STUCK IN THE SNOW, EASTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA

STUCK IN THE SNOW AT THE TOP OF BARKLY PASS

Never underestimate the weather in South Africa. Our trip started on a sunny bright winter afternoon in Johannesburg en route to our destination at Viegiesville in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.

After a rather uneventful trip on the R58 route, showing no sign of a pending snowstorm or adverse weather conditions ahead we sped along swiftly toward the Southern Drakensberg mountains.

I had called earlier to make a tentative booking at a hotel about 22 km from the town of Elliot, now renamed Khowa. We get a call from the hotel suggesting we make haste as there was a snowstorm approaching the area. As darkness fell we were still traveling under the stars with no sign of snow.

Then in the darkness suddenly snow! Driving carefully through the thick snow we reached the hotel where there was a warm room and hot cocoa waiting to greet us. By that hour everyone had retired for the evening, probably in anticipation of the impending storm which arrived minutes after our arrival. And held us hostage for three days. Three wonderful days.