Lesotho: petroglyphs and mountain passes, Andrea, a lawyer on Sunday morning we strolled idly in a hotel waiting for the bus, which was to take us to the camp Sani Lodge. At the place we got to 7 pm, but it turned out that the number is reserved for us was not, and this despite the fact that several times I wrote them an email, and my companion, Paul rechecked the presence of armor on the phone, it was very nice on her part. But I am absolutely not worried, just shrugged and said she would sleep in a sleeping bag on the sofa, if there will be no empty seats. After some time, the number finally found what we were very happy. Rock paintings of deer Unfortunately, the weather deteriorated, began a heavy rain, so I deferred a decision about our journey the next day. Come Monday, and I started just mad from inactivity, so it was decided, despite the rain, go look at the cave paintings of Bushmen. I also thought about the fact that the next day to begin a three-day hike in Lesotho. So six of us headed to our guide Dane went to view the petroglyphs. Rain did not stop all day, and when we climbed the hill, all felt the cold wind that blew over us on all sides. Our guide Dane and the wall with drawings of the road no one paid much attention to the rain, but when we make a halt and a snack, we will instantly chilled. But the interest in illustrations Bushmen are still superior to the desire to keep warm. It was very interesting to look at the drawings, which are hundreds of years ago, local shamans created by entering into a trance state. Unfortunately, the Bushmen have long since left this place, so that very few could explain the true meaning of these images. By the time we returned to the hotel, everything is already wet to the skin, so take a hot shower, we sat around the campfire and enjoying the warmth of the fireplace. Nobody paid attention to the disorder, which was formed in the room due to the fact that we had to hang around the room thing, we wanted to get dressed in the morning in the dry. The ancient artist was not too lazy "to draw" a herd Once I get wet and cold, my desire to make a three-day hiking trip to Lesotho was extinguished once and for all. Usually I get excited at the thought of what could go camping, and does not scare me no heating, electricity, running water or even warm clothes, because my parents took them home, while I was in Malaysia. But this time, no enthusiasm was not. At that moment I felt like a bit of warmth and comfort. I would still able to endure one night, but the idea that soak and freeze will have two whole nights, I was not attracted to, so I decided not to make long journeys, and go to the one-day trip to Lesotho to pass Sani. Image hunters the next day we boarded the jeep with our guide Matthew. The weather improved slightly. The clouds were higher, and the rain finally stopped. Sani Pass is known for the fact that it passes through the high mountains of South Africa and, thus, is the highest mountain pass in the country. Move through the pass is only possible on SUVs. And that convinced immediately, as soon as you notice the state of the road. I can say with full confidence that it was the worst road that I've ever had to move, and I did not dare to drive at this track. We stopped at the crossing and our passports stamped on the border of South Africa, although the border post to Lesotho was another eight miles, and faster than one hour, a distance of just "killed" the road not overcome. We gradually climbed up a mountain and enjoying the wonderful views of the valley, every now and then is revealed to us. But soon we drove into the fog, and after a while it began to snow! Matthew stopped the car and we jumped into the road and began to throw snowballs view of the valley from the pass Sani When we finally got to the checkpoint, Lesotho, visibility was 10 meters, not more. We put the appropriate stamp in the passport, we crossed the border and continued to move forward. Just a few hundred meters weather has changed beyond recognition: the sky is completely cleared, and the beginning of the sun shines. We drove into town and stopped at a special pen for sheep shearing. In Lesotho, King identifies the boys land on which they feed their flocks of sheep, at first for someone from the senior, after a while they themselves there own herd. I understand that in Lesotho is really no one owns the land, it belongs to everyone here and it did not belong to anyone. We carried out in a hut, where six men sheared the sheep, another two fingered wool, and one woman kept accounts. (Incidentally, the women here receive a better education because they have a longer opportunity to learn.) The whole process of cutting was held by hand, and the scissors used for cutting, much like gardening. We were told that nearly all the wool exported to China. Then we were asked by the sheep to try to mow, but I refused Mountain valley Soon, we continued our way, delving deeper into the valley where it was decided to make camp and eat. We chose a site overlooking the magnificent views of the mountains surrounding us. Lesotho has one of the first places in the world by height of the lowest points of the territory. Bolivia still could compete for the title, if not the pampas. After lunch, we climbed the nearest hill to look at the mountain Taba Ntlenna, the highest point in Africa south of Kilimanjaro. Once we returned to the village, we were invited to rondavel, local shelter, where we waited for the bread, cooked according to local recipes. This bread is baked by placing the pot in which all sides obkladyvayut hot coals. We were also lucky enough to try the local beer, which was a milky color, and absolutely no different taste. I thought he was some sort of metallic taste. Before you go down the Sani Pass, we stopped at a pub "Sani Top." Here I was able to buy and send postcards with views of this wonderful country. Oddly, sales were only South African cards, but I was assured that they will be from Lesotho, and they will stand the local postmark. I'd like to believe that they did reach the addressee. On Wednesday morning we woke up early, and we were taken to the next point of our journey. For me it was the city of Pietermaritzburg, from which I was hoping to get into the Northern Drakensberg, the highest part of the Drakensberg Mountains. See also: In Search of Ancient Art Somali pirates above the Arctic Circle, Costa Rica - a paradise for adventurers, India, Sri Lanka - the place of paradise, the problems of the earth
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