(Amy and Russell in Melville)

Hard to believe how quickly the weeks and months seem to pass by. I’m totally happy and content with my life in Pretoria, although my day-to-day existence feels more akin to life in the suburbs as opposed to life in Africa. Granted, the major difference is my ability to travel to nearby destinations with sights and sounds unlike anything I’ve ever seen while growing up in the burbs of Prairie Village, Kansas!

(Interesting mural)

(Basking for money)

On weekends we’ve been exploring some of the interesting locales within a hundred mile radius of Pretoria. Russell and I perused the bohemian streets of Melville, a trendy neighborhood of Johannesburg boasting a variety of quirky, unique and eclectic shops. I seem to be a total sucker for vintage clothing and antique stores….guess it’s hard to escape one’s upbringing as my mom continuously exposed us to the wonders of antiquing from an early age!

(Amy, Russell and Ryan)

(Russell @ Botanical Gardens in Jo’burg)

And we’ve had the luxury of taking a few days off to explore Durban and the Midlands Meander, South Africa’s first, largest and most popular arts and crafts route in Kwa-Zulu Natal!

(Ushaka Village in Durban)

(Durban)

Nested between the city of Peitermaritzburg and the majestic uKhahlamba Drakensberg mountain range, the meander spans a distance of over 80 kms with a vibrant network of over 200 vendors of world-class crafters, restaurants and various shops.

(Russell asked the sand sculpture dude to create a little something for us)

(Sweet….)

(Lovely time in Durban)

I loved every minute of the meander, from its gorgeous rolling hills, dense forests and majestic mountains to its quaint trading posts and exquisite art. Plus, we stayed at a lovely little cottage overlooking the mountains. We built a cozy fire each night, drank red wine, and snacked on Brie and homemade fig jam. Absolutely heavenly!

(Dargle Valley Pottery)

(Russell really wants a zebra skin rug)

We spent several days in the Meander, admiring terracotta pots, eccentric galleries, and master craftsmanship while taking advantage of fine wine and locally brewed ales. We ended up spending a small fortune on hand-made leather goods, artwork, and rugs!

(Shuttleworth Weaving)

(Spinning yarn)

My favorite stop, a family run business that’s been passed on from generation to generation, Shuttleworth’s weaving! This hilltop rustic barn is where the Shuttleworth family still spins, dyes and weaves mohair into glorious throws, carpets and scarves!

(AMANDLA!)

(I loved that the monument only made ‘sense’ from a specific angle)

(One more image of this magnificent monument)

And we managed to find that healthy balance between shopping and enjoying the outdoors! We hiked a series of trails through the Howick Falls Gorge, and stopped at the base of the thundering 107-meter-high cascade!

(Howick Falls)

(Howick Falls)

We also attempted to admire Karkloof Falls, an equally stunning waterfall, but visibility was an issue as the rain and fog rolled in right when we arrived.

(Howick Falls – pre-hike)

(Red Ribbon for HIV/AIDS Awareness)

Lastly, we made a special trip to see an incredible monument to Nelson Mandela, a statue comprised of 50 steel columns to commemorate 50 years since Mandela was arrested and charged for treason! The vertical bars also represent his imprisonment.

(Dense vegetation)

(Bottom of Howick Falls)

(Amy @ Howick Falls)

The designer of the monument stated, “When you walk through the structure it radiates like a burst of light, which symbolizes the political uprising of many people and of solidarity.” He said the sculpture showed the irony of the apartheid government trying to stop the struggle. “But it had the opposite effect as it helped to grow and galvanize the movement.”

(Closer to the falls)

(Howick Falls)

What I found most fascinating about the monument….from a distance, it looked like nothing – a series of metal bars looming into the air. It was only when you reached the distance of approximately 35 meters when the portrait came into focus. Truly magical…

(Karkloof Falls)

(Midlands Meander – Russell showing off his new Nguni skin boots)

Back on the home front, I’ve finally launched Pretoria’s Photography Club! Basically, it’s a social gathering where we meet once a month, drink copious amounts of wine, and view a slide show of images pertaining to that month’s theme. It’s a great way to build a sense of community and to socialize with people who share a common passion for photography.

(Durban – Umhlanga Rocks)

(Lighthouse)

We arranged our very first photography outing, a trip to the mining town of Cullinan (famous for the discovery of the Cullinan Diamond – the largest rough gem-quality diamond ever found). However, our interest was walking with lions.

(Beach Time)

We discovered a lovely family run business that has dedicated their lives to wildlife conservation efforts. One of these efforts is their endangered predator-breeding project.

(Walking with Lions)

(Our Guide)

Sadly, the number of lions in Africa is decreasing at an alarming rate. Currently, African lions occupy approximately 22 percent of its historic range. And despite the fact that lions are found in 27 countries throughout Africa, most populations are too small and isolated from other populations to be viable.

(Teenage cubs)

According to recent estimates, fewer than 32,000 African lions exist today, representing a decrease by at least 50 percent over the past 22 years. And if current trends and patterns continue, scientists believe that African lions will become extinct within a very short time.

(Beautiful lions)

Until very recently, conservation of the African lion was not identified as a matter of significant concern. The subspecies was considered abundant, healthy and wide-ranging. Unfortunately, most lion populations were not closely monitored and, as a consequence, their steady decline over the last few decades was overlooked. Therefore, adequate conservation measures to address the primary threats to the species—retaliatory killings resulting from human-lion conflict, habitat and prey loss, disease, and unsustainable off-take for international trade in lion and lion parts— are lacking.

(Feeding time for the older lions)

(My highlight – bottle-feeding the baby lions)

The United States is the world’s largest importer of African lion parts, for hunting trophies and for commercial purposes. However, listing the African lion as endangered would significantly benefit the iconic animal by generally prohibiting the importation to the United States of African lions and their parts, unless it serves a conservation purpose. Such a listing would be an essential step to reversing the current decline of the species. Please do your part by signing the petition to list African Lion as an endangered species: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/120/076/715/list-african-lion-as-endangered-species/

(Love this little cub)

(But it still got quite feisty 🙂

Finally, my mom and Steve are literally on their way to South Africa as I type, arriving in Johannesburg tomorrow afternoon. I am so looking forward to seeing them in person…and to showing them around this glorious country!

(Loved walking with these beautiful animals)

Sending much love to all,
Amy