24 January 2009    to      28 January 2009

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Nothing like a few days away from Joburg! Again we spent my birthday camping at Merry Pebbles in Sabie. The three full days that we spent there, the weather was good as the rain only came in on the last day when we left. As usual at this time of the year, the place was virtually deserted, and we could get our favorite spot again.

One of our favorite places at Merry Pebbles is the hot pool. Situated in idyllic surroundings, we came here often alone in the late evening before retiring.

Two of the three days we spent relaxing and reading.

Our last full day was spent visiting the Lowveld National Botanical Garden. I can still remember the place back from 79 when I worked in Nelspruit. We often visited it those days and swam in the pools before realizing that the Crocodile river actually contains the dreaded Bilhazia disease. Fortunately we never picked it up. These days the garden is one of the best in the country having been extensively extended and upgraded.

Many walkways have been built that give the visitor great views of the waterfalls.

With the wet summer so far, the rivers and waterfalls were flowing strongly.

A new suspension bridge has been built over the Crocodile river.

Extensive boardwalks run through the vegetation and forests allowing one a unique view of the area.

The botanical garden contains about 750 of the 1000 tree species found in South Africa.

It was an incredibly hot day in Nelspruit. Here we are enjoying a cool-drink at the botanical garden restaurant.

At the visitor center at the entrance to the gardens one finds a rather unique water feature. The green stones are hand carved out the semi-precious stone Verdite. Verdite is the oldest known rock in the world and in South Africa is only found in the province of Mpumalanga.

The next day when we left it was pouring. We had to dismantle the tent and gazebo in the pouring rain. It rained all the way back to Johannesburg.