So we're sitting here in the business lounge at Johannesburg airport waiting for our flight home. The past 8 weeks has gone so quickly and it's hard to believe our trip is over. Mum is already telling people she is going home to work to save money to come back again!!

We had a lovely last day in Mauritius. We spent the morning on the beach. I got mum out on a paddle boat for a little while and I went out snorkeling. The sun was out and we were very sad to have to get on the van to go back to the airport for our flight home. The plane was smaller than the one we came over on but still not full. Mum freaked out when as the plane came down to land, the pilot took the plane back up again, aborting the landing. It turned out as they were going to land a light indicated the wheels weren't down properly. So that meant we had to circle again which added time to the flight before we landed safely.

We were glad to get to the hostel and get to bed as our bodies were telling us it was 1am. Up yesterday morning and we had booked a tour of Soweto with Taste of Africa. We were picked up and driven to our guide Eunice's home. She rents a room at the back of a house which is one small room that is her bedroom, kitchen and lounge. All the residents share one toilet out the back and one tap which provides them with water for cleaning, washing & cooking.

We spent the day wandering around Soweto which actually stands for South Western Townships and 49 communities actually make up Soweto. We got around on the local mini buses which would not be allowed to drive on Australian roads - would be considered unroadworthy. At least mum finally got to experience the local taxis. First we went to Kliptown, which is famous for where the Freedom of Charter was signed back in 1956. This is eventually what Mandela and his fellow comrades were arrested for on terms of treason. We then went to a community project which is a day care and after school care for young children in the community. The mistress of the school took us out to the community known as Mandela Square and we got to see how people live in these shack towns. I think it shocked mum a little. One tap for 600 people, 1 port-a-loo for 11 families, no electricity, no sewerage and living in tin sheds which are so hot.

We also got to meet the kids in the care program and they were all gorgeous, as young children are. We then went to Walter Sissalu Square where the charter was signed. They also have a small museum here all about how the day was organised and how it went. We then had lunch in a little kitchen where the ladies cooked our meals for us - real local food and it was good and much cheaper than if we went to a 'fancy' restaurant.

From here we got buses to Orlando West, the site of the Soweto Uprising in 1976. This was when the black students protested again having to learn certain lessons in Afrikaans, a language they did not know or understand. A young boy, Hector Pierson was killed and a photo of another student carrying his body with his sister running next to them was shown around the world. There is now a memorial to him near the site where he was shot. You could then walk down 2 streets and along the street they have information boards about the day of the uprising. It is all very interesting and very moving. We then walked down the street that both Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu had homes. Mandela's home is now a museum but Tutu still owns his home. A young boy wanted to sing the national anthem for us along the way so we said yes and gave him some coins.

It was a very interesting day and so much better than being driven around in a van and being hurried along. We could take our own pace and ask as many questions as we wanted. Highly recommend this company. Tony, our driver met us here and drove us back to the backpackers where we had a quiet night in. We met a couple that were on the same flight as us so we arranged to get a transfer to the airport together to save costs.

This morning we walked down to the local flea markets to buy last minute gifts and souvenirs. We made this old ladies day when we bought a few things off her. She was almost in tears. Mum had bought her Rabbitoh's hat with her and always said she was going to give it away to a child. So I asked this lady if she had a young child at home and when she said yes, mum gave her the hat. She was thrilled. We continued on and bought a few more things, including a giant beaded lizard to hang on the wall and then went back to our lady to buy a few more things. She really was in heaven by the end. It is only a little cash to us, but to her it is probably food for a week. You just don't know.

We popped over to the shopping centre before back to the hostel for a shower, final re-pack and trip to the airport. Flight should be called very shortly so time to sign off from Africa. Hope you have enjoyed our stories and photos and hopefully it has enticed you to want to visit Africa too!!