Holidays seem to awaken our spirit of adventure. However, unlike our pioneering Voortrekker stock, SatNav and GPS are now used to help us when it comes to planning a route. (My wife, Carolyn, believes that we are losing our in-built directional ability as a result).
But GPS men don't have ask for directions anymore. No, we can get lost electronically. On a recent trip to Sabie I put this theory to the test. I programmed all the co-ordinates into the device and pushed "Go" as we set off.
Rule number one: Check that the co-ordinates you have used are the correct ones.
Rule number two: Make sure that the voice on your GPS is as calm as possible. This is important on a long trip, otherwise at some point you might want to throw the device out of the window.
Our route was a simple one as we only going as far as Hazyview, but I was going to rely on technology to get me there.
Rule number three: There is no shame in having to use the "alternative route" facility that GPS products come with.
All went well until the GPS, in a very calm voice said "Make a U turn when possible". Against our the better judgment, I did so
Rule number four: Remember rule number three.
I knew we would not be travelling on any dirt roads as that function had been built into our route, so we took the scenic route via Orighstad and a potholed road until the GPS said, "In three hundred metres you will have reached your destination."
We were at the exact co-ordinates I had programmed at a T-junction 120kms away from Hazyview.
Rule number five: Remember rule number two?
So it took us a little longer to get to our destination, but we did discover some interesting places along the way. We eventually reached our destination - despite the scenic drive.
The following morning we decided to see where else our GPS would take us.
First on our route was a visit to the Hazyview Elephant Sanctuary.
Here I "bumped into" Casper, a 22-year-old male that I first encountered at the Elephant Sanctuary near Hartebeespoort Dam a few years ago. At that time he was giving the owner a little "testosterone" trouble because of the females at that venue.
Now, together with his new buddy Kitso he has settled down and become a changed elephant.
Although three metres at the shoulder, this gentle giant is able to glide through the forest so quietly that it is easy to see where his name came from.
The tour of the facility and the insight into the elephants and their behaviours was well handled by our guide and the assistants, which enhanced our experience there.
We rounded of our stay with an elephant back ride through the sanctuary.
Rule number six: You cannot ride an elephant bareback if you are wearing shorts. Well, you can, but then you will have to bear the scrapes and scars for a while.
Going uphill on an elephant is easy and very gentle; coming down is the exact opposite. There are no shocks so you absorb your downward plunge, and your rear tends to take a pounding. Shaken and not stirred we made it back to the deck and spent some time drinking tea and eating delicious banana bread and chatting to our guide.
Well worth the visit.
Our GPS then took us to Sabie, which has grown a lot since we were last there, and then on to Graskop where we tucked into some savoury pancakes at Harry's - a well-known institution there.
A must visit is the Africa Silks showrooms just off the main street. The silk duvet that we bought has become a permanent fixture on our bed. The staff were knowledgeable and a pleasure to deal with.
The main street of Graskop is lined with curio stores of varying quality.
We found a great walking stick and were able to talk to the carver who had made it.
Close to Graskop on the Bosbokrand Road is a silkworm farm well worth a visit. Because the local Zebra silkworms only spin one cocoon a year, the farm uses hybrid worms which provide multiple spinnings each year.
The cocoons are processed on the farm and the silk is turned into a variety of products, from duvets to fashion garments.
The mopani worm silk is also used to make table runners and decorative cloths as it is rougher than the fine silk that the other worms provide. (Do you know that if you unravel a cocoon in one piece you get 1.3km of silk thread?)
The GPS had proved that if you programme it correctly you will get to your destination.
However, if you trust your instincts and are prepared to take the road less travelled, you will discover how wonderful our country and its people are.
Getting there
- Elephant Sanctuary, Hazyview:
- Africa Silks
Louis Trichardt Str
013 767 1665