Sunday, January 15, 2023

Pretoria and Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa (07/21/2019 - 07/26/2019)

I'm almost embarrassed that it took me nearly 39 years to set foot in Africa for the first time, and even more so that it took a work-related trip to get me there. 

South Africa is a melting pot of tribes and traditions, brought together through a complicated and painful past whose scars are still fresh (especially when politics is involved).  The result of this melting pot is a very rich culture, 11 different official languages, fantastic food, and set upon the backdrop of one of the most beautiful countries I've visited. 

I landed in Johannesburg but actually didn't set foot in the city this trip - after a quick overnight stay in Pretoria, it was off to Pilanesberg National Park, a much nearer alternative to the Kruger National Park, which is where most tourists going for a safari will head to - sadly I just didn't have the time.

I'll save my commentary on the country and food for the later posts, whereas this one just showcases the flora and fauna I had the fortune of observing during my quick stay at the safari, followed by a few photos of my time in Pretoria outside of work. 

I will say that South Africans *love* their meat, especially braaied and dried (as biltong). 






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