Durban - This I can’t believe, said Berlina Mokone as she settled into her window seat on flight JE247 on a bright winter’s morning. It was her 50th birthday and her gift from our family was a 24-hour trip to Durban.
South Africa has so much to offer, yet sadly many who live in it do not get the opportunity to see beyond their home area. As someone who has been privileged to travel, I had the chance to witness a novice’s delight at each new “This I can’t believe” moment.
When told a few days before departure of the need to pack an overnight bag Berlina said she could not sleep for excitement, not only at the thought of the beach and the sea but that she would get to fly and stay in a hotel for the first time.
At OR Tambo, as she held her boarding pass aloft, she recalled how, as a schoolgirl, she’d been taken on a tour of the old Jan Smuts Airport where she viewed planes from the observation deck, never dreaming that one day she would realise the dream to be on one herself.
She admitted she had been a bit apprehensive, but was determined not to let it show and once she was settled on the plane she was fine.
She gazed out of the window, thrilled to be airborne pointing out solar panels gleaming on roofs and cars on the highway until city sprawl give way to brown country intersected by the winding Vaal River, smoking power stations and the Drakensberg in the distance.
The Durban flight is short and soon we heard the captain’s announcement of 10 minutes to landing and enjoyed the descent over green sugar cane hills in sight of the coast as we swooped in to King Shaka Airport.
One can take a taxi or shuttle from the airport but a rental car gave me the option to show Berlina around a bit.
I’d booked the cheapest category but was delighted to be upgraded (from a Polo/Picanto or similar) to a Nissan X Trail with the instruction from staff at Europcar that “the ladies” must “enjoy the ride”.
We set off to UShaka Marine World making it in time to watch the popular dolphin show before wandering through Sea World. Berlina enjoyed the tropical fish (including a “Finding Nemo” tank), delicate seahorses, jellyfish and luminous coral, shore fish, sharks and rays and posed by a huge black Musselcracker because it is, apparently, also 50 years old.
Then it was time to head to the Golden Mile to check in at the Southern Sun Elangeni where we were to stay the night courtesy of Tsogo Sun Hotels. We were allocated a double room and after another “This I can’t believe” as she took in the room and view from 16 floors up, she changed into her bathing costume to head down to the beach.
The crisp air and incoming tide did not stop her posing for photos to show friends who had been calling all morning to congratulate her on her birthday and get an update on the trip. We strolled to North Beach, taking in fishermen packed on the pier, elaborate sand sculptures and surfers catching waves before heading back to the hotel to freshen up for a birthday supper.
But, after a long hot bath and donning the hotel gown Berlina lay back on her comfy bed and said she’d prefer to eat in and watch TV. Later she was to tell me she felt special at that moment, in a lovely room reflecting on a happy day.
I set off to find her chosen fish and chips and by 9pm she was fast asleep while I read for a while. We were woken to the sunrise over the sea and the prospect of the hotel breakfast buffet spread – which elicited another “This I can’t believe” at the range of food.
After we’d checked out we made our way slowly back to the airport with a stop at Moses Mabhida Stadium to ride the skycar up the stadium arch to the viewing platform for stunning views of the city and beach.
There was time for a final stop in Umhlanga where Berlina rolled up her jeans and waded in the shallow water collecting fragments of shells to make into earrings and filled bottles with sea water to take home. She told me such water is sold in Pretoria’s Marabastad but to collect it oneself is so much better.
The return flight brought new delights as there were fluffy clouds in the sky and the realisation that what had been packed into 24 hours would live in her memory for ever.
“This was something in my life I will never forget,” she said, her thanks effusive as we headed home.
“To go on a trip and see new things, that made me feel special… and when you see the sea, you leave your stress behind,” she said.
When we hatched the big birthday plan months ago, I could not have imagined the impact it would have, nor that showing someone else a slice of our country could bring me such pleasure too.
This is a trip South Africans should take and if you can help make it happen for someone else, I recommend you do so.
Valerie Boje, Pretoria News