2014-02 South Africa - Visit
After arriving from Frankfurt, Matt and I headed to our family's house in Centurion. We took the Gautrain for the first time, and it was easy and quick, though not cheap for the airport line. The platforms at the airport are only long enough for 2 cars of the 4 car train, so these need to be lengthened, as you can see by the number of passengers. The next station, Rhodesfield, is only about 300m away, and the other cars' doors open here - so people don't alight and walk the rest of the way (there is a freeway to cross). The cost difference is about R110 between the two stations!
Matt and I took the Gautrain from the airport to Centurion, changing at Marlboro.
On the train
You can see our Lufthansa A380 there in the background, parked for the day
Looking back at the airport
On the train
At a station
On the train. Remarkably similar to a British Class 170 Turbostar - they are both built in Derby.
On the train
In a tunnel
Still in the tunnel
Posing. By this time we'd changed trains from the Airport branch to a Johannesburg - Hatfield (Pretoria) train.
Looking out of the window
Somewhere in that estate is Uncle Myles and Auntie Christy's house.
Arrived at Centurion
Our train
Centurion station
Outside Centurion station
Gautrain busses
Outside again
The next day, we went to see the Sterkfontein Caves. Unfortunately they were closed due to flooding, but we were able to visit another cave nearby.
Entrance to the cave
Outside the cave
Going down the steps towards the miners' lift
Inside the cave
More stalagmites and stalactites
In the cave
"The Skull"
An icecream back outside
Icecream
The view
The cave is in a small game park
Lion
Cheetah
Giraffe
Lion cub
Amy stroking the lion
The lion on Mummy's shoe
Hippo
Grandparents and grandchildren
Grandpa reading a story
Then we flew down to Durban for the rest of the week.
Umhlanga
Umhlanga beachfront
Umhlanga pier
Fishing in the rockpools
On the beach
Sand sculptures
In the rock pools
In the rock pools
Amy
Matt
Crab
On the way to Inanda Dam (reservoir)
Launching Grandpa's boat
Grandpa's boat
On the water
Matt driving
Matt driving
On the water
Playground with zebras
Grandpa's pet mongeese
A drink in a local shop
Granny reading stories
At uShaka Wet and Wild
uShaka Marine World
Turtles
Stingrays
The aquarium
Grandpa and Matt
Sharks
Rays
Crabs
Mummy and the children
Whale skeleton
Greenscreen shots from uShaka
Greenscreen shots from uShaka
Greenscreen shots from uShaka
The next day it was time to fly home, report in the other blog post.
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