Preparations continue with Cape Town booking confirmed, tickets for Botswana arrive tomorrow.
We are almost ready for our holiday to South Africa and Botswana with all accommodations booked, tickets from Go2Africa re Botswana arrive tomorrow and Berndt has come back confirming details re the booking near Kruger at the end of our holiday.
Tomorrow we finalise arrangements for our stopover in Perth and catch up and dinner with Terry and Linda Budge.
This has been another amazing day in n this phenomenal holiday. We stayed overnight at City Lodge Hotel , OT Tambo Johannesburg International Airport and dined in their cafe last evening.
This morning we fly out of Johannesburg to Kisane Botswana on a little jet aircraft on SA link and have an enjoyable flight with a meal and drinks. We departed Johannesburg at 11.45am and we were on the ground at 1.50pm then through a shambolic immigration and then customs check, which is clearly manual labour. We hen meet our guide and are ushered us to another type of Jeep. We travel the 15 minutes to the resort. We are greeted as royalty then checked in and taken to our accommodation n villa 14. Just unbelievable in every respect, beautifully furnished with animals on the king bed. We have nearly 30 minutes to unpack, then back for high tea at 3.00pm. This is superb with large bedroom, separated from shower and bathroom, independent dressing room etc.
We don't have a direct Chobe river view but can see through the trees with the ocean mpaoa and Wilderbeast in front.
Following high tea, we adjourned to the jeeps and were driven down to the boats, where we were ushered aboard, then directed through the security and safety issues, including nothing over the edges. We then power out through the growing weed and other vegetation and into a channel. There are superb scenes of the waterways, the island and then we come to the mesmerising first group of rhinos. We swing our the boat through 180degrees to maximise the angles for taking photos of the rhinos. There are about 10 in this group and we watch them pulling the plants off the bottom.
We then drive further along the delta and watch the amazing hippos, eating and walking and fighting.. There are several groups.
We then came across thousands upon thousands of lotus flowers on the river with superb flowers. We stop to take photos of the lotus flowers, then see the first of many crocodiles usually sunning themselves, but also totally aware of their mediate environment. It has s amazng yo watch these animals maps. We see buffaloes, also many babboons and girrafes.
Wherevr we look we see baboons as well as all sorts of birds.
Frm here we start to make ur way back ,but stop for sundowners, watch a large pack of baboons. But we still no to focus on the many baboons, the immediate role re lions and other animals , the crocodile and the birds,
We enjoy the sundowners, but also reals another superb sunset is approaching. We anchor and watch the amazing sunset.
Then we return to the resort via jeep from the boat areas. but on the way we take in a superb multi coloured sunset whilst on the water
Following a quick shower and change we are ready for pre dinner drinks and then we move to sit by the outdoor fires. Dinner is then set out on the lawns and we enjoy the most amazing barbecue.
Dinner is served in the lawns with views down to the river. Asuperb outdoor buffet and barbecue, where we fit as a special able of 6, but one group withdraws.
We enjoy the excellent entertainment throughout this special night. There is a group ofb3 playing.
Deinner concludes at 9.30pm and we are ushered back to our villa. It had been a great day. Magnificent resort, with beautiful villas, the cruise was sensational. Enjoy the photos attached.
We departed Bain's Camp with a sense of excitement and yet disappointment as this had been an amazing 2 days. The staff all said there goodbyes, and there was no singing. We departed following our unbelievable "Walk with the Elephants and we were quickly transported to the air strip, where there were 2 planes, waiting for passengers to go to Chief's in our case and another party returning to Chobe.
There were several jeeps overlooking the runway to prevent wart hogs and Impala from straying onto the runway as the planes departed. There was also a lone bull elephant and 2 Giraffes beside a bush area, next to the runway.
We entered the plane and sat in the back seats of the 12 seater plane and enjoyed a very short flight of 12 minutes duration to Chief's island where we were met by several jeeps again patrolling the airstrip. We had a 25 minute drive from the airstrip to the resort and we saw several different types of animals including elephants, Giraffes, zebras, , water buffalo, wildebeest before we came to a large clearing. There were 6 of us checking in from the flight, but another group had earlier checked in. There are 2 different resorts on Chief's, being our 5 star resort and the tented camp of some 4 stars some 5 km from our resort.
