Zip lining through the forest, country sundowners at the philharmonic orchestra or African Spa. I couldn't decide. So we did everything. And it was unforgettable. It was a couple months after I lost my first husband. I was; understandably, not in the mood for a party. But a distraction, preferably a pampering one, was exactly what the doctor ordered. My mother was celebrating a significant birthday. For the day I surprised her with a very, very, very early wake up call. I had packed a bag the night before. Warm clothes and fancy clothes. Plus blankets and a picnic basket. And big girl panties for whizzing a gazillion metres above ground level.
We arrived at Indigo Fields as the sun was contemplating waking up. It is usually a spectacular drive through the Natal Midlands. We drove it in the dark hours of early morning. Indigo Fields is an unusual Spa. Set in the beautiful countryside it offers a very unique African experience.
We were given fresh vegetable juice, hot water bottles and bundled off in the 4x4 to our first tented spa camp. The fire crackled merrily inside. The scent of essential oils filled the air. Throughout the morning we were shuttled from one spa treatment to another. With an incredible fresh farm breakfast squeezed in. Just when we thought we couldn't eat another bite we were given champayne and escorted to the rose-petal-strewn jacuzzi to await a delicious farm lunch. Indigo Fields Spa was an almost full day of pampering par excellance.
And then it was off to the zip line.
The Karkloof falls offers some incredibly scenic hikes. We - I - chose to view the countryside whizzing through the tree tops. If my mother did not already have grey hairs I think she acquired a few that day! Always game for adventure, she didn't anticipate flinging herself off a platform, held by a few cables suspended 60 metres above the ground. At speed.
But we both look back on that day, many years ago now, with fond memories. The Karkloof canopy tours has 12 platforms and the longest stretch is 200m. It took the first couple zip lines to get used to the sensation of flying through the treetops.
Just when we felt our adrenals were almost maxed out, the two hour Canopy Tour ended. And we dressed up. Fancy. And warm. We headed to the beautiful outlook overlooking the 90m waterfalls as the sun was setting. A stage had been set up and one of the country's top orchestra's were warming up. We unpacked our picnic. Spread the blankets and snuggled down for an evening of classical music.
While my photos are not great - I had to take a disposable camera because of the risk involved with my Canon and canopy tours - the memories are special. The day remains a highlight in that dark year that ripped my heart in pieces. 