A group of UIAD English students went on a 12-day trip to South Africa in February/March 2025 on the first of three South Africa trips planned for UIAD English students.
We travelled many miles and experienced many wonderful sights and sounds.
Several students presented the trip in their English class.
Others are presenting their own special moment here, on the blog. Wildlife appears often, of course, but not only…
Melanie Brumberg
We appeared
in the Zululand Observer, a local newspaper!
Christine Barbetta
I chose
this photo which represents for me a strong and intense moment. The first
contact with the history of South Africa: the visit of the Apartheid Museum. It
is an emotional visit. This photo represents the essentials of the tragic human
history of South Africa.
Unfortunately,
i think that I couldn’t make the most of the photos, explanations and films of
this magnificent museum due to the long
night spent on the plane.
Minouche Jonqueres
The South
African national flower: the Protea, seen at Kirstenbosch in Cape Town.
Aline Vincent
BONKÉ, a
22-year-old African who works for the company ‘Fannas Hippo&Croc tours’
that took us by boat on the ST LUCIA estuary in ISIMANGALISO WETLAND PARK.
He was very
interested in improving his pronunciation of French words to become the best
guide for the French tourists! So, for a few minutes, I was a bit of a French
teacher!!
A friendly
and unusual moment of sharing in the splendid South African countryside!
Elisabeth Allix
The photo I
have chosen is of The Cape of Good Hope.
In 2007 I was in Patagonia in Ushia near CAPE HORN at the extreme southern tip of the American continent, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and last Thursday I was at the extreme southern tip of the African ocean between the Atlantic and Indian Ocean.
Both times I really felt I was at the end of the world.
So I have seen the two southern ends of the Atlantic Ocean . It was both strange and exciting.
I’ll
remember from this wonderful journey, of course lots of wild animals, beautiful
landscapes, but also warm smiles and kindness from all the people we met and,
in particular, Nelly a top-of-the-top guide.
Helene Minier
This photo
was taken in the HLUHLUWE-UMFOLOZI Reserve.
It's one of
the oldest animal reserves of South Africa and has existed since 1895.
We went on
a safari in the afternoon and the light was so beautiful. As far as the eyes
can see, we can admire the green, beautiful landscape. In this reserve, we saw
one of the "big five" animals: the white rhinoceros.
Katja Bonnefous
It's not my
best photo but it was an important moment.
The photo
is blurry, I took it behind the windscreen of the jeep.
When we
were in the Kruger Park, an elephant crossed the track in front of us. The
ranger stopped the car and then stopped the engine. He asked us to be silent so
as not to be charged by the elephant! After several seconds, the elephant
continued on his way. I think he did not pay attention to us!
Christiane Glass
The
Foreshore Freeway Bridge, also known as Cape Town's Unfinished Bridge, is an
incomplete section of what was intended to be the Eastern Boulevard Highway.
In 1977, the construction was halted without much explanation. The one side of the bridge has since been transformed into a public parking space, but the other side remains empty and unused.
The
semi-built structure has fascinated the public for half a century, being the
site of Hollywood blockbusters and high fashion photoshoots owing to its scenic
location and post-apocalyptic look.
Michele Chauviere
We saw a Stapelia Gigantea, near the Voortrekker Monument in the region of Pretoria. It is a very strange plant, a species in the genus Stapelia of the family Apocynaceae. Its common name is Zulu Giant. The plant is native to the desert regions of South Africa and Tanzania.
They bloom
in autumn, when the daylight hours become shorter.
Near the Cape of Good Hope, we saw the lovely African penguin, one of four species in the genus Spheniscus. It is confined to the regions of South Africa and Namibia. Its population is steadily declining.
But it is
not really a penguin, it is an auk. During evolution, auks (penguins) became
good at swimming. Then, they lost their ability to fly. Penguins can still fly, although it requires
a lot of energy.
Aurélie Callier
My first photo is of the very angry elephant chasing our vehicle, in
the Kruger Park.
My second
is of a strange butterfly (its name: Actias luna) discovered during a nighttime outing in the
grounds of our magnificent
accommodation.
Monique Derouard
I
discovered South Africa in the best conditions as we had a very nice group, a
very good guide, Nelly, who was always concerned about our safety, good
drivers, and we learned a lot of things about this big, miscellaneous country,
with breathtaking landscapes.
