Trip Report - Johannesburg and Zimbabwe - Page 2

Alter Ego · ‎03-12-2010

When you leave the museum, you are greeted with sayings by Mandela and you are requested to take a colored stick that corresponds with a quote you felt was particularly moving to you.

Alter Ego · ‎03-12-2010

Sorry - need to stop for the night. I hoped to finish - at least with day one! - but I have an early pickup for my flight tomorrow and is taking a bit longer to put together 🙁. I should have Wi-Fi tomorrow to finish up Joburg and start on Victoria Falls.

Hope everyone enjoyed. Appreciate the comments that I did see!

JudyL · ‎07-11-2010

I've been to this museum. Its very moving.

JudyL · ‎07-11-2010

Give my love to Zimbabwe when you get there. Left part of myself in that country.

Zernia Rose · ‎04-16-2011

Alter Ego, thank you for sharing this aspect of being in South Africa! I left a part of my heart there in the 1990s. I occasionally pick up a basket that I bought, smell it, and remember my time there.

Alter Ego · ‎03-12-2010

Other items from my city tour:

Mandela’s house

Hector Pieterson Museum

His story courtesy of Wikipedia

The government ended up putting an arrest warrant out for the boy carrying Hector. They thought that it was an act of aggression and that he was making them look bad by showcasing their atrocities. He ran away and, after a few months, was never seen or heard from again. In reality, it is simply the custom to not allow anyone to be trampled - they would be disowned.

On June 16, everyone is supposed to dress in school uniforms to honor the day.

Soweto Towers - has anyone ever bungee jumped?

Alter Ego · ‎03-12-2010

A few odds and ends photos

That last photo is taken at a taxi stand. In many countries, they don’t have big buses, but rather vans that stop and take you. Those hand signs signify where you want to go so the van will stop if they are going there.

Alter Ego · ‎03-12-2010

On my 2nd day in Johannesburg, I went to the Cradle of Humankind Museum and Sterkfontein Cave.

This is a 60-90 minute drive outside the city (my tour guide drove fast! Ha) It was a nice drive because you passed some of the outer areas of Joburg- got to see the new construction homes being built and many many malls.

The Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site is one of eight in the country. It's the world's richest hominin site, home to around 40% of the world's human ancestor fossils.

We we first went to the Maropeng Visitors Center

I really enjoyed the museum. Went through what it takes for creation - including a boat ride through the elements. Had many exhibits, including what it means to be human. The ability to walk on two legs. Ability to communicate via speech. Etc. I just really irked it.

Also had an exhibition that talked out a new species that was discovered in 2013 - homo naledi.

Maropeng means “returning to the place of origin”

I then went to the Sterkfontein Caves.

From wikipedia,

Sterkfontein alone has produced more than a third of early hominid fossils ever found prior to 2010.The Dinaledi Chamber contains over 1500 H. naledi fossils, the most extensive discovery of a single hominid species ever found in Africa.

The Sterkfontein Caves were the site of the discovery of a 2.3-million-year-old fossil Australopithecus africanus (nicknamed "Mrs. Ples"), found in 1947 by Robert Broom and John T. Robinson.

This is the Mrs. Ples site:

Various photos from the cave.

Watch your head!!

Can you see the elephant?

I was very happy with my day. Maybe it was due to Indiana Jones, but I used to be very interested in archeology. I had forgotten how much I used to like it!!

Alter Ego · ‎03-12-2010

A few random photos from the day

Very relevant words of advice!! Really, for anywhere in the world.

Holiday decorations in the mall:

My final photo from Johannesburg. When I was in Australia last year, I fell in love with the jacaranda tree. Note to self - always try to be in the Southern Hemisphere in November!!