Day 4: Inkosana Lodge, Drakensberg District
September 8, 2012
Homemade bread again as a wake up call, what could be better? We’re becoming too attached to this resort like hostel to ever leave. You want a comparison to help to envision how much better Drakensberg and Inkosana Lodge are to other destinations? All of your cottages, this is WAY better… Banff, Alberta, this is WAY better… And yes, even Machu Picchu…. The mountains here are so blissful, it’s an escape from the real world and the best one yet!
Our first stop of the day was the Falcon Ridge Birds of Prey Centre. Keep in mind Inkosana does not run a shuttle service yet we’ve been driven to the grocery store, shoe store, for hikes, for pick up and to the Falcon Ridge by Edmund who is one of the best hostel owners/chefs out there! We feel completely at home here – don’t worry momma Davis and momma Reis, Edmund is taking care of us better than you would believe!
…and back to Falcon Ridge, you know how you visit the zoo or bird shows in the city and you watch these birds behind cages? NOT HERE! The two owners who run Falcon Ridge put on an amazing show in front of an amazing crowd (at least 60 people – keep in mind Drakensberg is very remote). They were hilarious even in the worst of times like when the bird below decided to misbehave and chase after the owner, he had the entire crowd in tears laughing! At the end of the show everyone was allowed to ask questions, hold the birds and EVEN cuddle them – haha. It was an amazing show!
After the show, yep… Edmund and his 3 adorable pups (check out our Facebook album on HI South Africa) came to pick us up and drop us off at our next destination – Monks Cowl Drakensberg Park. This 5 hour hike was up the mountains almost to the snowy peaks with rivers, waterfalls and spring water runoffs, which we drank right out of – crisp, cold, refreshing water!
This trip can’t really be described in words … Like all the comparisons mentioned above, Monks Cowl doesn’t compare to anything!
Absolutely 100% unfreakenbelievable.
Check out our video 45 minutes in and see for yourself! (we have a few more hilarious ones that you will have to stay tuned for).
After 5 hours of hiking and a delicious homemade meal, we’re saying our social media good nights!
Until tomorrow!
Want to see more of my South African adventure? Here’s is a wrap up of all the wonderful places I stayed with Hostelling International: A Huge Thank You
