After an amazing time in
Cape Town, we all headed back to Pietermaritzburg for an excellent few days of Greek-style South African wedding celebrations. Bini and Terri had a great day and it was great to meet all of their friends and family. We were due to fly home to the UK in a few days but we were keen to make the most of our remaining time in this amazing country. We borrowed a couple of cars for the day and set off for
Tala Game Reserve, just a short drive up the road. It was nowhere near on the same scale as
Hluhluwe Umfolozi and was more like a commercial wildlife park. However, as the others hadn't experienced that until now it didn't diminish the day in the slightest. It was a great place and had most of the usual animals that we were all keen to spot - the highlight was the hippos in the middle of the lake catching some rays.
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| Rhinos at Tala Game Reserve, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa |
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| A Giraffe at Tala Game Reserve, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa |
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| Zebra at Tala Game Reserve, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa |
The next day we said our goodbyes and headed to Durban airport to start our journey home. However, at the Emirates desk we were refused check-in and told that they weren't allowing any more passengers into Dubai airport (where our connection was) due to the
Giant Volcanic Ash Cloud. We were told that they didn't have any more information for us at this stage and said that we had to call a number to try and get booked on the earliest available flight - because at the moment we were booked on a flight on 9th May 2010! Realising that we were stuck in South Africa for the foreseeable future, we all made plans to go our separate ways and make the most of the extra few days. Terri and Bini were going to head back down the coast to Margate and spend some time relaxing on the beach while the others were keen to head to Hluhluwe Umfolozi to have a proper safari experience. Emily and I decided to head back to the excellent
Blue Waters Hotel and spend more time exploring Durban. It was decided that we would all head to Durban and have an evening meal together to reflect on and discuss our options over the next few days and how we were going to arrange to get home. We all headed to Durban and parked at the brand new Moses Mabhida football stadium - built for the 2010 Fifa World Cup. It really is an impressive sight and if you're visiting Durban it really is a must see attraction. The main feature of the stadium is the giant arch that spans high above the pitch and, of course, has a funicular-like train that travels up to the viewing platform at the top of the arch. Of course, being British and tourists, we jumped at the chance to look at the amazing views over the Durban skyline and to watch the sun go down - spectacular. It also gave me the opportunity to scout out the possibility of trying the
Big Rush bungee swing tomorrow. It looked like a brand new and highly professional setup - unlike the one I had seen a few weeks ago at
Oribi Gorge. After a nice meal, we all parted and Emily and I headed to our very comfy room in the hotel just up the road.
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| The Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa |
The next morning we headed straight back to the Moses Mabhida stadium and I signed myself up for the bungee swing. After filling out the usual disclaimers, I was fitted with a rather shiny and new-looking Petzl full-body harness. I was then taken through the jumping procedure on a small platform in the reception area, as Emily looked on taking pictures. As I was getting geared up, a tour group of local primary school children came in and a few minutes later one of their teachers was gearing up beside me. The two of us where then led outside and were clipped onto the via ferrata-style setup to walk up the many MANY stairs to the jump platform. Meanwhile, Emily headed into the stadium to take pictures and document the chaos. As we climbed the steps with our instructor, the teacher told me that they were here on a school outing and part of the deal was that one of the teaching staff were able to have a jump for free; she drew the short straw. When we got to the platform at the top of the steps, we were able to look around and down into the stadium; getting an idea and a feel for the exposure - an amazing situation. In the stadium below, we could see all the kids waving, chanting and gazing up at us. I quickly suggested to the female teacher that she should go first so we weren't keeping the kids waiting! Without hesitating, she stepped forward and headed down the ladder and out onto the final platform. The kids below started to cheer loudly and chant her name and she was clipped into the bungee and was now ready to go. The instructors gave her a countdown but she froze at the last second, hesitated and then stopped completely at the edge of the platform; terrified. The instructors gave her some words of encouragement and started the countdown for the second time. This time she didn't hesitate and took a big step off the platform into the stadium - much to the delight of the class below. As I watched, I noticed that she got a good few seconds of free-fall through the air before the bungee kicked in - cool! She was winched back up to the platform and soon standing next to me again with a huge grin on her face. "It's brilliant!", she shouted at me. I turned around and made my way down the ladder onto the jump platform - no turning back now. I was soon clipped into the bungee, standing on the edge of the platform and gazing down towards the pitch below.
The count down began and I took a moment to look around and take in the situation and the stunning views all around. Then I took a big step forward. There was certainly a good few seconds of 'air', as I headed straight towards the perfect grassy playing surface, before the bungee kicked in with a gentle kick. Then I took a giant swing towards the other side of the stadium - on the way back I looked over and waved at Emily who was videoing the whole thing. It was a surreal experience dangling there in the middle of the empty stadium and being hauled back up to the platform - crazy stuff! After a long walk down the steps I was back on the ground a grinning at Emily from ear to ear - what an experience!
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| Practicing the jump before heading up to the roof for the real thing... |
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| Inside the Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa |
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| Looking up to the jump platform inside the Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa |
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| Climbing down onto the jump platform - no turning back now... |
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| Hanging in the middle of the stadium after a very big swing |
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| On the way down after the jump... buzzing! |
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| Nearly back on solid ground |
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| Wave simulator at Gateway Shopping Centre, Durban, South Africa |
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| "The Rock" climbing wall at Gateway Shopping Centre, Durban, South Africa |
This evening we headed back down the coast to Margate to spend a few days with Bini and Terri.
