Submitted by SafariADV on Mon, 2018-11-12
This morning we woke up in Swaziland, more precisely at the Mkhaya Game Reserve, it was still dark; we prepared quickly and went for the last safariin this magnificent place.
When we came back we had brunch, we retrieved our bags and we checked out.
We left on the safari car but this time not to do another thrilling safari; unfortunately we are leaving.
However, we cross the reserve and spot a few birds, impalas, nyalas, hippos and crocodiles; we take the last pictures and then head to the place where we parked our Dr. Livingstone yesterday morning.
We greet Richard, our guide; he is really very smart to spot the animals and then, after the excitement that he made us live yesterday afternoon, he has become our favorite guide of all time!
There are also other guests who leave this morning; we all get on board our cars and then follow Richard who makes his way to the main road; we go a bit slowly because some guests have normal cars and the dirt road is not very easy for them, but we have no problem, we have fun, instead.
When we get to the main road, we say goodbye to Richard and our fellow adventurers, turn left onto the MR 8 and head South to the South African border.
The Swaziland landscape here is very beautiful, there is a mountain range to our left in the distance, while around us there are villages alternated with sugar cane crops; the landscape is decidedly different from the wooded savannah of the Mkhaya Game Reserve.
At a certain point, in the distance, we see a factory, that jars a lot with the surrounding environment and, as we approach, we smell of fermentation; we deduce that sugar cane probably is worked here.
The road is straight and asphalted and, above all, in good condition, so we take little to travel the miles that separate us from the border between Swaziland and South Africa and, in a short time we arrive at the Golela Border Post.
When we park to do the check-out documents from Swaziland we are alone, the same happens for the entry into South Africa, we are amazed because this is one of the busiest border posts in Swaziland, from here also pass the trucks carrying the goods; well, that's better because we were afraid of wasting precious time at the border.
From this border post we passed many years ago, precisely in 2004, today we struggled to recognize it; at that time there were, on one side and on the other, two rather dilapidated cement houses, each with two branches, one for immigration and one for customs where everything was written by hand, but today there are two huge and technological offices, that of Swaziland in particular, is truly impressive, both in terms of size and efficiency.
We leave and follow the directions of Maps.me, there seem to be two different ways that lead to the uMkhuze Game Reserve: the first is to continue on the main road, but then it is not very clear how it is the secondary road that must be traveled in the last stretch; the other road, that is the one Maps.me wants us to take, seems a secondary road, we are a bit in doubt but we decide to follow the directions, we see where we end, we are in South Africa and secondary roads are hardly a gamble.
The road climbs on the side of a very scenic rocky mountain and the view from here is spectacular: below us on our left is a huge lake with blue-green waters.
The road descends and climbs a couple of times, crossing villages, until we arrive at the town of Jozini; we take the opportunity to get fuel and buy two or three things we need and then leave again.
It's incredible, here in Jozini there is a crazy traffic, we were bottled up for about ten minutes; on the other hand, there is only one main road, where all the shops and businesses are also located, it is obvious that there is a bit of chaos.
We leave the town and continue our journey.
At one point Maps.me makes us abandon the asphalt road to turn onto a dirt road; even the asphalt road seems to go to uMkhuze, but it is longer, we have taken a shortcut.
This road winds through villages, banana plantations and lush vegetation; what a peace and tranquility, it is a scenic and beautiful road, an unexpected South Africa!
Every now and then we meet someone from the area, on foot or by bicycle, who looks at us and seems to think "but where do these two come from?" We do not know if this is because nobody ever goes through here or for Dr. Livingstone that gives a little bit in the eye.
It is a wonderful road, we are happy to have followed Maps.me, it has made us discover a corner of genuine South Africa, where life flows quietly, away from traffic and confusion.
"Our" road rejoins with the main road just before the Eastern gate, the Ophansi Gate, of the uMkhuze Game Reserve.
The uMkhuze Game Reserve is part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park area, a huge protected area that was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999, the first place in South Africa to be added to this list.
We enter the reserve through a new and very design gate, the landscape around us is beautiful.
First we go to Mantuma, where there is the reception, the shop and the take away restaurant; we came here to check-in, tonight we sleep at the eMshopi campground, that is near the Western gate with the same name.
We enjoy the sunset show along the road to the campsite, this is one of the best moments of a trip to Africa; when we arrive at the campsite we choose a location, there is hardly anyone and we are spoiled for choice.
We really like this reserve, from the little we saw today and we cannot wait for tomorrow to explore it; but now we drink a glass of wine by Casa Montini and dedicate ourselves to the braai.