The staff and managers meet and greet us as we arrive in the reception forecourt. We are then inducted into the resort and received detailed briefings. Quite simply this is a beautiful stunning resort with contemporary eating and drinking lounges and superb outdoor restaurant, overlooking the broad savannah grasses and the wetlands of the vast delta river system.
Our villa is#7 and it is some 50-70 metres from the the central lodge area, but you are not permitted to walk from our villa to the main lodge apart from morning through to dusk and certainly not after dark. This is an open park and animals are known to regularly come up to the lounge area, passing through the sleeping villas. The villa is outstanding with a large bedroom with king bed, separate lounge and small office area, independent full ensuite and separate toilet. There is also separate shower room and outdoors shower area. Outside there is a platform with seating overlooking the savannah, then a plunge pool and full day bed. It is one of the very best setups that we have observed in any country and on any of our holidays.
We have 90 minutes before high tea and then the afternoon game drive/ safari.
Our jeep has 6 people with a younger couple from Honolulu in the back seats, Another American couple from near New York City being Annie and Mike, who are celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary and we sit in the middle.
Departure from our Camp occurs at 4.00pm and we drive for some 70 minutes without seeing more than Impala and zebra together with Wildebeest and a couple of Giraffe, but that changes at5.15pm as we race toward an open grassland area, where there is a sighting of a Cheetah. We arrive at 5.25pm and watch in amazement as the Cheetah initially relaxes, but then awakes and begins to prowl looking for impala or similar. It is an amazing experience. We forego the planned "sundowner" drink and snacks at sunset to watch this whole wonderful experience.
On our return we see a herd of elephants as we approach the Camp. Then suddenly we see several Giraffes.
We have time to shower and change for dinner, before returning to the lounge and restaurant area, where we sit around a blazing bonfire with per dinner drinks. On this our first evening we share a romantic dinner of 4 courses and good wines under the stars. Before turning in after a brilliant day we are again warned that animals do venture into the Camp at night.
Come 1030pm, we are back in our Villa listening to various noises from the animals. We both drift off and sleep well until Ken arises at 4.15pm and hears a lion in the Camp area and there are several "roars" ,but he didn't wake Jeanette . She was disappointed in the morning because this was the subject of much discussion over the breakfast and queries as to whether we will see them.
Another perfect morning and much discussion as to the roars and there were also several elephants in the camp. Following a superb breakfast we load up into the jeeps with a sense of expectation, given our guide is also aware of the lions in the Camp, but is confident that if we find the kill, then we will be able to likely track the females.
After driving around the Camp perimeter for some 15 minutes our driver then locates the carcass of the Kano, which has been completely cleaned by the lions, but there are also hyenas in close proximity as a well as vultures in the air all wanting to participate. But there is no sign of the lions. So we drive , see a herd of elephants and many impala and zebras. Finally some 20 minutes after the locating of the carcass, we receive notification that another jeep has found 2 lion brothers, walking back along the savannah grass areas toward a stream, but whilst we hurry to watch these young male lions, our guide doesn't believe they killed the animal although they also feasted. He wants to find the females.
So for the next 45 minutes we watch and follow these two brothers as they slowly walk away from the area of the kill toward a stream where they can drink water and then relax and sleep. They walk by extremely close to our vehicle, then turn slowly to take in the whole environment before reaching a stream and then drinking for almost 10 minutes. They then source a small mound of grass with some small trees, where they lay down stretch out and chill out before falling asleep obviously well sated.
We also now move on taking a wide circle from the 2 males back in the direction of the the kill area. This is like finding a needle in a hay stack, but after another 20 minutes, we come to a partially shaded clearing where there are 2 female lions, still consuming meat from another kill, being a warthog, and we watch the amazing scenes as they tear the meat off the carcass. Our guide is finally satisfied that we have identified the lions responsible for the earlier"kill" which was subsequently cleaned up by the 2 brothers. The females had obviously moved on and found another potential kill with the warthog but this time, the food was totally,consumed by the "girls".
