Last week, the program got the
chance to spend spring break in Johannesburg and at Kruger National Park. In
Joburg, we spent a lot of time visiting museums and historical sights, learning
about the country’s past. We visited the Apartheid Museum and the Hector Pieterson
Museum in the first two days of our trip. For anyone who may not know, the
Hector Pieterson Museum tells the story of the 1976 Soweto Uprising, a series
of protests led by students in response to the introduction of Afrikaans as the
new medium of instruction in local schools. Both of these places were really
moving. While they depict different aspects of the struggle for freedom in
South Africa, they both provide raw, graphic, and emotional firsthand accounts
of what life was like during this time period. The Apartheid Museum had footage
of violence between citizens, accounts of police brutality, and a massive
police vehicle that was used to break up protests. The Hector Pieterson Museum
had heartbreaking and frightening accounts of the horrors that occurred in the
uprisings on June 16 in Soweto. The museum itself is located at the
exact spot where Hector Pieterson, a 13-year old, was shot dead. Seeing the
spot where it happened made it that much more real for me, and I enjoyed
getting the opportunity to visit there.
We also visited Constitution Hill, a
century-old prison that is also now the site of the country’s Constitutional
Court. I really liked visiting the jail and found it to be super interesting.
We got to see the shared cells and also the isolation cells, which still had
graffiti from prisoners etched into them. The prison had both political and
criminal prisoners, but they were kept separated. It was really interesting to
learn about the warders, prison dynamics and gangs, and what the conditions
were like. Gandhi spent a brief period of time here, as did Mandela and other
Treason Trialists.
We spent Human Rights Day, March 21,
in Sharpeville. Human Rights Day is on the anniversary of the Sharpeville
Massacre, which occurred March 21, 1960. We were able to visit the memorial
site, a small museum, and the cemetery where the victims were buried. In town,
we watched parades and celebration in honor of the holiday. The people marching
in the streets were decked out in the colors of the political parties that they
supported, which was interesting and a bit unexpected. I didn’t anticipate that
the holiday celebrations would be politicized. It was really cool to see all
the different parties represented in Sharpeville, and we got the chance to talk
to a few avid ANC supporters as well.
After five days in Johannesburg, we
made the long drive out to Kruger National Park. I had waited about two years
for this moment!! When we first crossed through the gates to get into the park,
I was so excited. We had to drive about an hour on the road through the
grasslands until we reached the area where we were staying - Kruger is about
the size of Massachusetts! On our way in we saw giraffes and elephants, which
was super cool. When we arrived, we immediately went on a game drive. The
highlight was finding a pair of mating lions. We followed them through the bush
and camped out for about 40 minutes just watching them. Right as the sun was
setting, we saw them mate (which was literally 15 seconds). Still worth it, so
awesome!
The next day, we woke up a 4am for
a 4:30 game drive. It was freezing in the morning, and I decided to
wear shorts. We didn’t see much until the sun began to rise around 6:15,
and the sunrise over Kruger was absolutely beautiful. The vastness and peacefulness
of the place really sank in while watching the sun rise. That moment was one I
will not soon forget.
As our drive continued, we saw lots
of antelopes and zebras, a elephant, and more lions! We saw a female lion and
six cubs, which was incredible!! I absolutely loved the game drives and
want to go back as soon as I can.
Overall, our trip north was a nice
change of pace from Capetonian life. I had the chance to become closer with
other people on the trip, including Collette who I got to room with! We ate
absolutely delicious food – especially the steakhouse and Greek restaurant in
Mandela Square. I was ready to go back to Cape Town at the end of the
week though. It was nice to see new sights and experience a different part of
the country, but I’m not sure that any other city in South Africa can top Cape
Town.
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