Week Two in South Africa

Words can't begin to describe Adventure Week. Basically everything that is on most people's bucket lists I got to do! Absolutely incredible!

Monday: The week started off at 7 a.m. with a 6 hour drive to Sedgefield. 25 of us piled into this huge truck with no air conditioning or heat with only our guide, Mackiel, to keep us entertained. We stopped to eat lunch and took a hike along the railroad tracks by the beach. We stayed at our first hostel called Afro Vibe (yes, the owner had an afro and his dog was named Vibe...if that helps explain what this hostel was like.) We had a beautiful view of the beach and got to sit around the fire for the night. 

Tuesday: In the morning we went to an ostrich farm. Some people got to ride them and others got "neck massages" which was when you held a bucket of food in front of you while the ostriches pecked around your head to eat it. After, we went to the Cango Caves where we climbed and squeezed our way through our tour of the cave. We drove to Masithandane and learned about their Community Center and made huggables which are these little pillows they give to children in their programs. That night we sat around the bonfire and introduced s'mores to Mackiel and the other South Africans. 

Standing on ostrich eggs

Wednesday: Elephants! Definitely one of my favorite things of the week. I got to lead, feed, pet, and ride an elephant. I felt like i was in Water for Elephants except not near as cool as Reese Witherspoon. Next we went to the Cat Sanctuary where I got to stand inches away from a cheetah and see one of the most dangerous animals in the wild, a leopard. We had lunch at Monkeyland then drove to our next hostel destination. When we got there we played soccer and played games with the kids from a nearby school. The children swarmed around all of us and before no time at all were singing Justin Bieber and dancing with us. Some of the little girls braided my hair and started to give me cornrows but thankfully didn't make it too far... That night we sat around another bonfire and went to bed early after an exhausting day. 

Riding Mupanse

Thursday: We started off with a safari at the Tsitsikamma Game Reserve. We saw zebras, water buffalo, springbok, ostriches, hippos, crocodile, lions, rhinos, and giraffes. It was so cool to be feet away from some of the most dangerous animals. We took an afternoon hike in a national park and then made our way to the dreaded bungee jump. Bloukrans Pass is where the highest bungee bridge in the world is located. Even the walk to the center of the bridge was terrifying. I absolutely hate heights so looking down from where we were was one of the scariest things. Jumping off that bridge was probably one of the hardest things I'll ever have to do but the experience was so worth it! Can't say it's something I would willingly do again though!

Scariest moment ever

Friday: Got up at 5 a.m. to drive 7 hours to shark cage dive in the Indian Ocean. We pulled up right when a storm was coming in but they told us we could still go so we piled into the boat and went out on the choppy ocean. I got to see 3 different sharks as big as 13 feet come inches away from the cage I was in. It was awesome to be that close to great white sharks! Not near as scary as jumping off a bridge...

Now we're back safe and sound in Cape Town and loving a clean bed and hot shower! The week was incredible and the memories I have will be ones I will never forget!