Isandlwana Who would have thought that beneath the shadow of a Sphinx like mountain in Zululand, and before the massacre, it would leave so long a shadow over British Imperial history? Who would have thought that the redcoats that stood, and died here are still regarded by the Zulu as the bravest of the brave? Who would have thought that 1770 men could possibly defend themselves against another army of 40 000 warriors? Who would have thought that the shameless p...

Here is a place that is central to South Africa's historic battlefields. This is an area where the course of nations was decided. Where much blood was spilt and brave men died. Places where greed and contempt and incompetence seemed to have won out; seemingly riding roughshod over bravery, discipline, honour and courage. Here is this region, monumental battles took place that caused shockwaves and changed the landscape of nations. The British, the Afrikaans and ...

Barberton is the pace of Doc and Peekay. Where millions of people read "Absoloodle!" for the first time. This is the place where Bryce Courtenay's The Power of One was based. It was everything I imagined it was. I thought I even saw the ghost of a young Peekay sitting a rock when Doc took his photo for the first time. Absoloodle! And like the book, Barberton is one of the gateways to the Royal Kingdom of Swaziland. The tiny landlocked country in a sea...

God's Window and the Canyon Jo'burg sits high up on plateau of South Africa's interior. Because of its location and the surrounding region's topography, it has bone dry winters. There is not a sniff of moisture in the air. Humidity here must be about nil! As winter drags on, the ground steadily gets harder, drier, dustier and brown. The colours just seem to be bleached out of the world around you. The fact that smoke and ash for innumerable coal fires never see...

Jozi, Jo'burg, the City of Gold Flying into Jo'burg was a little shock to the system! When we left Entebbe at 0730 it was already 25 degrees. Landing in Jo'burg a good few hours later, and the temperature was nothing above 15 degrees! It doesn't sound like much, but when you have been living in near constant temperatures and high humidity, the cold of a South African Highveld winter is pretty hard to bear. Jerseys, fleeces, windbreakers and beanies to the fore!...