Out of Africa (with my family)
A itinerary form Cape Town to Garden Route and Port Elizabeth. A stop at a Grootbos for whale watching and a safari at Madikwe Game Reserve
Iceland, the island of the four elements
If I were asked to think of a destination where all the wonders of nature would take place, undoubtedly Iceland would be my answer.
From steaming hot springs and dormant volcanoes to ancient glaciers and grassy pastures; Iceland is a land of raw natural beauty, still echoing with the sound of Viking chants in the background.
Iceland has a high concentration of active volcanoes due to its location on the mid-Atlantic ridge and a hot spot beneath the island. It is estimated that there are about 130 volcanoes.
This is a unique destination like no other place on earth, bringing together an eclectic collection of breathtaking sights on an island of only 103,000 sq. km. Where else on Earth can you dive into the infinitely clear waters between two continental plates, walk on a thousand-year-old glacier, or descend into the heart of a volcano?
The rugged landscapes shaped by the earth's greatest forces: wind, lava, fire, and ice, have made Iceland a place of dramatic beauty, with its towering waterfalls, geothermal lakes, and magical ice caves that have captured the imagination of many writers and, of course, Hollywood producers.
Similarly, the mystical is also woven into the fabric of Iceland, rich in folk tales and legends about elves, fairies, and trolls along with its more than 30 active volcanoes, the countless bubbling hot springs, and the geothermal lakes that flood the country, such as the well-known "Blue Lagoon".
The Blue Lagoon is a natural geothermal spa located 40 minutes from Reykjavik. This large artificial lake was formed in 1976 as a result of drilling at the Svartsengi geothermal plant for electricity. The groundwater is heated to between 37ºC and 40ºC by lava seepage. It is one of the most geothermally active areas in the world.
These waters are rich in minerals such as silica and sulfur and have beneficial properties for the skin.
I started my 10-day trip full of excitement thinking what this eclectic place would have in store for me. My arrival in Reykjavik was as I imagined, a quiet, peaceful, orderly, but at the same time vibrant, modern, and current city where its inhabitants with their perfect English, greet you with a warmth that one expects to find more in southern Europe.
I continued my journey towards the Golden Circle and my first stop was the Geyser, the source of thermal water that erupts from the bottom of the earth and that gives name to this phenomenon in other parts of the world. The first surprise comes when the locals tell you that it has not erupted for more than 90 years and that the real show awaits you 400 meters further, where his brother Strokkur surprises you with its deafening roar and its water jet shooting more than 30 meters high to welcome you to a land that emanates life.
- Reykjavik is the northernmost capital city in the world. In summer it has 24 hours of daylight a day. —
- Strokkur geyser erupts every 4 to 8 minutes with an average height of 15 to 20 meters. —
- The Lutheran church of Stradarkirkja, built on top of a hill on the south coast of Iceland, is used as a lighthouse for seafarers. —
- Icebergs floating in the ocean are brought to the shore by the waves and stranded there. Some are the size of a small car.
From there I approached another form of living water, the Gullfoss waterfall, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in Europe, where the Hvitá river plunges and flows into a wide staircase of three steps to finally plunge in two stages into a 32-meter deep crevasse that is lost to sight.
And I could not leave the Golden Circle without setting foot in the valley of Thingvellir, the pass where the 2 tectonic plates that separate North America and Europe collide and where one of the oldest parliaments in the world was founded, back in 930.
The mystical is also woven into the fabric of Iceland, rich in folk tales and legends about elves, fairies, and trolls. According to a 2007 study conducted by the University of Iceland, approximately 62% of the nation believes in the existence of these magical beings.
Leaving the Golden Circle behind, it was time for some action aboard a super SUV, a Land Rover but with bigger tractor-like wheels to discover Landmannalaugar, in the Icelandic Highlands, a hidden paradise whose difficult access has allowed the preservation of this landscape as one of the most unspoiled areas in Europe.
Our super SUV allowed us to enter this unique landscape formed by lava land and ice slabs, where regular vehicles cannot circulate. And, before my eyes, a landscape of brightly colored mountains was displayed along with steam emanating from the ground everywhere and natural springs for bathing and completely free!
We were able to see the landscape of the mountains and the ice.
A 4WD tour is the best way to explore and discover the Icelandic highlands and its characteristic lunar landscape.
Although it is now a symbol of Iceland, in the early 20th century the government considered selling the Gullfoss waterfall to foreign companies to exploit its hydroelectric power.
When I thought that nothing else could surprise me about this country, I arrived at Vatnajökull Glacier, the largest in Iceland and the second largest in Europe, where, after equipping myself with crampons, a two-hour trek on the glacier awaited me.
The diversity of white and blue colors, interspersed with the black of the remains of lava and ash from volcanoes that erupted in the past, made its way before my eyes to end at the foot of the glacial lake Jökulsárlón, an intense blue dotted with small icebergs floating everywhere. These icebergs come from the great glacier and leave pieces of ice in their path until they reach a black beach. In my head, there could not be a more contradictory image than finding large blocks of ice on a beach...
The adventure did not end here. Leaving the beach of Jökursárlón, a helicopter was waiting for us to take a panoramic flight over this land of ice and fire and, after a 20-minute ride, we arrived at the entrance of the Thrihnukagigur volcano.
11% of Iceland's surface is covered by glaciers, including Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier.
Trip to the center of the Earth
After equipping ourselves with a safety helmet, headlamp, and safety harness, we descended with a small group of 8 people in an electric elevator some 120 meters through the chimney of the dormant crater. Darkness embraced us and I had only the light of my headlamp showing me through the shaft the wonderful carvings that fire and lava have sculpted here over the years.
After a descent of about 7 minutes, we reached the beginning of some constructed walkways that took us into the bowels of the magma chamber. That feeling of being "inside" the Earth is inexplicable... the ocher, red, and blue colors captured in the rock of the chimney are indescribable.
After about an hour, we left the volcano where some fat bikes awaited us. Like the super jeep, they are special bicycles with wheels adapted to the soft Icelandic lava soil that allowed us to enjoy a comfortable ride around the volcano's slopes, crossing the valley in this landscape of fairytale land.
The colors inside the volcano and the feeling of being "inside the Earth" are indescribable.
Contact with nature is the essence of any trip to Iceland.
Summer is a good time to take advantage of the long days and kayak on rivers and lakes.
The adventure of spending the night camping in front of a glacier.
The so-called "farmhouses" in Iceland are perfect agritourisms to stay in the middle of nature with all the comforts and amenities.
On my last night in Iceland, I was left with the thorn of contemplating one of what is undoubtedly one of the greatest spectacles in the sky. The nights went by and the weather was not good. Finally, on the last day, the night was clear and dark, and right above me, there it was, in an idyllic setting, magical as can be, a magnificent aurora borealis I said goodbye with all the honors of my adventure in Iceland.
Africa Llamas, during her trip to Iceland.
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12 MONTHS, 12 STORIES
12
One story, each month, for a year
Choose your topics/ areas of interests
5'
Five minutes of inspiration
The day of your choice