The start to the 2013 touring season season has been quiet and I kept myself busy in and around home, but fortunately it did not last to long before I was offered the opportunity to tour with 18 Flemish speaking Belgiums.
We met at O. R Thambo International Airport, with only Pretoria and the Voortrekker Monument to visit, and an afternoon free at, Zebra Country Lodge, our base for the first night.
The evening we a traditional South African Braai (Barbeque), and as tradition will have it the Tourists all had to learn how to enjoy "Maize Pap and a tomato with onion sause". I noted that at first only minute portions were dished up but soon round number 2 and 3 made sure that it all was eaten.
Our next morning before leaving we paid a visit to a local Ndebele Village for a photo stop. We continued long journey to Hoedspruit some 480 plus kilometers away
. Lunch at Dullstroom (Rose Cottage Restaurant) was brilliant, with most enjoying the local delicacy trout.......mmmm was it good!. Our Journey to the Balule section of The Greater Kruger Park took us through Leydenburg where we stopped for a few moments to view a small tornado, indeed a rare sight, and even the tourists enjoyed watching it untill it fizzeled out and absorbed by tha massive thunderstorm.
We arrived at the entrance to the park and were transported to our Camp in the middle of the bush.
We were lucky to spot our first giraffe and elephants near the Camp.
Our experience around the Campfire just before dinner was amazing, and it created the right atmosphere for a good evening in the bush. It was much, much later that everybody went to bed to hear the sounds of the bush mingled with a localised thunderstorm, awsome !!!!!!
We were
woken early by the bush alarm clock in the form of hundreds of bird calls at
first light. After a bowl of fruit and Yogurt followed by a steaming cup of
coffee, we were ready for our bush walk…..a totally new experience for the group.
Our guide
took time to explain about the large, small and beautiful plants, insects and
other creepy-crawlies.
Some spiders
were displaying their beautiful constructed webs and others were hiding down their
borrows.
We returned
to our base-camp after a walk about close onto three hours, for a scrumptious
brunch and a afternoon “siesta”. Most retired to their tents to catch up on
lost sleep, there were a few that scaled the stairs to the lookout platform,
where a light breeze and some shade, made it the best site on the camp. It was
fromt there that I photographed this graceful young Kudu bull.
The
afternoon was our next game viewing opportunity. We took to the narrow
bushroads in search of wildlife. We were not disappointed when we started
spotting Impala, Zebra , Wildebeest, Buffalo up close and very personal. We got
word that another group spotted some Elephant close to their jeep, we
followed them only to find that the elephant had disappeared into the bush. Joe
our guide, suggested that we should try and follow the Elephant on foot, a great
experience. We were able to a Elephant about 50 meters away from us.
Once back in
our jeep we heard word that there were three Rhinos close by and we set off in the suggested direction, only to
be stopped by a huge Elephant close to the road. We then again aimed our jeep
in the direction of the Rhinos only to be slowed down to a crawl by a stubborn
Giraffe that occupied the roadway for more than ten minutes.
Fortunately
the Rhinos were not in a hurry, and we were able to get really close to these
huge gentle beasts.
After this
much success we needed to take a break in the form of a sundowner, and our
Guides obliged by stopping on a dam wall. After sunset our drive continued in
search of those animals that lead a nocturnal life. It was soon that we spotted
a small owl in a tree He refused to look in our direction. After waiting a
few minutes we decided to let him continue with his night vigil. Our guide
indicated that he knows where a Hyena den is and that we could have some luck,
and surely we were in luck when we found the family in our search lights. Wow
what a successful day that ended on a high note and a traditional South
African Braai.
The three
Rondawels site on the Blyderiver offers spectacular vistas with Mountain Protea
trees in bloom
Our
visit to Bourkes luck potholes was also impressive with the Blyde and Treur rives
flowing strongly
On a clear
day God’s Window is a site to behold, standing on top of the escarpment looking
at the open plains that form part of Kruger National Park almost 1000 meters
below.
