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Escape Now

Escape Now

Author: Kasia Yoko
Date: 2014-02-21
How many of us are feeling swamped, weighed down and downright pooped. The year has just begun and already it feels stifling. If it's not about the global economy then it is about the local elections. If it's not the inflation that is getting us down it is the neighbour that's making us high on negative emotions.

It has been an uncertain start to the year and on the personal front I am only now slowing down after reinstating my boys in school and varsity. It was high time I took a long hard look at my pace and slow the heck down. 

There were no pre plans, no packing and no luggage. We were just going to drive until we got bored and look for a place to 'crash'destination The BergN3 up the mountain.

The winding road was empty and for a long time it felt like we were the only ones about, it was hard to believe how clean and quiet the N3 is on a Saturday morning. No trucks, no tourists just the picturesque countryside.

Two hours into the journey we stopped at Piggly Wiggly on the Midlands Meander's, Nottingham Road. We did not want to buy anything or to eat we just wanted to visit. The place was packed but friendly, children's laughter pealing out of every corner. "Oh my gosh," I exclaimed to my husband, "Look darling, no one is rushing we have found a place where people can just chill." It wasn't long before we bumped into Nana from Zulu-lala, who stole our hearts and while we spoke of love and fame and Shembe Nana sold us a beautiful Tagine oven.

Finally our journey had a purpose. We have to find a place to make a Taginea quick stop at a farm stall and a few ingredients later we were set for a feast heading towards Giants Castle.

As the morning light turned more intense we drove up, up, up into the unknown. We stopped on the side of the road to pick flowers and say hello to people. Everyone was friendly and courteous.

We drove and drove and drove until the road ended and we arrived the gate of the Parks Board - Giants Castle. The guard at the gate looked at his watch and informed us that office closes at 4pm. It was 4:15pm"Go to the office the ladies are waiting for you." He told us.

When we arrived Khanyo Nzuza and Samke Ndlovu were waitingsadly they could not help us as the only available accommodation was the main lodge that sleeps twelve and it had not been cleaned.

It was something in our sad face that made Khanyo grab her intern Samke and say, "Ok you guys look so nice, wait in the restaurant and we will fix the lodge for you."

An hour later and well into their family time they were finished with the cleaning and we were deposited into a palace suspended above the Bushman's River.

That night we feasted as we christened our Tagine oven and celebrated the beauty and splendour of this country.

With our batteries recharged, life plans confirmed we headed home with love in our hearts, remembering a quote someone once said that, "Adventure is not outside a man; it is within."