Royal Natal Park, baboons and a big stick!

Been for a long hike in the hot sun today in the Royal Natal Park, all the way up to the Goo Doo falls, nearly 1900 meters at the top but still hot hot hot! 

We’ve bought a big stick in case of snakes, baboons etc. Deb calls it Steve, strong, dependable and shakes a bit!  

Only seen one troop of baboons at the moment on the drive to the park.

We started with another big breakfast which set us up nicely for the day, before heading off about 10.00. We like to try new things and Deb found this local Umsobo jam, made from mountain (nightshade) berries, makes your teeth go purple. Not permanently! 

On the mountains the Protea are just coming into flower and are just amazing.

The local settlements are all over the place and go on for miles with schools, churches,  small stores and not much else in the way of infrastructure.

Last day here in Hlalanathi today before heading off on a short drive to Monks Cowl in the central Drakensberg via Winterton for some supplies and a coffee stop.