After three exhausting, but very rewarding days of festivals we had a day to relax a bit and gain a greater insight into the history of South Africa. We started off with a bit of a treat with a visit to a nearby lion park, which was a great opportunity for us to have the African safari experience. We passed some zebras, ostriches, and springbok, learning a bit about each and how they survived in their environment. Next came the fun part – the lion cages! Most of us were amazed by them and especially how big they were. Some were even adventurous and decided to say hello, jumping up on the side of the vehicles. Other highlights include patting some lion cubs & feeding giraffes – they have long tongues!
We then moved into the pilgrimage part of the day starting at the Apartheid Museum. It was a sobering and informative experience for most of us as we tracked the rise and fall of Apartheid, following the stories of many who were affected and those who stood against it. All of us, and the particularly the South Africans in our group, found a greater appreciation for what people like Nelson Mandela & Desmond Tutu did for this great country.
Our next stop was the Hector Petersen Memorial in Soweto, a suburb of Joburg. It was set up to commemorate the 600 students who died during and after the Soweto Uprising in 1976, where 15,000 students peacefully protested against having to be taught in Afrikaan at school and were met by gunfire from the police. One of those students killed during the protest was a young boy called Hector Petersen, who became a symbol of struggle against the Apartheid regime.
We then moved into the pilgrimage part of the day starting at the Apartheid Museum. It was a sobering and informative experience for most of us as we tracked the rise and fall of Apartheid, following the stories of many who were affected and those who stood against it. All of us, and the particularly the South Africans in our group, found a greater appreciation for what people like Nelson Mandela & Desmond Tutu did for this great country.
Our next stop was the Hector Petersen Memorial in Soweto, a suburb of Joburg. It was set up to commemorate the 600 students who died during and after the Soweto Uprising in 1976, where 15,000 students peacefully protested against having to be taught in Afrikaan at school and were met by gunfire from the police. One of those students killed during the protest was a young boy called Hector Petersen, who became a symbol of struggle against the Apartheid regime.
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