Sondela Academy Johannes Tourist Guiding

The beauty of Limpopo

2009-09-29T02:00:00.000-07:00

If you have'nt heard this then I will have to tell you myself, this mountains that you see here are the Zoutpansberg, I did'nt know this but today I do because of the knowlegde that I Acquired in this coures of Tourist Guiding.

Below:This is the story I reseached of some of the famous people who settled in the area of Zoutpansberg, and all the people arrived to live in this area of Zoutpansberg

The journey proved to be surprisingly without event. The small group was lucky to pass between the armies of Dingane and Mzilikazi which had just fought a major battle. However, in April 1836 before reaching the Zoutpansberg a quarrel arose between Tregardt and van Rensburg.

The latter had been using a lot of gunpowder and wished to replenish his stock quickly in Delagoa Bay, therefore within seventy miles of their destination, van Rensburg took off eastwards, camped for a few weeks and then in June set off again eastwards. He was however to find that the lowland diseases were to decimate his stock.

Tregardt camped for a few weeks and set off north to complete the trek, camping under the Zoutpansberg. Like van Rensburg, he also found that the scourge of the tsetse fly was cutting a swathe through his stock.

Worse, if he was to find a way to Inhambane, he was to traverse fly country for three-quarters of the way. If, however he struck out for Delagoa Bay, he would encounter the fly for only a third of the distance - provided he could find a way over the Drakensberg.

Potgieter Arrives

At this point, Potgieter with eleven companions rode in. He had started his trek with two hundred people who he left camped at the Sand River near Winburg. Potgieter and Tregardt were becoming worried as to fate of the van Rensburg party and Potgieter set off north to see whether he would cross his path. He did not and determined the dreaded fly would preclude all traffic through this area (Southern Zimbabwe).

And you might think that tis was the end but there is alot that took place in this area, see below:

van Rensburg Perishes

By this time, rumours were being received that the van Rensburg party had been massacred so Tregardt set off and found that the whole party of 49 had perished. Apparently having crossed what is now the Kruger National Park and the Lubombo mountains his party camped on the Limpopo River and was set upon by a local chief called Sakana. The attack lasted all night but by morning all ammunition was spent and the warriors ended the fight by driving a herd of cattle through the laager.

Tregardt did not find the massacre site but found Sakana. Not trusting Sakana and believing him to be implicated in the disaster Tregardt cannily told him that he couldn't stay but would return with all his wagons which he would leave in his care while he continued the search.

Tregardt returned to Potgieter at the Zoutpansberg and informed him of his suspicions. Potgieter then rode South to bring up the main body of the trekkers. Tregardt was to wait for more than a year. Thousands of animals were scattered over the veld and would be taken by the Matabele regardless of whether they would prevail or die.

Tregardt sets out for Delagoa Bay (Maputo) on an epic trek.

We see things in our area that we tend to think they are of no use, but if you try digging and thinking deep you will see how important history is, and thats one of the reason I love being a Guide.

Thought of the day: It might not seem that IMPORTANT, but it is because if it was'nt for it there would not be any history and future!

TRADITIONAL MEAL POTS

2009-07-23T07:08:00.000-07:00

Like I said at some stage that as a Guide you need to know alot of thing, culture being on the list, cause a Guide who does'nt know his culture is clearly not a Guide.

A Guide must be observent and more observent to your culture to be able to enterpret to your guide and thats the things I have learnt to do being in this learnership.

BEING A GUIDE IS A GIFT THATS WHY I LOVE BEING A GUIDE!

Wednesday-17 July 2009

2009-07-21T02:58:00.000-07:00

Girraffe Capturing!

It was sad and exciting at the same time to see a Girraffe being captured for the first time in my life, but I must say I enjoyed because it was quite an expirience.

At first when they told us that we were going to catch a Girraffe i thought to my self "how is that even possible?" and it was really fascinating to be part of the show and just watching.

I mean we all know how big and dangerous this animal can be, but you should see how easy it was to catch it, I can't say it was as A B C, but sure I can say that it was as eating a pie cause sure it was.