The
Apartheid Museum was very impressive, and sometimes troubling to see. The safaris
were fantastic: the big five were almost all there, except the lions....a big
moment was when the elephant charged our car!
We met very
nice people: rangers , musicians, dancers, singers...the singers of the
Zululand University made me cry!
I also
appreciated the visit of Cape Town, Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope,
which I visited 19 years ago!
And at the
end, a very peaceful visit of Kirstenbosch, the Botanical Garden, before going
to the airport. Thank you George!
I'm already
jealous of the next group…
Dominique
Mahaut
I chose
this photo; it is not perhaps my best, but it is my favorite; you can see a
male elephant wandering in the savannah; now he is old and useless, so all he
can do is wait for death, sad and alone.
Sylvie With
A country rich in history with colonization, Apartheid, Nelson Mandela. With colorful cultures and traditions and with varied landscapes between the cities, the countryside, the coasts, the Cape of Good Hope where two oceans meet.
A country
that questions where townships and beautiful houses stand side by side.
And, of
course, the reserves where many animals made our eyes shine.
A fabulous
trip organized. My suitcases are already packed for a new adventure, Melanie!
Martine Fontes
The
southernmost city of the African continent, just by its name, the Cape
Peninsula makes you dream, with Table Mountain to the north and to the south,
the mythical Cape of Good Hope.
This photo
is of a district in Cape Town called the Bo-Kaap. It is one of the most
picturesque; there live the descendants of Malay, Indonesian and Indian slaves who came in the 17th
century, to work on the sugar cane plantations.
Michele Garcia
While we were visiting the Kruger National Park,we saw many animals. The one that touched me the most, was the baby hyena. This species has a bad reputation: it is ugly, feeds on carrion and it seems to be sneering. It’s a famous scavenger that feeds on the remains of other predators. In the movie, the Lion King, it looks mean. However, it is useful because it prevents the spread of diseases. It has an ecological role and is the most sociable of animals. How can you not be moved by the sweet gaze of this baby spotted hyena?
After
visiting Pretoria, we went to Corn and Cob, a large and beautiful property. We
were welcomed in a reconstructed Ndebele village and discovered their culture.
We were offered fresh drink and grilled caterpillars. In the photo we see one
of us who looks with astonishment and curiosity at these insects. I tasted one:
it was salty but its green colour reminded me of the box tree moth. Every year,
I have to treat my boxwood otherwise it’s completely devoured by this
caterpillar. So you can understand my mistrust.
Anne-Marie Palomares
Before
travelling to South Africa, I knew about the meaning of its nickname ‘the
Rainbow Nation’.
Now, after our complete journey inside this country, I have in my mind, in my eyes and in my heart this notion of rainbow with the different people we met, and with the landscapes and the wildlife we saw.
This bird, photographed at the Kruger Park, sums up my thoughts of the rainbow life in South Africa.
Finally, a text inspired by our trip….:
Philippe With
I have a dream
A long, long time ago, in the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion cub said:
'Your Majesty, what's wrong? I didn't see you hunting today, I didn't hear your mighty roar.'
'My proud
heir, I have had a terrible nightmare. Our ancestors wanted to tell me that our
worst enemies have arrived by sea.'
'No', replied the King Lion,.'They are weak but very clever. They sail on wooden boats and tomorrow they will navigate in the air, even though they walk on two legs. They trust in a god and they have never given up. They will rename the terrible point at the Cape of Good Hope.'
In the air, the lion cub repeated: 'Are you tired or ill, Your Majesty? We know black people and I can't wait to eat some of them.'
'Our ancestors told me that they'll take all the fields and forests for their enslaved animals, and then they'll catch black warriors to work for them. They'll find golden stones and fight among themselves, but more and more "white skins" will arrive. They'll get stronger and stronger and they'll never respect the life of animals or plants.'
'It's so frightening,' sighed the cub,. 'Will there be a little hope?'
'I didn't understand the whole message of our ancestors. They told me that in a long time Mother Nature would return to Earth and she would speak to them: I have given birth to all life, earth, water and animals, and you, animals with reason, you have poisoned all of them. You have to understand that you're not more than a part of this life. You have no choice. Respect all life or you will disappear and let's be sure that the little insect and the little plant will outlive you.'
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