Separation from Reality.

We are in Durban, on the tropical coast of the Indian Ocean. Palatial mansions, and electric fences. Swimming pools and armed guards. A change of pace from the Lesotho Highlands, but the sun and a place with a warm shower is nice.

To get here, we had to come down the South Africa side of the Sani Pass. If the Lesotho side was driving across the roof of Southern Africa, the SA side is like plummeting off the evestrough.

After passing the Lesotho border post (which is located on the actual border), one drives 8km to the South African border post. The no-mans-land between is just not worth South Africa's time and money to control, although there are stories of sheep and the occasional cattle rustling. Part of the reason for the disinterest is that the 8km stretch of road loses more than 1000m in elevation heading south. Which means switchbacks.

The view up:

The view down:

And the view to the side:

And the Daihatsu handled it with aplomb. Hear that, Europcar? No problems at all.

With the elevation drop we were back into sandstones, which, by the law of superposition, means that the volcanics are younger.

A couple of hours later, we were another 2000m lower, on the Indian Ocean shore.