THS Around The World: South Africa

During The Hudson School’s spring break fourteen upper school students took a once in a lifetime trip to South Africa. Over the course of 10 days students traveled throughout this beautiful country, visiting Johannesburg, Kruger National Park and Cape Town.  While in Johannesburg, students visited the Apartheid Museum, Soweto Township, and the home of Nelson Mandela. They explored caves with some of earth’s earliest hominid remains and partook in a traditional South African bbq (known as a braai) while visiting with local South African high school students. From Johannesburg, the group made their way to Kruger National Park, stopping along the way to witness some of the varying, beautiful, and surprising landscapes South Africa has to offer. In Kruger National Park students enjoyed a day long safari, seeing lions, giraffes, zebras, elephants, hippos, wild dogs, hyenas, baboons and more! Following the safari, students entered the bush with a local guide to learn even more about the flora and fauna native to the area. The last leg of the trip found students in Cape Town; where they summited Table Mountain, visited Robben Island and Nelson Mandela’s prison cell, stood at the Cape of Good Hope, and spent some time on the beach! Senior Zarah Samji describes her experience:

“I really enjoyed Africa, not only for the scenery, animals, nature, and culture, but for the perspective it provided. It was eye opening to see the different townships, such as Soweto, firsthand. There are so many things at home I take for granted. In Cape Town we learned about water conservation. For the people of Cape Town this isn’t an abstract idea you learn about in science class; it’s essential to their everyday life.”