Living Our Sunshine with Susann Deysel
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Cradle of Humankind: Sterkfontein Caves

Crawling through caves… yeah, not something I would usually do. However these caves from part of the whole Maropeng experience – and I had to have the whole experience.

They will ask who suffers of from claustrophobia, asthma, knee or back problems. My husband and I were the only ones to raise our hands for asthma, knee and back problems *shame*. We however managed fine even with the loads of steps and places we had to crouch-walk.

The Sterkfontein Caves are famous for fossil-finds and is owned by the University of the Witwatersrand or University of Johannesburg as it is know as today). Scientists from this university are responisible for notable discoveries at the caves – including Mrs Ples.

The tours start above ground, but once inside the cave you will have a dimly lit tour.

The most spectacular part of the tour is the underwater lake with its iridescent water. Other highlights include stalactites and stalagmites.

What you need to know before you go:

  • Take a torch
  • Wear comfortable shoes
  • There are many tours throughout the day, but you can book beforehand
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Take a walk through history at Maropeng – Long March to Freedom Statues

Walk through almost 100 statues of icons from South Africa’s past at Maropeng. The Long March to Freedom public art exhibition is a must-see with its life-sized bronze statues. This exhibition was previously housed at the Fountains Valley Resort in Pretoria but thanks to an agreement with the National Heritage Project Company it found a temporary home at Maropeng.

It is rumoured to be the largest outdoor exhibition anywhere in the world – and with an estimated value of around R100-million! The statues will eventually grow into a procession of over 400 bronze statues over time.

You can walk through the loosely spaced statues and snap selfies with chiefs, missionaries and freedom fighters like Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela. The statues depict figures dating back as far as the 1700s. The details on the statues are spectacular – so pay attention.

How much does it cost to visit The Long March to Freedom exhibition:

The Long March to Freedom exhibition is absolutely free to visit currently. You can opt to visit the Maropeng exhibition while you are here – this however does have a price tag.

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Discover Gauteng: Maropeng, Cradle of Humankind

You want to visit and explore beautiful countries? Now isn’t that funny, we already live in a beautiful country rich in attractions and natural wonders.

I think I am luckier than most, I got to see and experience a lot of South Africa with my parents. Plus I grew up in the far north, made my way to Gauteng and set up home in Jozi and Durbs. I kind of have a map in my head of all the places we’ve been. I never want to stop discovering more of my country or visiting favourites like the Kruger National Park, beautiful Mpumalanga or Limpopo with it’s views of mountains, bushveld and wildness.

However, we can’t always drive to all the beautiful places far, far away – sometimes we have to look a little closer to home.

A few weekends ago we left the kids with the nanny and hubby and I did something together, on our own. I finally convinced hubby that this is one of those quick trips close to home that we need to see. I grabbed the Instax SQ20, my phone and wallet and off we went.

I didn’t quite know what to expect from Maropeng/Cradle of Humankind. I didn’t go with expectations but rather with the mindset that there might be some cool bones. This museum exhibition did not disappoint and I can say for sure that the quality of the exhibition is on par with some really great international exhibits.

I’m going to skip right past the Long Walk to Freedom statues and get back to it later… as in, in another piece next week. (I’m that evil)

The building itself is a marvel to see. It is covered in grass from the front and reminds you of a beehive. Officially the Tumulus Building resembles an ancient burial mound – but I see a beehive. As you make your way into the building you are greeted by the sound of a sunken fountain – where you can toss a coin and make wish. Then you descend into the underground where you will go on a journey of time.

Another surprise was the little gondola ride. It floats by an ice world, volcanoes and more – it was such a fun part of the museum! Then you get out and walk the rest of the journey. We had so much fun with all the interactive pieces and it was really an immersive experience that is great for kids and adults.

I’m not going to spoil it by oversharing, but what I can tell you is that I would definitely go to Maropeng again! If you have time to watch the video at the bottom of the page you can see more of the exhibition and gondola ride experience.

After the exhibit we had lunch at the entrance. It was a simple meal and not too expensive.

