The Star E-dition

Sani Pass: Not for the timid

CHULUMANCO MAHAMBA chulumanco.mahamba@inl.co.za | @Chulu_M

THE AIR in the 4x4 vehicle was buzzing with anticipation and a bit of fear as the group of tourists made their way up Sani Pass in the west of KwaZulu-Natal on the road between Underberg and Mokhotlong, Lesotho.

“We will be ascending about 1 000m above sea level so it’s a bit hectic and some places are a little bit steep. But never fear when David is here,” said David Sichwe, a tour leader from Major Adventures, the Sani Pass specialists, as the tour begun the 8km journey on the steep and bumpy gravel road.

The group of 11 people, which included journalists, bloggers, producers, radio personalities and actress Sthandwa Nzuza, were making their way through the beautiful scenery, surrounded by snowy mountain peaks and over 2 000 different plant species in the Drakensberg mountains to Lesotho.

Their journey began on Thursday afternoon, when the group arrived at the Premier Resort Sani Pass for a winter weekend excursion with Tourism

KwaZulu-Natal.

First on the agenda was an afternoon horse-ride from the resort to a waterfall nearby, where some were riding a horse for the first time. After a long day of travelling from Durban to the resort, the ride was a refreshing way to start the trip, release the tension from city living and take in the beauty of the Southern Drakensberg mountain.

“It was magic and I rode a steady horse named Amber. The whole experience and seeing the waterfall in the area was very exciting. I think it was my second time riding a horse,” Nzuza said.

The next morning, the group woke and layered on as many clothes, scarves, coats and gloves as possible in preparation for their icy 8km journey from the South African border control point to the South African/Lesotho border post through the Sani Pass.

“We are going to go on a rough road where you will get an African massage, which is free of charge. The road is very bumpy so if you feel like vomiting, please ask your driver to stop,” nature tourist guide Mondli Miya told the group.

Along the way to the top of the summit, the tourists made multiple stops to take pictures and marvel at the beauty of South Africa’s landscapes.

Following a two-and-a-half hour long ride, the group made it to the summit of the Sani Pass about 2 864m above sea level, according to Miya. The summit of the pass, which was straight with clear blue skies and snowfall on the ground and mountains, was a stark contrast to the steep and misty road to the top.

Once their passports were stamped, the group made their way to a small Basotho village not far from the border, where they were welcomed by village elder Tata Pera with Basotho mountain bread (Bohobe ba polata) and African beer (Umqombothi).

Miya said the villagers used compact stones with clay soil and cattle dung to build the rondavels with underground heating.

A childlike sense of wonder overcame all of them when they left the village and went across the road to a mountain that was blanketed with snow. The group, including Nzuza, got to frolic in the snow while some people made snow angels before “war” broke out and a snowball fight ensued with the clear blue skies and beautiful snowy mountain in the background.

Chilled from the icy winds and wet from the snowball fight, the group eventually huddled around an antique coal heater at the Sani Mountain Lodge to eat lunch at the highest pub in Africa.

The pub is located about 2 874m above sea level.

“The Sani Mountain Lodge was bought by Khapametsi Maleke in 1992 from a family in Underberg. It was first established by the people who used this pass to trade in Mokhotlong so they decided to make a little inn where they could rest and have something to drink and eat before driving to Mokhotlong,” said the manager Polo, Tsoele.

The winter excursion sadly came to an end on Saturday, June 19 with an adrenaline pumping leap off the mountains nestled in Bulwer as those who were brave para-glided.

Paragliding is a sport in which a person jumps from an aircraft or high place wearing a wide, rectangular, steerable parachute.

“The highlight of the trip was tandem paragliding off the top of a cliff in Bulwer, near Himeville. I could not stop screaming when I had to run off the cliff with the instructor. However, it was an amazing experience and definitely an activity to try again,” Nzuza said.

During her down time, the Durban Gen actress and former Ukhozi FM radio presenter said it was difficult to choose what she loved more between radio presenting and acting.

“My first love is acting as it’s what I studied for but it’s difficult to choose,” she said.

Nzuza said that growing up she used to be very shy until she started studying drama, which brought out the exciting side of her.

“I initially wanted to be a doctor like all the other kids but this is where life has brought me and my destiny has brought me to acting and I love it,” she said.

She said in the next five years, she saw herself appearing in a big international feature film.

Chulumanco Mahamba went on this trip courtesy of Tourism KwaZulu-Natal.

METRO

en-za

2021-06-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-06-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://thestar.pressreader.com/article/281608128400233

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