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We were collected from the Hilton, just after 0630am and taken, along with four other early arrivers, to Johannesburg International airport to meet the remainder of the group who were arriving on the South African Airways flight from Heathrow.
The cold front was still transiting the country and albeit sunny it was cold and remained so for the rest of the day.
Everybody on board the bus our walking safari began.
We stopped at, Belfast, South Africa's highest town (1970m), and named after a farmer who originated from Northern Ireland, for supplies and the makings for a picnic lunch. The lunch was at a nice spot by a lake but due to the cold it was a relatively brief affair! As we went east to our stop for the night at Pilgrims Rest the weather became foggier and wetter. As we drove up through Long Tom pass and looked at the replica cannon Paul Kruger had used to fend off the British the fog was really down (today's picture). Our final stop was at Mac Mac falls - a large single drop falls which we could just see through the mist whilst serenaded by red winged starlings.
It was great to finally get into our really warm rooms at the Royal Hotel - you could feel the history - this was an old gold mining village and the hotel was built in 1894 to fill the need for a 'reputable accommodation house' in the expanding village. The village was clearly thriving as it had electricity before London.
All the rooms were in small cottages we were in one called ' Square Face' indeed we had a family room as there was another small room between the main bedroom and bathroom with a traditional free standing bath- which I couldn't wait to get in to!
I finally warmed up after a hot bath - we then relaxed and sorted ourselves out before dinner at 1930.
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