"All-Access" Sees South Africa
An "All-Access" trip that began in Chicago took Dave Price and Ariel Biscan to South Africa, back to the dark days of apartheid, then to the opposite end of the spectrum — pure fun, as Dave and Ariel went big-game hunting, though only with cameras, on a safari!
Their "All-Access" pass actually got them a firsthand look at Nelson Mandela's old jail cell.
On Friday, Dave
They flew on South African Airways from Chicago to New York to get to Johannesburg, logged another 1,400 miles around South Africa, then left from Cape Town for London, and headed back to New York, for a total this week of 20,019 miles. Dave's two-week "All-Access" total is 31,546 miles around the world.
This trip was part education, and part vacation.
The educational part afforded Dave and Ariel a personal look at South Africa's journey from the segregation of apartheid through the long walk to freedom and democracy, through people who lived it and who followed in the footsteps of Mandela, the freedom-fighter.
The first stop was Johannesburg, and to understand South Africa today, Dave observed, you have to understand its past.
Part of that past was apartheid.
"As you got older," said Apartheid Museum Deputy Director Wayde Davie, "you realized how terribly wrong it was in this place, and you became aware that there were these groupings of people fighting the absolute atrocities that were happening in South Africa. It was just absolutely unreal."
One of Dave's and Ariel's guides at the museum was only a child during apartheid rule, but her memories of it remain vivid.
"Everything was blacks vs. whites," Allegra Mkhabele said. "If they found people gathered somewhere, it was illegal for maybe a group of people to be together, because they thought maybe they were talking about politics. So, if they go around and find them, they start shooting people.
"Then, people were fighting back, by throwing stones."
The museum features hundreds of exhibits.
Davie explained to Dave and Ariel why it was such an important stop as they began their "All-Access" tour.
"You have to know what happened," Davie said. "You have to then be accountable for what part you played in it. Then, it's about bringing people together … reconciliation … forgiveness … and living with each other."
Some of those who know best about reconciliation, Price pointed out, are the political prisoners who served time on Robben Island, a notorious former prison off Cape Town where political prisoners such as Mandela were held captive, just because of their commitment to equality.
Dave and Ariel's All-Access pass earned them rare permission to land directly at the prison in their chartered helicopter.
Their guide there knows Robben Island as few people do.
Amhed Kathrada served 18 years there.
"Seven of us who were not white," Kathrada recalled, "were flown to Robben Island on the night of our sentence. We were suddenly woken up, chained, put in the leg irons, put on a military plane, and we landed" on the island.
Kathy, as he's known by friends, took Dave and Ariel on a tour of some of the more infamous spots on Robben Island.
He showed them were prisoners "did pick and shovel work. … Not a single one of us had done pick and shovel work in our lives, so in the first month, every day, we had bleeding hands and blisters. But we adjusted to that because, at least here, we could work in groups. We could talk."
As Dave, Ariel and Kathrada worked their way toward where Mandela and Kathrada were held, Kathrada explained one of the lessons of Robben Island: "Under our circumstances, against the greatest odds, we achieved a peaceful transformation to democracy. If we could do it, why not others?"
The most poignant part of Dave's and Ariel's visit, Dave said, was the ultimate in All-Access: the cell where Mandela was confined for 18 years. Visitors typically aren't allowed into that cell.
Ariel was overcome with emotion.
Choked up, she said, "It's a very strong message, and it's probably the strongest message I've ever heard in my life, to, you know, let the past be the past and move toward the future and learn and don't repeat. Thank you (Kathrada) for sharing your story."
Hugging Ariel, Kathrada said, "Not at all. Thank you for coming, and don't be discouraged."
Then, arm still around Ariel, he gently led her out of the cell.
"Remarkable," Price said. "What could have been a country that collapsed under hatred has now emerged as a shining example of growing unity."
On a much lighter note, Price called South Africa one of the "best — safari places in the world," as he and Ariel found out, up close and personal.
Dave and Ariel's goal: to see all those animals at South Africa's Kruger National Park.
So they boarded a charter flight to Skukuza Airport, smack in the middle of the bush, anxious to fulfill their quest.
From the airport, they headed to the Tinga Private Game Lodge.
She was so pleased with the accommodations, she joked that she might not go home.
Then it was time for the safari, with their guide, Britten.
They spotted a large bird in a tree that Britten said "can take out small mammals. Guinea foul, serpents, snakes, you name it."
"Anchormen?" Dave interjected.
"Not yet, but we're training them to!" Britten responded.
"Not cool!" Dave replied.
Hours into their safari, Dave and Ariel spotted an impala, then a giraffe.
On their second day in the wild, a hippopotamus and numerous exotic animals.
But still, none of the "big five."
Until they finally saw buffalo.
End of safari.
While in South Africa, Dave and Ariel also toured Cape Town and Soweto.
Their trip was arranged with the help of South Africa Tourism.
At times, they stayed at the Melrose Arch Hotel and Mount Nelson Hotel.
Tell us and, if you can be in one of the cities Dave is visiting across the country on Fridays through March 23, you could be whisked away on an "All-Access" weekend, too. On Friday, March 2, join him at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
If you can't get to the cities Dave is heading to, you can win an amazing "All-Access Pass" weekend by playing at home. Each Wednesday through March 28, we'll ask a question about his past weekend's "All-Access" adventure. Every correct answer gets you a chance at the ultimate "All-Access" weekend — a trip for two to the Tony Awards, to be broadcast live on CBS on June 10, 2007.
The question on Wednesday, Feb. 28 was:
Which of the following did Dave and Ariel see on their safari?
1) Dodo bird
2) Kangaroo
3) Giraffe
