I left Joburg on Thursday 31st October, to head for the Cradle of Humankind. This is renowned as the place where humankind originated. It is here that the first hominid, Australopithecus, was found in 1924. The Cradle of Humankind area boasts 13 excavation sites that are recognised as national heritage sites. I knew that I wanted to visit here, but hadn’t really done my research. So I put ‘Cradle of Humankind into Google maps and expected to end up at the visitors centre??? Nope…I ended up literally in the middle of nowhere….If you’ve seen the film ‘PS I love you’ I was Hilary Swank wondering around looking confused ??♀️ After an hour of driving around and keep ending back in the same spot, I took a deep breath and referred to the internet…I found an address for the visitor Centre/museum and finally knew where I needed to be. It had however, been a lovely area to drive around. Lots of cyclists. I think reading the signs, they cater for the cyclist with good cycle lanes and off road routes.
Thanks random sign ??♀️ 
Once I did find the museum, it was a very well thought out and informative place. I can highly recommend it, if you’re ever in the area. The models of early man were much more ’graphic’ than we seem to have in the UK, and like the infantile person that I am, I had a little chuckle.
After I left Cradle of Humankind, my next stop was a Dam at Hartbeespoort. Obviously not learning my lesson with the museum, I just popped ‘dam’ into google maps. This time google tried to take me onto a private hotel estate. The man on the gate, with the big gun, didn’t allow me through and thought I was strange to want to look at a dam??? Back onto google maps, and this time I noticed that there was a lookout spot symbol ?. The dam was lovely, really unusual looking and I’m glad I persevered looking for it.
Final stop and my ‘home‘ for the next couple of nights, was Sun City. To complete my hat-trick of errors, I once again hadn’t really done my research. Sun City had been recommended as a place to go to, but was actually just a big ‘leisure’ park in the middle of nowhere. I think it was originally a casino where gambling had been allowed, unlike back in Joburg. It still has a casino, but also a big water park, hotels and shops. It was £5 to enter Sun City and if you wanted to do any other activities, it was extra. My accommodation was 5km away from the entrance to SC and I was glad not to be on site. Where I was staying was very like a ‘Centre Parcs’ it was very safe and it was nice to be able to walk around after dark, which I hadn’t done since arriving. Although the area wasn’t for me, it had been a lovely drive and a good couple of days chilling.
And finally….I haven’t mentioned my hire car. It’s bloody Brighton and Hove FC blue ? less than impressed ?
