A long one but a good one

Hi guys,

Sorry for the delay on the blog. We have had some internet issues.  Now, we should be all good and I will try to post at least once a week.  See ya and read my blog. Nate

Cradle of Humankind

We went back to the Cradle of Humankind because it was my request and I wanted to learn more about mankind. First, we saw The long march to freedom.  It is about the people of South Africa and how South Africa got to their freedom.  It’s a tribute to the people that helped them get there. The first person at the beginning of this walk was Autshumato,  he was the first political leader sent to Robin Island (a jail in Cape Town on an island and was the leader of the Goringhakona tribe. He was born in 1625 and died in 1663. It ended with Nelson Mandela.  (The person who stopped the apartheid. We will be covering the apartheid soon). Next, we saw my favourite, King Shaka he was the leader of the Zulu tribe. King Shaka was  born in 1781 and got killed on 1828 by his brother King  Dingane. He was a great strategist for his army the Impi , he brought the Zulu tribes together and killed Chumsford(a bad English general) and his army.  There so many interesting people.

King Shaka

Nelson Mandela

Next, we went into the Cradle of Humankind and leaned the Homo Naledi. They found so many bones and fossils around the cradle of humankind.  Do you know what a fossil is? It is remains of plants, or animals preserved in stone and happens over millions of years.   Did you know that the Homo nalei are the ancestors of modern day humans? 

Then, we walked down the time walk wall. It showed us when they believe life began to where we are now.  Did you know that human ( Homo sapiens )  emerged 19000 years ago? We also learned that life on earth began 4.5 billion years ago.  

Next, we leaned about the super continent called Pangea.  The world used to be one big super continent but broke into half  to make two big continents Laurasia in the north and Gondwana  in the south.  Then, 65000 years ago the meteor that killed all the dinosaurs hit Mexico Pangea broke in half but a few thousand  years ago India crashed in to Asia and made the Himalayan mountains and made the world look more like it does today.  

We learned about evolution.  Charles Darwin was the first person to say “ that over time creatures which are able to adapt biologically to changes in their environments survive, while those that don’t adapt become extinct.” Which means that only the strongest will survive.  Scientists also think by studying our genes or dna they can predict how we might look in the future.  That is super cool. 

the way the human skull has evolved

Can you find the modern day human?

We also learned about caves, stalagmites and stalactites….if you don’t remember or haven’t read my first blog entry this year go back and learn about them.

Road trip down to Hout Bay

First, we drove to Kimberley. We stayed there for 1 night .  It took 5 hours. It was pretty long and on the drive we saw a fat cow in the back of a truck . 

We had a big storm on the way there. We decided to go and see the Big Hole. It is a Diamond mine found in 1871.   They found so many diamonds there! 2722 kilograms of diamonds or 14 504 566 carats to be exact.  We went on a tour we learned  that the first Diamond was found by two brothers in the Orange river.  They gave it to their sister.  They didn’t know it was a diamond.  The mom gave it away to a friend for nothing! Eventually, they figured out it was a diamond and called it the Eureka diamond. 

On our tour, we went over the big hole.   It was deep! The water was 41m deep then we went down a elevator and had a  mining experience.  We walked through a mine.  Saw different tools and heard what it would be like to be down in an explosion.  It was loud!    Then, we came back up and our guide taught us about how diamonds form.  They made from carbon and they are found 150 km below the earth’s surface.  They need extreme heat and pressure to form. The pressure forms a volcano. When the volcano erupts, the diamonds get shot out of the volcano. Then the lucky miners might find them and get their prize.  Finally, we went into the vault with all of the diamonds. Even the Eureka diamond was there.  

old mining carts

old mining tools

mine elevator

inside the mine

old mine toilet

Next, we drove to Oudtshoorn. It took 7hours !!!! There was another storm on the road…AGAIN!  

When we got there we went for dinner and then went to bed.  The next day, was cool 

First, we went to the Cango wildlife ranch and went on a tour.On the tour, we saw giant flying fox (that is a BAT), vultures, ring-tailed lemurs, flamingos, pigmy hippos, bat eared fox, cheetahs , leopards and lions. Next, we did something super cool.  It was one of my dreams. I got to pet a cheetah cub named Troy.  He was so cute. He was 4 months old.  He was so soft and still had his fluffy baby fur.  I was so happy when we did it and surprising they are not endangered anymore. They are still considered vulnerable though. :( 

TROY!!!!!

Isn't he the cutest?

Then, we did something extreme!!!!! We dove with Nile crocodiles. Luckily, I was in a cage.  It is an African crocodile and is the second largest croc in the world.  It was so cool.  I went first with my Dad and Sam went second.  The croc was so close and stuck it’s claw in the cage. It’s a good thing I survived, because they Nile croc has a bad reputation of being a man eater!!!!!!!   Luckily, that did happen and I am writing my blog.  

Freddy coming to say hello

Look Freddy smiled under water for the picture

That was awesome! I survived!

After that, I got a new shirt and we left for lunch.   

At lunch it rained.  Everyone was excited. I did not why.  They were excited because there has been a big drought and the farms are dying.  So, it was good news.

After lunch, we went to Chandelier.  Chandelier is a ostrich farm and we feed the ostrich corn. We could stand on the ostrich eggs too because they are so strong.

Finally, we got to feed toddler giraffe. Her name was Shirley.  She was three years old.  We fed her a bottle of milk.   It was hard because the giraffe kept on moving her head.  It was cool though.  I got to pet her. She was soft.  Finally, we went home, had dinner and went to bed.

Bye Shirley

The next day, was our final drive to Hout Bay.  It took 5 hours and on our way there was ANOTHER STORM!! When we got there we unpacked  and watched captain underpants the tv show.

Today, we just went to the beach and swam in the Ocean. The water was freezing cold, but lots of fun! We walked to the harbour and fish market and saw some seals.  Two of them were out of the water and one was in the water.

Swim you later!!! 

Nate