quite relieved to rest and think that the way down the pass would be somewhat easier.
Did you make a reservation at the pub for your next time up there?
No reservation, I doubt if we will even make it up there again. Not sure how much longer we are capable of these long trips. Why do people have to tailgate it is so unnecessary!!! Early next year it is a trip to Namibia. Health wise this could be our last trip but who knows. Hiring a car at our age is also becoming very difficult! Happy birding, have a good Christmas, cheers Diane
DeleteCoucou Diane,
ReplyDeleteBon c'est raté pour le short ;-) mais côté photos, je dis bravo ! Que c'est beau ma chère, merci beaucoup, ces paysages sont superbes. Je voudrais y être. Cela aurait été dommage de ne pas mettre ces photos en ligne.
Gros bisous mon amie
Bonjour Nathalie, merci pour votre gentil commentaire. C'est vraiment magnifique au Lesotho, mais j'aime l'Afrique. La Namibie en janvier.....
DeleteJoyeux Noël et meilleurs vœux pour 2024, Bisous Diane.
Hi Diane - before I forget ... for some reason your comment went to into moderation - I thought I'd rescued it - but must have inadvertently deleted it - so apologies! I love seeing your photos of SA and Lesotho ... and those dangerous drives ... I did a few, but in an ordinary car - and not the Sani Pass. Absolutely stunning - so kind of your friends to take you ... amazing trip - thanks for sharing with us. Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteNot to worry Hilary so long as you saw it that is all that matters. Sani they will not allow you to do without 4 wheel drive. Coming down was far more scary than going up!! I hope that you have a fabulous Christmas and I wish you all the best for 2024, Cheers Diane
DeleteSo beautiful but a scary road. Sometimes we have to take the risk to see amazing places like this.Great photos.
ReplyDeleteThanks Diane it was a fabulous trip and well worth every second of it. Happy 2024. Cheers t'other Diane
Delete