Phophonyane Falls

Two weekends ago, Doug, Stephanie, Michelle, Nick, Ali and I went hiking with the National Historical Society (NHSS) of Swaziland in Pigg's Peak. The NHSS does a monthly hike and while this was our first time, there were many, many 'regulars.' Because it was the King's Birthday and therefore a national holiday, we had a 3-day weekend which I thought brought out additional hikers. All told, there were 20+ of us! The hike was about 4 hours round trip and was along the ridge of a mountain range. It was a 'hump-to-hump' route as we walked along the spine of the mountain across a series of 4 smaller 'humps.' Most of my pictures are of the spectacular scenery...

Hiking up to the 'first hump'

Views from the top

How did I get that butterfly in the picture, too?

Ali and Doug on top of the first peak. Ali is a 'Visiting Scholar' for one month at the Baylor Clinic in Mbabane. The 'small world' fact about Ali is that he was best friends with a guy named Kamran in medical school in Texas. And then, Doug became good friends with Kamran during his residency at CHOC in California. And now, Ali and Doug are working at the same clinic and are standing on top of a mountain together in Swaziland. It is a small world.

Hiking from one hump to the next

Views from the saddle

Upcoming humps

The falls

Michelle and Steph braving the cold, run-off water

Nick and Doug swimming in the even colder pool at the bottom of the falls

Where's the photo of me swimming in the falls, you ask? Well, let's just say I was the only SANE member of the group and was not interested in swimming in the arctic water. Phophonyane Falls were awesome and it is safe to say that the surrounding mountain range will definitely host us again for another Sunday hike. Swaziland is beautiful.