When you're traveling for an extended period, every once in a while you end up with a few extra days in between your planned stops. They're often hard to fill because you think you've planned to see all the famous highlights. These used to be a struggle for Mom and I to find a way to fill, but over time, we've found that our random trips can be some of the hidden gems.
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During our trip to South Africa, we ended up with a few days between when we were in Durban (city on the east coast) and Johannesburg (the capital). Originally, we had just planned to fly between the two, but then we heard about an area called the "Midland Meander." Once we heard that it was a haven for shopping, we were in!
Now we still had our trepidations, mainly driving on the "wrong side" of the road and what if we get lost?
But we went for it, rented a car in Durban, and set off on our meandering drive back towards Johannesburg. We took about 2 1/2 days for our journey, but you could spend a little more or less time depending on how fast you want to move!
One thing we never realized when planning our journey is that they were currently celebrating 100 years of the Midland Meander - so, there were great new maps, signs, and more around to help us along our way!
Day 1- Half Day of Hiking/Driving to the Meander:
We left Durban after breakfast to head for the Meander. But me, the navigator, not knowing what the Meander even really was at this point, sent us on a little detour to start the journey. I was looking up sights to see through the Triposo app on my iPad and found a lot of hits on the Krantzkloof Nature Reserve. So I thought, why not? We like hiking, let's check it out for a little stop along the way.
Hiking in the Krantzkloof Nature Reserve is definitely not something for anyone with a fear of heights - the trail went right along the edge of the gorge, sometimes leaving a mere inches between you and a drop-off. But, it did leave for some uninhibited, stunning views! The plus, this can be an easy one to two hour hiking stop if you're looking for a chance to get out of the car and stretch your legs!
Next, we headed for our first hotel - the Protea Hotel in Hilton. It's a charming little complex with tudor lines, but if you're in the winter season, be prepared with a sweatshirt (as the heating in this place could use a little update). It was comfortable for the night, but I'd opt for one of the charming Guesthouses if we could do it again.
After taking a rest at the hotel, we headed for Howick Falls to take a look around. We arrived there just as the sun was setting, making a gorgeous backdrop behind the rolling hills. Since we arrived as the evening was winding to a close, most of the shops were already closed. But I could just imagine that during the day, this would be a great place to eat and shop.
Day 2 - Truly On the Meander:
Leaving out of Hilton, we were on the southeast end of the Meander. We started by heading along what is considered Route 2 (Pink Route). Not far off the interstate, the road changed from some nice, smooth asphalt to gravel roads. Our little rental car made it through just fine, but at first I was a bit worried.
Our first stop of the day was at Groundcover Leather Company. This set the standards for our day, high, very high. Entering the store, the smell of fresh leather surrounds you, the warmth of the cedar walls, covered in their handmade leather goods makes for a one of a time experience. They literally have every weather good that you could imagine - from cowhide rugs to belts to shoes and boots to purses and bags. They even have pillows, ottomans, and more for your home. We left we our arms piled high with goods!
Next, we stopped for breakfast and coffee at Terbodore Coffee Roasters. Though it was packed, we squeezed in at a bar for a breakfast muffins and possibly the most amazing coffee that I have ever had! On a cold, dreary morning, this was just the thing to perk us up for our day's adventures.
We spent our afternoon at the Piggily Wiggly complex. There's a restaurant, variety of stores, and even a center playground if you're traveling with kids. If you need a break from driving, it's the perfect way to spend the afternoon. My favorite store by far was the Zulu-Lulu Art House. It offers a mixture of canvases, watercolor, pottery, and even an area where you can make your own!
And finally, we rounded off our evening by staying at Granny Mouse's Country House. One word describes it perfectly - adorable! They have small cabins, with their own fireplaces and balcony, decorated to perfection. They have a charming main house, with two styles of restaurants, for whatever you desires.
Day 3 - A Little More Shopping and Heading for J-Berg:
We left Granny Mouse's Country House on Route 4 (Green Route), heading south / west.
Our first stop of the day was at Tsonga - which is a leather store for shoes and purses. We thought that we wouldn't buy anything because we'd already fallen in love with so much at the first leather store. But boy, were we wrong! Their purse designs are absolutely stunning - there logo is a cute little elephant, which comes adorned on all the purses.
Next, we headed to Culamoya Chimes - which was an unexpected delight. I wouldn't consider myself a huge fan of wind chimes, but learning about them from the cute older couple and hearing their story, made me feel the magic. After winding up the drive, we just saw what looked like a normal house with garage doors wide open. Inside, we could see a young man cutting metal pipes to make the wind chimes. Around the corner is their shop, which is full to the brim with chimes! There are a variety of sizes which play different tunes, so you can find one to squeeze into your decor.
Then we doubled back on our route, past the Piggly Wiggly to the Mandela Monument and The Capture Site. Though there was a lot of construction going on to open the new museum in honor of Nelson Mandela, we were able to view one of the most unique sculptures that I have ever seen - iron rods driven into the ground and carved to make a silhouette of Mandela's face. If you're in the region, this one definitely needs to go on the "must-stop" list.
After our wonderful morning of exploring and shopping, we headed back for the highway and off towards Johannesburg. This was our longest driving day, but we didn't want to waste time doubling back to take a plane. Plus, we were already part of the way there!