What it costs to Visit Maropeng / Cradle of Humankind, Long Walk to Freedom statues and Sterkfontein Caves

  • R190 per adult gets you into the museum and into the Sterkfontein Caves. You can do them separately, but it’s more cost effective to do a all-in ticket.
  • You can visit the Long Walk to Freedom statues for free as it is outside.
Quick peek at what you can expect at Maropeng
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I love the Dolphin Coast – and it’s perfect for family holidays

I love the North Coast! It is my other home. My parents brought us here after my matric year – and I’ve been back so many times since. Even crazier than that, my husband briefly went to school here and used to surf the waves down on Willards.

When we bought a place out here we never could’ve dreamt just how this place would become our little hideaway home. At first it buying a place here was so we didn’t have to check out early from a hotel then it became about bringing my cat, Genie. It also just happened to be the perfect place to wait for the births of our 2 daughters and finally now it is a place for our little family.

We feel like locals. We have our favourite spots like Burnedale, Sage and Litchi Orchard. We always eat bunnychows from the Sasol in Salt Rock, donuts from the new Checkers at Mt Richmore and go to Mica every single week we are here. We love the revamp of Ballito Lifestyle and the shiny new mall down the road. We still haven’t been to the Railroad Brewery down the road and we always say we want to visit more spots but somehow when we’re here we end up on the beach or the old familiar places.

The best thing about the Dolphin Coast… dolphin sightings duh!

What to do in Ballito and Salt Rock with kids

Sage Centre

I think I love Sage Centre a little more each time we go – even if Tsonga is no longer there. The little shops are stocked with South African made products – offering such temptations for my wallet. A huge plus of this place is the play park… that you can see from your table at Sage Cafe & Deli.

My favourite shop definitely is Willow and Ruby. Maybe I’m a little biased because they stock IY Apparel bags or maybe it’s the gorgeous jewellery…

Burnedale Farm

We visit Burnedale during every stay. This place has one major attraction for kids that we love… the donkeys! Lexa loves spending time with them and then I get snap happy.

Burnedale is also home to Natural Living, one of my favourite shops. I won’t spoil it, but it’s something between treasure island and heaven when you’re in the shop.

Another not to be missed eatery that is family friendly is Burnedale Cafe but you can also pop into another little gem for a slice of cake and coffee called The Meeting Place.

There are so much more you can do in Ballito and Salt Rock with kids…

  • Flag Animal Farm
  • Litchi Orchard… especially when they have litchi picking season
  • The Great Railroad Brewing Company / Ballito Brewing Company

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What to do in Gauteng: Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve

I grew up thinking that the Kruger Park was in our backyard – that’s how many times we went. One of my most vivid memories was seeing lions for the very first time. I remember pressing my nose flat against the window in the stationwagon to get a better view of these better cats. My parents loved going to the Kruger Park and I still do, but I can’t just pop over there… its far!

I was elated to be introduced to the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve just 2 shakes from our home. Not only do they have lions, but they also have a bunch of other cats and animals to look at.

Once you enter the park adrenaline starts pumping. Just after the gate the very first watering hole with animals, then up and down a hill a gate will be opened that keeps the predators away from the herbivores.

We didn’t get to do the animal interactions as we were at the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve for an easter egg hunt and the children were kaput! Next time we’ll do that…

When the driving gets too much you can always go to the Thatch Café for a snack or take on the bicycle ramps. You can also go to the Thatch Cafe and bike park without entering the rest of the park – which means it’s a free place to go! You can also rent bicycles here.

Get more details on www.rhinolion.co.za.

What to do with kids while in Gauteng

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Salt Rock like a local

It was a whirlwind romance with the sea that made us buy a “huisie by die see” and that irritating check out by 10am thing at the hotel. Now here we are, 5 years later…

We feel like locals. We’ve seen Ballito and Salt Rock expand, new shopping centres built, found our favourite eateries and places to spend time away from the beach – and somehow we’ve managed to get to know a few neighbours.

…and I love to tell people about the amazing places around Salt Rock/Sheffield Beach that we frequent when we are home.

Sasol Garage for a Bunny Chow

I don’t have a tolerance for Durban curry, but once per visit we will stop at the Sasol garage and get our Bunnies. I love the chicken and hubby has the lamb. The best place to eat them is on the beach (no jokes).

https://www.instagram.com/p/BY0fExlgqhQ/?tagged=sasolgaragebunny

Burnedale Farm

A little slice of farm heaven. You can have your nails done, do shopping and have a bite at Burnedale. All independent stores, all local – and I have to give a special shout-out to Find The Stoke (surf shop). Be sure to check out the pottery shop and One of a Kind.

