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Starting tonight (26th April) on BBC4 at 8.30pm Julia Bradbury embarks on a truly grand adventure… in South Africa. As the world prepares to focus its attention on the World Cup host nation, Julia sets out on four very different walks that will explore South Africa’s claim to be ‘a world in one country’. The series will run for the next four nights on BBC4 and due to screen again on BBC2 soon. Julia is a regular visitor to the ‘Rainbow Nation’ but this is her chance to go far beyond the normal tourist destinations, to a series of increasingly remote locations. But these are all walks that any reasonably adventurous walker could embark on, and they offer a fresh and very personal perspective on a friendly and fascinating country that is so often misunderstood. The Garden Route The southernmost coastline of Africa is home to the sun-drenched Garden Route. With fabulous beaches, and immense flora and fauna, this is an increasingly popular holiday spot. But Julia Bradbury’s walk reveals secrets of the history of the Rainbow Nation. She even encounters research set to show that this abundant spot gave rise to the modern human race. With her Xhosa guide, Willie, bringing every feature to life, Julia finds her first walk an absolute delight. Here is proof of South Africa’s warm and friendly welcome, and of the constant surprises it has to offer. The Drakensberg Julia Bradbury moves to the interior for her second walk and the grandest mountain range in Southern Africa. The 3000m Cathedral Peak is the majestic ambition for Julia and her Zulu guide Zee. But as Julia quickly discovers, even the fittest and most experienced walkers need luck on their side when it comes to the dramatic weather of these mountains. With Zulus, Brits and Boers to provide the history, this is an outing filled with drama and fascination, against a backdrop often described as the most beautiful on Earth. The Kruger Having progressed from South African coast to mountains, Julia Bradbury ups the ante as she prepares to head out on foot in the one of the world’s most famous game reserves. Call it exhilarating or fool hardy, this is a walking adventure amongst the biggest and most dangerous beasts in Africa. But Julia is well looked after by Jaco, an expert game ranger who proves that the Kruger is far more than just big cats and elephants. This is a unique opportunity to roam freely in one of the world’s true wildernesses. The Green Kalahari Julia Bradbury’s final walk takes her to the remote North West corner of South Africa. This is the edge of the Kalahari Desert, and the setting for Julia’s most adventurous undertaking yet. Far away from the major tourist draws of the country, this is an insight into a true African world. Set against the stunning red geology of Augrabies National Park, it’s a stark but beautiful walk, encountering simple rural lives and remarkable agriculture, all utterly reliant on the broad waters of the Orange River. The DVD is available to order exclusively early only from Acorn Media UK so get your copy now.
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