We had lunch
in Graskop, and then we drove through to Pilgrim’s Rest and walking through the
once thriving gold-miners town, one can feel the history. What I would like
to see, is that this town becomes a living museum and certainly not the tourist trap
it has become. (But that is my own opinion).
Touring the
Panorama Route must include some of the many waterfalls along the entire route,
I chose the Lone Creek falls because you can get to the bottom of the fall and
experience the power of the river falling more than 80 meters!
Our day was
rounded off by a wonderful dinner supported by our perfect hosts at Stille
Woning in White River.
The transfer
to Johannesburg and the flight to Port Elizabeth is an event that takes most of
the day, but it is something that has to be done. We arrived in Port Elizabeth
around 18h00 and headed directly to our Lodge for dinner and a well-deserved
rest.
Our program
only has the Tsitsikamma National Park on the menu, I decided to add a city
tour and a walk on the Beach in Port Elizabeth would be great. The next morning we woke with heavy rain clouds and pouring rain. We all donned our rain
jackets and departed for the beach at Summerstrand. The rain stopped on our
arrival, and we were treated with a spectacular show when more than 100
dolphins swam by …….wonderful- my day was made already,
A visit to
Donkin Square is always well worth it. We were treated when the biggest South
African flag was raised, a memory that will remain with the group.
Storms
River’s Tsitsikamma Village Inn is always something special, with good food and
a very special atmosphere. I do ad a bit of nostalgia to the lunch break by
taking the group to the Diner, (a local 50’s and 60’s Jukebox and classic cars
and bikes) allowing them to experience their youth, dancing with songs from
Elvis, Buddy Holly and The Beatles played on the Jukebox.
The Group
enjoyed the walk along the coast and the experience walking over the suspension bridge
at Tsitsikamma National park,with the crashing waves onto the coastal
rocksdown below left them awe-struck. The short trip to the Tsitsikamma Lodge saw a
couple of nodding heads, another successful day touring
Today’s plan
is to visit a local School project and lunch at Knysna, ending the day in Oudtshoorn
Filled the day with a drive through and stop in the Groot River Pass, where
we stood in the shade of 600 year old Yellowwood trees, our own little paradise.
The stop at
the Local school always brings some tears for those with a soft spot for
children. The Born in Africa Project assists some less advantaged children with
their first and vital years schooling skills, with amazing results.
After lunch at
Knysna we drove to Oudtshoorn for a splendid stay and amazing Ostrich steak
dinner at the Thorntree Country inn.
We spent the
first part of the morning in Oudtshoorn learning about leather craft at a local
Ostrich leather Factory. Lugro makes some of the best handmade leather handbags
I have seen. We had fun at the Cango Ostrich Farm, with close and personal
experiences with these amazing flightless birds.
The Cango
caves are beautiful and well worth a visit. The secret to photographing in the
Caves is to have your camera setup correctly for flash free (around 800 ISO),
conditions, and to wait for the guide to switch on the lighting.
We departed
to Mosselbay with lots of time on our hands, and it was for that reason we
stopped at Hartenbosch Beach, to allow the group freedom to walk on the beach,
a comment from the group “it was sublime”. After a nice lunch we headed for the
Garden Route Game Lodge. The Group's last Game viewing experience, it was
good and everybody enjoyed the dinner at The Point Hotel in Mosselbay.
The next day
we are heading to Cape Town for our visit to the top of The mountain, Table Mountain. You will
notice that I make no mention of the lunch stop; perhaps it is best that no
mention is made. The visit to the top of Cape Town’s most famous mountain was
just picture perfect.
We arrived
at the Lagoon Beach hotel in Milnerton. Just in time to see the sun set behind
Lions Head.
The traditional
tour around the Peninsula is always a winner and although the weather was
predictably unpredictable with rain sunshine and wind alternating, everyone had
a fun day.
Our last day
was spent in the Cape Wine lands, after a non-scheduled visit to the V&A
Waterfront (at the ladies request). The Afrikaanse Taal Monument, Lunch in
Stellenbosch and a wine tasting in Paarl rounded off a great tour.
