Phalaborwa

Just a quick update to say that I'm in Phalaborwa right now, and about to head South to Hoedspruit.

Unfortunately I couldn't organise a walk through reserve area so I have to break the 100km limit just for this short stretch. Spent forever on the phone to Kruger Park being transferred from beurocrat to beurocrat getting nowhere, and the private reserves didn't help much either, but it is largely my fault for leaving it so late (I am the king of procrastination!). No use sulking though so I'm looking at it as an excercise in dynamics...

Also, suddenly summer has arrived! In literally three days it went from freezing cold to stinking hot! So I'm going to change my walking routine to start at sparrow's fart and take a long break in the afternoon heat before an evening session.

Been in Phalaborwa now for 4 days waiting for a dodgy tummy to sort itself out so I'm now pretty well rested and ready to push for the coast! Also can't wait to get to Nelspruit as there is a cinema there, haven't watched a movie in a cinema in 4 months!!!! If you don't know already, movie-going is a pretty big part of my life!

Spoke with Jaco Swart over the phone the other day, he's walking aroung the border barefoot!! He's walking the other way around (up the East and down the West) but unfortunately we managed to miss each other as I cut a bit South to walk next to the Soutpansberg. Very nice guy and very determined! I think his website is www.kaalvoetsolo.co.za, check it out!

Otherwise, my Shangaan is slowly improving but I know that as soon as it starts to get good I'll move into Swazi area! It's happened so far with Tswana, Sotho, and Venda, but I'm enjoying learning different languages! From what I can pick up though, Shangaan should help me a bit with Zulu and I'll be in Zulu areas for a while.

Hope everyone is doing well!