I even got a chance to climb on the trail that it was on, I was scared at first but got used to it in time, it was the first time I got that close to it but guess what, it was blinded! lol

I must say this is a chance of a life time to be in this learnership.

The Tourist Guides dances "Malopo"

2009-07-15T06:58:00.000-07:00

This are the tourist guides dancing the old dance "malopo" and they all enjoying it. It was fun and all had the chance to expirience it at Bakone Malapa.

This shows me that elctricity has made things easy for us now but it was not that important back then.

2009-07-08T05:14:00.000-07:00

This here is a man at Bakone Malapa demonstrating how the Bakones made fire in the olden days, by a marula stick and cow dung, and I was there to experience it happening and it was incredible to see it happening right in front of my eyes!

This really is amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-07-08T02:18:00.000-07:00

The time we were at Bakone Malapa, we got the chance to see Museum that contained things that were used by the Bakone people in the olden days.

The guy standing infront the group is a guide and he is very good at what he does, the only reaso n I think hes this good is because he likes what he is doing and I also want to be like him oneday.

The museum contains alot of interesting and fascinating things in it, and the interesiting part about this place is that none of the things is bought but it is made by hand trying to show how technology has took over alot of things again.

I have learnt alot at this museum,I still want to learn about this cultures so that Im can interpret it to my tourists oneday.

This place has then again opened my eyes because I together with my team, Lucky and Rebecca want to start something of this kind, it is an encouragement that we too can do it.

2009-07-07T05:53:00.000-07:00

Like I sad that this course has made love my country and made realise that I did'nt know my culture and other things about it, I am now observent and can be able to tell you who I am and where I come from.

The picture that you see above is a place called Bakone Malapa in Polokwane here in Limpopo. This is a place to be if you are interested in culture and traditional things because there you can learn alot of things about the Bakone people and also buy stuff they used back then in the olden days.

2009-07-07T04:31:00.001-07:00

"A place is jugded by the arts in it" Someone sqid that to me and I thought to my self "what does he mean?"

Today I know what that means, I have been in this market of art in Bela-Bela and all that could say was "wow", the place is amazing. There are somethings in that place you'd never thing man can make.

Like I sad in my last post, this course has taught me alot of thing and made me observe alot that I never did before.

This one of the places you feel the meaning of art when you get to them, every tourist would die to be in this place.

The time I visited the Blockhouse in Bela-Bela.

2009-05-29T05:01:00.000-07:00

The British soldiers was using this building to shoot from the inside. the block house is built from the sandstone, which is from Buiskop. It was declared a national monument in 1978, it is a historical building and nobody is allowed to break it down not even the government (state rule).

The Blockhouse has three floors.
The yard that the Blockhouse is in, is now used as the traffic department where peolple from the local community and allover come to test for their driving licenses.

I have to tell you this before I conclude my story, I have been living in Bela-Bela for quite some time now and I have been passing this building serveral times and to top that, I came to this very same place to get tested for my drivers license and saw this very same building but the sad story is, I did not know all this.

This training has changed my life to an extend that I can't let anything pass without wanting to know information about it.

I know that with this training I am going to know more than I know now, so If there is anyone out there who wants to know about this things, please comment and I will make it my mission to get the answers for you.

TIP OF THE DAY: Never let a day pass without knowing something new!

Hope you enjoy the stuff that I write for you and come again soon!

Here is what I think!

2009-05-27T06:09:00.000-07:00

I always thought that the only to let people know who you are is by appearing in a newspaper or television, but now we have a lot of things because technology is growing to its best.

Its always good to see change, but it depends, is it good or bad change?. Good change is always GOOD.

I am practising to be a tourist guide and in this training I have learned a lot of things.
As far as I'm learning there are things that I did not know and never thought that they were that important, e.g plants and other things. I am sure there are people out there who would really like to know what I know now.

I have to tell this, I know that I am still a learner but the funny thing is I feel like I know everything(I feel like a guide).

My attitude has changed since I've started this training, I know that if you are a tour guide, they say you are the face of your country because people normarly think that you know every thing, thats why its important for me to learn everything about my country.

I love being a tourist guide.