Have you ever been to South Africa vol 1

Hi,

South Africa...where to start...?

(Lion and Cheetah Sanctuary, South Africa)

How did I decide to go there?

The story began when I told one of my friends about how I wanted to visit China and volunteer with pandas.
He was like: "OMG I've got a friend who just came back from Africa. He is crazy enough to volunteer with all kinds of wild animals, even with big cats. Hope you are not as crazy as him". And I was like: “Of course I am.”

I started organizing my trip immediately. He gave me the contact of the sanctuary and I arranged my arrival. However, I needed to fill up my tour with some more places to visit, three at minimum, to make it worth going so far. It also needed to fit in 3, max 4 weeks.

Easy job, my list was as follows: Johannesburg, Pretoria, Lion and Cheetah Sanctuary and Cape Town.

(Lion & Safari Park, Hartbeespoort)

Next step was to decide how long to stay in one place? Another easy task is done…

I was so excited that I almost forgot to arrange my visa. If my friend didn't mention it, I would be in big trouble as the closest embassy was in Budapest.
Thanks God I found an agency which does job for you. I paid some fee but managed to arrange it on time…

(Lion & Safari Park, Hartbeespoort)

Plane ticket...I found quite good deal, but it needed to be cashed out immediately. It didn't really fit my budget at the time, but hell and all, I'm going to Africa.

(Lion & Safari Park, Hartbeespoort)

"Ok, now I have it ALL- I am ready to pack my bags and leave."

(Franjo Tuđman Airport, Zagreb, Croatia)

The moment when the plain started taking off...woow...I was overwhelmed by a sense of incredible happiness and freedom. This is how I feel during each take-off, at every single beginning of a new journey. Time was passing quickly, even transfer in Doha that took almost 8 hours. I found a comfortable place to sleep and I slept it over completely.

Finally, Johannesburg!
My cousin, a member of my family I never met before, met me at the airport. He was supposed to be my "guide" for my next few days in Johannesburg and Pretoria. He even took a few days off to show me around. I was only worrying if we will get along? I have my own way of traveling and I actually didn't ask them to arrange a "guide" for me. I didn't need it. I wasn't traveling for the first time. Then I told myself: "ok ... it is nice of them to offer something like that. I will go with the flow". If something bothers me or it's not my way, I’ll kindly thank them and move on on my own. That was my mantra.

(family house, Pretoria)

(Sandown, Sandton, Johannesburg)

("It is against the law to smoke in a public place." - Sandown, Sandton, Johannesburg)

However, I fell in love with my cousin (family love, of course). We are so similar. He knew exactly what I wanted to see, feel, and to be a part of. He even understood my need to spend some time alone in the city. I just needed to walk around, to explore, to feel the energy of local people. I wanted to get away from the malls. Apparently, this is where "the safe zone" is, while everything else is considered “dangerous”. I was not very intimidated.

(Rosebank Mall, Johannesburg)

He really enjoyed showing me around while telling stories about the history of Joburg and Pretoria. Yes, Johannesburg is known as Joburg/Jozi, or the City of Gold, which was the main reason for his existence in 1886. While it is the largest city in South Africa and its financial capital, Pretoria is its administrative capital. Within Joburg, there are many cities within the city, called "townships". Everything is concentrated around shopping malls. Outside the circle of malls there are almost exclusively houses with big fences, nothing much to see. Walking outside the shopping mall is unimaginable. There is a big distance between anything. The city is really very wide and vast.

(Union Buildings, Pretoria)

(Voortrekker Monument, Pretoria)

One day I took a cab from Rosebank Mall to Holocaust & Genocide Centre.
Despite everyone telling me to take UBER as it should be the safest one, I chose regular taxi and negotiated the price. I met one elderly cool taxi driver who told me a little bit about himself, his life and family... Good decision, those are exactly experiences I like!! I decided to go back on foot. It took me about hour and a half. And yes, it is true, there was nothing to see except big houses with high fences and wide roads. There was no one and nothing in the streets... My cousin told me that I was lucky. I don't know, I didn't feel insecure...

(Holocaust & Genocide Centre, Johannesburg)

(Johannesburg, South Africa)

Another interesting thing he shared with me is the reason why AIDS is so present in rural areas, 1 on 4 has AIDS.
In rural communities, South African people don't make it easy to reduce poverty. It is common for a man to disappear when a woman becomes pregnant. Usually, she does not learn her lesson. She repeats it again and again. At some point, she cannot handle so many children from different fathers so she disappears as well and children end up at their grandmothers’. They are raised on the street with no adequate guidance and repeat the same story.

(Soweto, Johannesburg)

One of the poorest and the oldest township in Joburg is Soweto. To understand the present we need to know the past.

This township is surrounded by gold mines and it is mostly populated by black people. In history, they worked in these gold mines so they also settled nearby. This is why it is the oldest and poorest township.

Here is where Nelson Mandela lived. Who is he? He ended the separation between black and white people in 1994. They are still trying to find the "common language".
Nowadays, 46% of people are unemployed. Black economic empowerment is in full swing, meaning that black society has an advantage in education and job position.

Also the interesting fact, some jobs aren't paid as regular salary. For example, a waiter doesn't have a salary, all he gets is a tip from the customer.

In front of Nelson Mandela's house.

(Nelson Mandela's house, Soweto, Johannesburg)

Besides malls, there are also places for entertainment, where people can get together, go out with friends, or spend some time family.

Some of the famous complexes are Montecasino and Sun city and some say Montecasino may be No1. There you can find a casino, many pubs, bars, restaurants, shopping stores, hotels...It was designed to replicate Tuscany villages and a big part of the complex is fenced with the artificial sky. Some famous people like Bill Clinton, David Beckham, Oprah stayed there.

On the other hand, Sun City is more just for a chill. It's got a huge water park, a 7 stars hotel, maze, shops, restaurants and many other things to relax and enjoy.

(Sun City Resort)

(Montecasino)

We also visited so-called Park to spend some time with wild animals:

Nice pictures, or maybe NOT?!
When I visited the park and paid for baby lions cuddling I didn't ask myself how come this place has baby lions constantly throughout the whole year, every year. Where do these lions go when they grow up? Into the wild?!
No, I didn't ask myself that, and I was unconsciously supporting the reproduction of lions that are eventually sold to some hunter or to some other organization where they end up having a miserable life or even get killed. Every park, safari, or sanctuary that has such activities (like paying for cuddling of baby lions or walking with lions) is most probably involved in this business. If you pay for it you will actually become part of it and support the business.
So please, do not repeat my mistake because of not knowing. Be aware of this and learn from my mistake...

All in all, Joburg and Pretoria are nice cities, in its own way. I couldn't get used to that kind of life...I love my freedom too much. I need to be able to go wherever I want, whenever I want, on foot if I want 😂.

Next stops were the sanctuary and Capet Town.
Now I developed a fear that sanctuary will also be too commercial, too much “custom made” for tourists.

(Pretoria, South Africa)

All photos were taken by @tparis

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💜 One life 💜