You know what they say about looking forward to something to keep you sane at work.
Well, from 24th November to 19th December, I'm going to spend 3 glorious weeks in South Africa. Yes, Nelson Mandela land. Where the hypnotic Afrikaans murmur of drumbeats juxtapose the sinister backdrop of Blood Diamonds and the last vestiges of Apartheid. The place has been described as offering the whole world in just one country. And really, from the cliched advertisements of tourists on Safari, there is more than meets the eye.
However, lest you think I am actually going to pay for my passage to the Cape of Good Hope, its an all-expenses paid-for 'training vacation', with the good people down at Outward Bound South Africa.
They call it, The 21-day Classic Challenge.
OBS S.A's national base camp is situated at Willow Point, right on the edge of the great Swartvei Lake not far from the little town of Sedgefield. From what my predecessors tell me, you fly into CapeTown, hop onto internal wings for George, and then travel by bus to Sedgefield. The whole region is the centre of the Garden Route, a scenic coastal drive along South Africa's N2 highway, much like the Great Ocean Road downunder.
Sandwiched between the mighty Outeniqua mountain range and the Indian Ocean, I am sure Trekking, Abseiling, Rock-Climbing, Kayaking, Rope Courses and Sailing will be enjoyed in the balmy Mediterranean-like climate. And we're supposed to scale a peak too I hear. Just smashing!
Like all Outward Bound courses here or abroad, the organization's mission is to lead you on a path of self-discovery. And the 21-day Classic Challenge just pushes you over the edge so you know where your limits are, as far as mental and physical endurance go.
I'll check back here for more updates on the Trip Prep. In the meantime, someone tell me how I can get Internet access in the African Bush.
Labels: Adventure, Places