Friday 2nd January 2026
Amongst all the folk we met and partied with on Rovos Rail, we managed to arrange a day out with Michael and Gisela, a South African couple who live just outside Johannesburg. They said they would collect us from our hotel at 0930 so after breakfast we headed to the lobby, but they beat us by a couple of minutes, still it was good to meet up again so soon after our train journey together.
The itinerary was first a visit to the “Cradle of Humankind”, then lunch followed by “wines on the terrace” at their home.
The “Cradle of humankind” (https://sahistory.org.za/article/cradle-humankind) is a UNESCO (1999) world heritage paleoanthropological site located about 50km northwest of Johannesburg in the Gauteng Province. This site is home to the largest known concentration of human ancestral remains anywhere in the world. The site currently occupies c188 sq miles and contains a complex system of limestone caves, though we didn’t visit these. The registered name of the site in the list of World Heritage Sites is “Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa”. It was a fascinating and “mind-blowing” experience as they lay out in simple steps on the floor how many years humans have taken to evolve, but never mind that, how much earlier in time this planet has taken to get to a stage where “any” life can survive and flourish.!!! There was one boat ride depicting the time when the planet exploded into life, with volcanoes, fires and water etc. the other fascinating formation was their explanation of how the continents as we know them today, came about; the movement of the tectonic plates. Though we only spent a couple of hours there, it was so interesting one could or should spend a couple of days there at least.
It was time to go and headed back to their home estate, but our drive back was slightly complicated due to a road closure. Gisela was driving her new car whilst Michael sat in the back and navigated, however there was a “minor issue”, the diversion would have caused both unnecessary time and mileage, and that’s when Michael started navigating, he told her to ignore the diversion sign and do what he said. We did a left turn onto a small road and it was not only small, it was a dusty dirt track with “major” potholes, at which point she went into four wheel drive. There were a few words between driver and navigator over the 10/15kms we did, but eventually found a tarmac road, so all was well.
They took us to the “Clubhouse” on their “estate” for an excellent meal and we were also joined by their two children and a friend. The day so far had been “Purrfect” as Pop Larkin would say and it was a very hot day to-boot.
Next we headed to their house around the corner. When I say “estate” it is nothing like the word “estate” conjures up in an Englishman’s mind, here one is logged in and out, or if not a resident, signs in at the gate house bristling with security technology. There is a high brick wall all around with cameras and security patrols; everyone feels very safe here and the properties are in keeping with all this hi tech security. The roads and pathways are immaculately maintained in keeping with everything else.
For the rest of the afternoon we sat in their beautiful open plan room with big wide patio doors open, but in the shade as the sun was still strong and very hot, and we drink wine. We chatted about most things but the Rovos Rail in particular as we all thoroughly enjoyed the expedience. Michael and Gisela’s business is manufacturing numerous “skincare” products and they very kindly “loaded” us up with a selection of their samples and because Christine commented on how much she enjoyed a certain South African “sauce” product we had on the train, unbeknown to us they organised a couple of bottles to be waiting and gave them to us. I have said in earlier posts, we are “so impressed” with the friendliness and generosity of the South African people; a “must visit; country and we “will” be back.
As time marched on and our hotel was about an hour away, we reluctantly said our good byes and ordered an “Uber”: unfortunately they are not allowed in the estate so Gisela very kindly drove us to the car park outside the gate where we met our driver.
Our driver, a chap called Aubrey got us back to the Peach just before it got dark, a wise precaution we were told!!! Back in our room and still full from lunch lounged around before heading to bed. Tomorrow we have our Soweto trip, our last trip to look forward to🥵🥵