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Pamelahawthorne

Today’s Vibrant Soweto: The Healing Legacy of President Mandela and Mama Antoinette

“How do you tell this story, over and over, Mama Antoinette?” I asked the tiny woman standing before me, ” and with no trace of bitterness or hatred for the people who murdered your brother?” “Forgiveness,” she said reaching out to hug me, “it’s the only path from grief.” On June 16, 1976 a twelve year old boy named Hector Pietersen was killed by police in an event the world …

Visit Franschoek, The World’s Most Beautiful Wine Valley

With its expansive mountains cut by wandering rivers and rolling hills heavy with verdant vines, there’s no arguing that South Africa is home to some of the world’s most beautiful wine regions. Picture 250,000 acres of vines across the Western Cape region alone—it’s easy to get lost in the vast array of the country’s wine choices. At the top of the list is Franschoek, Afrikaans for “French Corner”, a small town on the Western …

Twelve Fascinating Facts You Didn’t Know About Victoria Falls

My Zimbabwe adventure included a morning hike in the Victoria Falls Rainforest and an afternoon helicopter ride over the falls. Both were incredible! It is the largest waterfall in the world. Not the widest or the highest but the world’s largest sheet of falling water. Twice the height of Niagara and only rivalled by Iguazu Falls in South America. The Zambezi River is the fourth-largest in the African continent and …

The Absolute Best Game Drives to See “The Big Five’ in South Africa

A veteran of African game drives in Kenya and Tanzania, I thought South Africa and Zimbabwe would be much the same. I was wrong! Let’s visit Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve, a Big 5 Game Park in the KwaZulu Natal region of South Africa. Join me on my recent safaris in South Africa in search of the majestic five: Elephant, Lion, Rhino, Leopard and Cape Buffalo! Thanks to our group of …

Brilliant Colors, Rich Cultural Traditions of “Must See” eSwatini

Share my visit to the Kingdom of Swaziland, or eSwatini as it’s now known. The last traditional kingdom in Africa. I found cheerful, friendly Swazi people proud of their rich culture and traditions, which they love to share with visitors. In few places have the youth uprisings been as surprising as in Eswatini, a kingdom of 1.2 million people that changed its colonial name, Swaziland, in 2018 on the order of …

Thrill of a Lifetime! Cage Diving in South Africa’s Shark Alley!

As much as I viewed Dyer Island as a rocky and uninhabitable place to live, it’s actually the defining feature of the area coastal area of Gansbaai, on South Africa’s eastern coast. A place known as “Shark Alley”. Dyer Island is a small island located only a few miles off the southern shores of mainland South Africa. Aside from being the shark capital of the world, it is also a …