BREATHING ROOM

‘A beautiful hello! Hello, friends!’

What strange world was this? This guy, in his slick black tights and Nike trail shoes, his larger-than-life beard and friendly eyes, was talking to a herd of wildebeest grazing just outside The Lapa, an open-air restaurant-cum-lounge-cum-bar where breakfast had been served.

Already understood was that this was no ordinary hike, but who'd have imagined bumping into wildish animals round the back of the hotel?

I'd met Lesego Mapeka over coffee, identified him (by his energy as much as the tights) as the resident fitness guru and within minutes he'd suggested we hike.

I'd been in Gauteng less than an hour – Lanseria Airport is a short drive away – and we were traipsing into purest countryside on a beaut of a day, the Highveld sun wrapping itself around the hills’ voluptuous contours, tingeing everything with its golden glow.

We slipped past the wildebeest and headed up the side of the hill, a parallel universe of tall grass, dirt trails and wraparound views.

It was the antithesis of clichéd Johannesburg; which – together with its bustle – was about 40 minutes away. Or maybe two hours, with traffic.

We followed upward wending paths and soon Lesego was pointing out more wild