Glenmore Primary School

2001
[ Home ] [ Up ]

Tours

Grade Six History Tour to Northern Natal

Getting ready to leave...

Report by Timothy Mitchell & Caldon Adams

Monday morning, the 22nd of October, all the grade six children woke up with the thrill of excitement. We were all going on History Tour. The bus arrived at 6:45 in the morning and we were on the road at about 7:15, heading for Spioenkop Nature Reserve. The bus trip was long and tiring, but it eventually paid off. At Spioenkop we saw many animals and decided to go have a 45 minute walk in the field. We saw buck, giraffe, white rhino, wildebeest and many more. 

We then went for a refreshing swim in the dam. After that we drove to the D.E.E.C. It was nothing like we imagined. My friends and I slept in a room with five beds. There was a games room which had a pool table, table tennis, a soccer game and a flick board game. The food there was excellent and we know that everyone enjoyed it.

 The next day we had an early start to Isandlwana. It was an hour to an hour and a half's drive. We climbed to the top of Isandlwana and sang the National Anthem and the school song. It was a great experience for all of us.

On the third day we went to Rorke's Drift. We went to a museum and Mr. Burge, our excellent guide, spoke to us about the great battle of Rorke's Drift and Isandlwana. It wasn't an adventurous day but we still learnt a lot.

The next day we went to Natal Spa. We swam in the warm water. The waters were very clear. There were five different pools, each pool had it's own temperature. It was a wonderful warm day!

On Friday we woke up and packed our bags for home, but before we went home we had a few places to go. First we went to the Orange Grove Dairy. We were given a free sample of the finest milk in South Africa. We would like to say thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Burge for the wonderful accommodation and the tour.

Report by Clarissa Naicker and Chaw Han

It was 7am on the 22nd of October and excitement filled the atmosphere at Glenmore Primary. Hugs, kisses and goodbyes were said and done between the parents and children, who were going on a five day trip to Dundee. We boarded the bus, excited to leave.

After 3 hours on the bus, talking to our friends, who were full of excitement, we arrived at Spioenkop, a game reserve, where we met our tour guide, Mr. Burge. After going on a short hike where we saw many interesting animals we had a quick and refreshing swim in the Spioenkop Dam, before we went on a long bus ride to the Siege Museum at Ladysmith and then to Dundee. 

The centre was very comfortable with it's bedded rooms, the games room and the dining hall. The next day we went to Isandlwana, the mountain that we all bravely climbed to the top. When we all safely descended to the bottom of the mountain we headed for Rorke's Drift, which like Isandlwana was a battlefield about 120 years ago. 

On the third day we went to Incandu Forest where we went on a hike and then a swim in the cool waters of the waterfall. We learnt about the water and the environment while swimming in the heated pools of the Natal Spa. 

On Friday, the last day, we visited the Orange Grove Dairy and The Agriculture Development Centre before we went back to Durban and saw our families again.

The History Tour was a very educational trip for all that participated and we all learnt a lot. Everyone had fun too as we had exciting excursions, great food and last but not least, a comfortable place to stay. After all - what more could we ask for?

Arriving home ... tired, exhausted and thoroughly fulfilled after a week in Northern Natal !

A big thank you to Mr. Hartslief and Mr. Crane for organising another very successful Northern Natal trip.

Up