Welcome to Weenan - population 100 people - plus me and a big spider in my room. Apparently it's a rain spider and they are desperate for rain so it being indoors is a good sign but it being high on the walls is not. If it starts to climb down rain is coming! And I'm a running :)
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Imagine being in an IMAX theatre and the volume is on high thundering across the room. That's the sound of an angry crocodile that gets tapped on the head with a stick. Who even knew they roared? They also have a very intimidating vibrating throat to match. Very happy to be on the outside of that enclosure! We went to a Zulu Village experience with a bonus reptile farm. Be relieved to know that our most dangerous creature in Bda is the flying cockaroach as opposed to all the snakes we got to see fortunately behind a glass wall. Deon and his uncle went looking for pythons the other day and all seemed very disappointed to return with no sightings. Shame they say here when things don't quite go your way!
We also took in another form of culture at the "fish market" with goats heads (still covered in fur and eyeballs in place), pigs feet, some unidentified stomachs hanging there for sale. I can't imagine what delicacy they get whipped up in. The smell was so overpowering of I don't know what. I couldn't escape fast enough.
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We have driven up to Weenen today so plan to spend the next week here. Had a brief sightseeing drive around tonight which has left me relatively speechless and may take me a day or so to process the remoteness and cultural disparaties of life in a rural community. It is going to be an eye opening adventure of life in South Africa - something I never experienced on my trip with Chrissy as a tourist staying in "on the beaten track" places - an exciting adventure to come.
We are planning some hikes in the game reserve and Drakensburg Mtns, a trip through Sani Pass on the way to Lesotho, a game drive and zip cording through the bush. We've already seen giraffe, ostrich and a massive rhino and baby on the drive up today.
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The dogs are going bollistic outside. The house is all gated in. Feels safe to be inside of the night-time of rural South Africa. Phew they've stopped now. Deon's parents dog is reknowned in the community as the dog's dad killed an intruder in his owners home so I believe I am in safe hands with him on guard.
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Looking forward to tomorrow's adventure of experiencing rural and off the beaten track South Africa!
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