Tour of Bela Bela

The day started with a second to catch up on our blogs, then we went on o tour around Bela-Bela or Warmbath as it used to be known. Before we started Kobus told us how important it is to brief your tour group for the drive. Things like medicine cannot as a rule is given to anyone: so it is better if they were to bring their own in case they need it. Water, sunscreen, hats and appropriate attire needs to be suggested before the time. It is also important to know of any allergies or medical problems before the trip so you as guide are prepared for any situation. We also learnt how important it is to make the bus driver feel part of the group.

The tour included a quick view of the info centre to be found at the entrance of Bela Bela or rather the entrance from Pretoria side. Here Kobus gave us a brief review of the outlining area and its history as well as its geography. The Water Front is called that because of a few reasons the best one or rather the one we can most easily identify with is the fact that there are two dams behind the thatch roofed shops. One is more of a pond with all sorts of geese and ducks on it. The other is a spot where you can water ski and go on a speed boat.

Then we moved over to the location of the Sondela offices basically to see where they are. I would have liked to have a peek inside though. While there a couple of the students took a walk across from there to a quaint little shop called Farm Stead, they got some refreshments here. The Grave Yard was next and some of us walked here as well. Here the grave and monument of Christina Pretorius, wife of Andries Pretorius can be found. I knew that a distant uncle of my grandfather- by the name of Antonie Marius Heystek-is also buried here as a child. Unfortunately I could not find the grave.

The African stall was nothing new to anybody but the diversity of the stall keeper was a surprise, one coming from as far as Tanzania; to sell their goods and make a living. They were very quick to tell us how to take our photos and how cheap and worthwhile their goods were.

Next were the Block Houses these were built during the Anglo Boer War. There were a couple of holes in the walls that were apparently made by bullets.

The silos were next and just hugely overwhelming. There were seven big vertical ones and one big horizontal one each holding about 35 000 tons of various grains. Of the small ones there were five and together they hold 48 000 tons of grains.

Last but not least was a brief tour of the Bela Bela Township here there were lots of little shops and hawker. One thing that was seen very often were people cooing mielies in many different ways. Cobus said that there are also nice little jazz cafes were a relaxing evening could be spent.

	Time	Site	Directions	Commentary
1	09:35-09:45	Information Centre	Upon entering Bela Bela from the Pretoria side you see a collection near thatch shops the info centre can be found there.	The stuffed animals get your attention. Lots of pamphlets and helpful staff to guide you.
2	09:50-10:00	Grave Yard	The graveyard is found behind the Spar.	It’s right slap bang in the centre of the town. Vandalism is obviously a problem here. The wife of Andries Pretorius, Christina Pretorius lies here and it is an interesting story for tourists.
3	10:05-10:25	African market	The market is found in Ritchie street after turning right from Potgieter street.	Te people at the market are very friendly and quick to talk to you. They were ready to tell us how and where to take our photos.
4	10:30-10:40	Block House	This is found in Paul Sauer street. Follow Potgieter right until you come to the railroad turn right into the township turn right into Paul Sauer and follow until you see the Block House.	Lots of info and stories to be found here like the bullet holes in the building. It probably dates back more than a hundred years back.
5	10:40-10;47	Silos	Turn right in Marx street then right Potgieter street then right in Mile street and then right in Paul Sauer street.	Silos are in good condition and there are interesting facts that you can give tourist about them. Really overwhelmingly big.
6	10:50-11:00	Township tour	Turn right in Marx right in Potgieter right in Mile and continue.	The people were quick to wave to us. Lots of stalls and hawkers along the road it is also neater than any township we have ever seen.

Approximate time of departure 09:00 from Sondela

Approximate time of arrival 11:15 at Sondela

After lunch at about three we sat outside and got fed some more very important information that we need to remember. Well good luck with that! Most of us found that if anyone were to ask us to prove that we life in SA -would be laughed at. Some (including me) not even knowing the names of the nine provinces; never mind where they are found on the map. Needless to say the bordering countries were even more fun. At least we all knew which continent we are on.