Hi Everyone,
With motoring in Lesotho and South Africa maps, Carla drove and I navigated across the South African Free State and the Golden Gate Park to the southeast corner of Swazi. Then across (it's small--the size of New Jersey) to the north-central area at Mlilwane Wiildlife Sanctuary where we are now. We're at Sondzela Backpackers Lodge in a rondavel with huge bay windows facing the mountains and valley of the reserve and high beam and straw ceilings. Really nice. We have a sink and use the shared shower/toilet in a building close by. We've met lots of travels (Germany, UK, South Africa, Nepal, Lesotho) at the diners and breakfast, prepared over pit fires in an outdoor (covered) log building. Cozy. It's cold and rainy here---typical Swazi summer weather. By cold, I mean we need long sleeves and long pants. Not really cold. It's beautiful. On our drives around the sanctuary we see wildlife: reedbuck, kudu, wildebeest, warthog, zebra, and birds--ibis, weaver, bishop--and many I can't name. Not as dramatic a landscape as Lesotho, but there are high mountains here too.
We decided to stay longer here and skip Mozambique (too hectic and too few days). We'll return the rental car today and take a Baz bus (backpacker transport) to Jo'burg on Thursday. I'll get back on the 10th (to Baltimore/NYC) and on the 17th to Nebraska. Carla gets back to Nebraska on the 10th. This is the first Internet cafe I've found (at Gone Rural, a cultural center and crafts shop). We wish everyone a Happy New Year. Miss you and am looking forward to getting back to the USA.
Lots of love.
Betty and Carla