Stiff and sore (day 2)

Day two is a bugger. One is stiff and sore from day one then you pile on more agony and muscles creak and groan and protest.

All of which means tomorrow everything should start to adapt.

Today was 93km to Ntsikeni Lodge which took us 10 hours 50 mins and the ascent was gained by walking and pushing. Thirty minutes to do 1.5km might give you an idea of the steepness of some of the climbs.

We left Centacow in searing heat again and had no shade as we climbed. The temps peaked at 37 degrees.

Finally some cloud came over and we had twenty drops of rain but the temperature dropped to a manageable 27 degrees.

Reaching Ntsikeni is always a pleasure with wide open spaces, magnificent mountains and sweeping grasslands.

We're back in the lodge I first visited in 2008 and Mr Ngcobo is a delightful host.

Thick soup and homemade bread and a warm welcome makes one feel human again.

So now some rest and we set off again tomorrow for Masakala.