Bonus, there are a few farm animals to look at and a play area for the kids.

Litchi Orchard

Spoiler, the food here is amazing! Get your ice cream from Scoop, lunch at Delish Sisters and coffee next door… You can also do a bit of shopping here.

They have night markets with live entertainment at the Litchi Orchard – just check their Facebook page.

In December you can get your freshly picked litchis right here.

Sage Centre

One of my favourite places… You will easily think you got lost in an upmarket Jozi suburb, because the shops at Sage Centre is just amazing. Get gifts, baked goods, décor and your Tsonga fix!

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bcr-b5fgO6F/?taken-by=sagecentre

Before the big revamp Sage was an OK place to go to, but now it really is a jewel on the North Coast.

Flag Animal Farm

This is a must-visit if you have kids. The animal farm is really neat and kids love it. Lexa wasn’t yet ready for the (barrage of) animals, but when we go down (soon again) she will be treated to a day at Flag Animal Farm.

 

Chow down

Tiffany’s Shopping Centre is our local place and here you will find a number of small eateries. My favourite is Jack Salmon. For a quick takeaway Zebro’s fish and chips is always a winner.

For some odd reason my husband loves eisbein and one of the best places to get this and a traditional German meal is at Siggi’s. They have been there for as long as I can remember and I’ve been going that side for a really long time.

Just outside Salt Rock and Ballito you will find The Great Railroad Brewing Company (8 minutes from Tiffany’s). They produce 8 types of beer and you can also get them from a number of stores in the area (and further afield).

If you venture into Ballito with the holiday crowds, go to the Ballito Lifestyle Centre. The centre had a major revamp recently and the restaurants here are to die for – don’t even get me started on The Market!

The beaches…

Salt Rock main beach is one of my favourites, but it isn’t really toddler-friendly. We are now visiting Granny’s Pool – and yes, there are always plenty of kids – this rock pool is by Siggi’s German Restaurant, you cannot miss the parking.

Sheffield Beach is OK, but not the best swimming beach if you like to really get in there – plus, no lifeguard.

We have driven up to Tinley Manor once to check out the beaches, but I can definitely say that Salt Rock is the best beach with very few rocks.

So that is it, next time you go to the Dolphin Coast check out these lovely places and let me know what you think.

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Voortrekker Monument
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A visit to the Voortrekker Monument, Pretoria

I don’t think I will ever get bored of visiting the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria. The architecture and murals absolutely fascinate me.

When you walk up the stairs and the monument peeks over the top step you start realising just how huge it is. Then you get to the Koeksuster sculpture and the whole monument just looms like a big block in the middle of a pedestal.

Standing out right in the front is the statue that pays homage to the Voortrekker women. She has children at her skirt. Her face is generic, but beautiful, you can almost see her kappie move in the wind and hear her skirt ruffle.

You make your way up the stairs and try to look at the top but half bend over too far and feel dizzy. The sun just pelts down and wraps its arms around the top. So beautiful, so strong…

…and then you walk in under the buffalo guarding the front door. You don’t expect to see white marble and a big open space in a building that stands so firm and strong. You are immediately drawn to the circle in the middle to look down at the cenotaph and then up at the skylight that will only fall on “Ons vir jou Suid-Africa” on the 16th of December.

You don’t have to be an Afrikaner to feel the goosebumps. Its enough to just be an African that loves Africa to feel proud and patriotic of this small country at the tip of Africa.

Then you just have to take the time to look at the carved marble story on the walls. The expressions so vivid. A story that tells of a people that left the relative safety of the Cape of Good Hope with ox wagons and their families in tow. There is drama, tragedy and more. It’s a story of courage, heartbreak and eventually unity.

Next you go up a floor. Here you have views over Pretoria. This is also one my favourite spots to take a photo under the arches. Sometimes you just have to wait until the other visitors are out of the way to get the perfect shot.

The most beautiful view point awaits you yet another floor up. This you can only access via stairs, but the view is spectacular! You get to stand 3 floors above the cenotaph. I don’t like heights and by the time I get up there my hands are shaking and I feel dizzy – and then I stick my hand over the barrier to take a photo. I have never actually had my head over that open circle that looks into a “deep abyss”…

Finally make your way to the floor the cenotaph is on. They usually have an exhibition, some family bibles and donated items on display. It is also worth looking at the tapestry.

Lastly visit the museum. There are so many items to look at and it is really interesting to see the old clothes and buttons, lace and more.

[Totally unrelated clue for something happening here… Globetrotter]

…and as you leave behind the monument you can read the “Die Gelofte” in one of three languages. It is a promise that is still kept by the descendants of the Voortrekkers.

…and a final view of the Voortrekker Monument…

Still not had enough of the Voortrekker Monument? Well, good news… I have another article you can read.

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Visit the Johannesburg Zoo
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When baby has a fever… and a visit to Joburg Zoo

Phew, it has been a rough few days (weeks). Lexa was running a fever… so she wasn’t a happy camper at all. She also made sure the rest of the world felt miserable. I was running up and down the stairs to keep an eye on her temperature every hour. We even took her to the doctor… and now she is using an asthma pump on top of the ear infection and fever meds she had to take.
She is all better now and back to her normal talkative self.
On the plus side, Prima Toys sent her one of these Rhino Coin Banks and she gave it a soppy kiss. BTW if you buy one a portion of the sales go towards the conservation of Rhinos – you can also donate online: https://www.givengain.com/cc/primatoys/ (I did).

So we took her to Johannesburg Zoo

We finally took Lexa to the zoo on heritage day… and she was interested in the animals but quickly got bored. Apparently the animals we not black cats scattering at the mere sight of her.
I took this awesome shot of her in front of the elephant and rhino enclosures. She will never be able to say that we didn’t take her places!
I think I was more excited to see all the cats (as I’m a cat lady) – more than anyone else. I was already half dehydrated, but I dragged hubby and the kid to each cat enclosure… Yes, I prefer seeing them in the wild as it makes me sad to see them so sad looking.

Other animals at the zoo…

There is one exhibition that really wowed me… the fish in the Amazon exhibition. The have a tank that you can walk under in a tunnel. The fish swim above and to your sides… it is amazing.

Anyway we will attempt to take her back when she is a bit older – hopefully she will appreciate the sight of a rhino more.

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Pretville, movie town
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Have you heard about a dorpie called Pretville?

Pretville, not a town you will find on a printed map… but rather a movie (set) town. It is out by Harties in North West province – so just over an hour from Jozi.

We took the drive one Saturday as my sister wanted to check it out. It was interesting, but with a baby… not so cool. The town wasn’t really built for prams or babies running around… and shade was a bit scarce. However… it was a cool outing.

The first signs you get already forewarns that this is one quirky place and once you get inside…

…and then finally you get inside and its old cars, fake facades and bright colours.

… and if you really want to you can have your meals in one of two (repro) Cadillacs.

They even have a building filled with old movie and editing equipment. It is all big reels and tables.

I think my favourite thing of the day was this silly sign!

If you are out in Harties you might as well stop here. Kids will love it and you can let them run down a main street without the danger of cars.

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Kruger National Park
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The Kruger National Park in pictures

It is no secret that I grew up in the old Transvaal that became the Northern Province…and then Limpopo. I didn’t have sea vacations as a child (well maybe 3 times), we went to the Kruger Park. We camped from Cape Town to Zambia – I didn’t know hotels existed until I left home.

This picture I took on an impromptu visit to the Kruger Park enroute from Mozambique. This picture is special because that bakkie is driven by my parents…and its not any day that a giraffe decides to cross the road between cars.

Do I have an obsession with giraffes or something? A by chance photo of a bird having a nice view from a giraffe.

This “little” guy got way too close for comfort – even though he/she didn’t seem aggressive, I don’t like to get too close.

When this happened… I was like let me pull my mouth from the floor.

I see you!

I sometimes wonder what they think when they look at us.

A bag a nuts!

Not pretty, but smart??

Stately buffaloes…

Still in my pajamas!

A feathered affair!

It is amazing just how quiet a herd of elephants can be…

Slowpokes..

Blood on the paws 🙁

It is always about the cats!

…and that’s it for this post!

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