We waited and watched this whole process, simply stunning and amazing to watch nature at work. They were aware of our 3 jeeps in close proximity, but showed no concern. They were fully engaged in eating, then sleeping and from our viewpoint it was all amazing
Finally, we departed that scene to return to the lodge for lunch. This has been a once in a lifetime morning seeing all of the animals, but emphatically the time watching the boys in the grasslands then the female lions will forever remain in my most prized moments.
Close to our Camp we come across elephants, Giraffes, the ever present impalas and zebras. We are all excited and emotional as to watching these events. We do shower and change for lunch and then come back to the lounge and dining areas for a superb luncheon. The conversation over lunch is excitable and emotional. It is apparent that we have experienced a special moment.
Mid afternoon comes quickly after lunch and a brief period of rest, we come back where "high tea" is being served, but we like several other guests are excited as to going out. At 4.00pm we depart for the last of our drives here at Sanctuary Chief's Camp, chief's Island, Botswana. We again skirt the immediate area and then drive passed the Rhino storage areas, hoping that the rhinos may be in close proximity. They are not but after 45 minutes, we hear news across the radio network, that one of the Jeeps has found a cheetah with a kill of an impala. We drive for 20 minutes to get to the area and initially cannot spot the Cheetah which is hidden in the bushes and expertly camouflaged. But we wait and then suddenly, we see the Cheetah come out of the bushes to an area of low bushes where it has stored the carcass of the impala. Again a simply amazing spectacle to watch the Cheetah protect its kill and slowly tear it apart.
Our viewing lasts almost 35 minutes. We depart and drive back from where we had watched the female lions. They had moved on after sleeping but we soon found the lions still sleeping and relaxing after the busy evening period. They are totally exhausted.
We drive 20 minutes to a large waterhole, where we stop for our evening sundowner drinks and snacks with the perfect background of the waterhole and the superb sunset. This is again a surreal experience and we talk as to the amazing sightings of the morning and afternoon.
The drive back from the sundowners and sunset is again exciting. Tonight we have a dinner where we sit with our jeep group and also have a celebration as to our wonderful experiences in Botswana. The meal is superb, the evening mild with no wind and stars sparkling.
The Camp and villas have been wonderful. This has been a stunning memorable experience for each of our group.
The morning came around quickly after a wonderful dinner. Another perfect morning with no scheduled Game drive or Safari, but the need to pack and be prepared to leave following morning tea.
We said good byes to our two American couples having enjoyed their company in our Jeep and sharing wonderful animal and Game experiences here in Botswana. We have particularly enjoyed this wonderful Sanctuary resort and Camp here on Chief's Island.
The guide picks us up from the lounge area and we enjoy a quick coffee, say our farewells to the Managers and staff before departing in our Jeep for the drive through the savannah and Game Park to the airstrip.
As we drive we observe the animals for the last time, with elephants roaming through the forest areas, several Giraffes, many impala and the mandatory Warthogs as well as the beautiful Zebras.
We arrive at the airstrip and there are several groups awaiting transfer from This and one other lodge in 2 small aircraft. We fly to Maun, quite a large township and the airport there is bustling with the comings and goings of many small aircraft servicing the many small dirt strips at the range of camps. We are checked in for our flight of almost 2 hours on the small jet operated between Man and Johannesburg by South African Airlines.
At Johannesburg Airport we are enthusiastically greeted by Elly and Berndt Mestrum, who are joining us for 4 nights at Kruger Lodge Resort just outside Kruger National Park. They drive us to their new home in XXX! Where we have a drink, sit and talk before an enjoyable dinner. We have to repack our soft sided bags, with clothes from our hard sided cases which they have stored for us over the last 7 days during our Botswana experience. Berndt is particularly interested in the overall holiday because he recommended a number of activities. He is delighted that we have had an excellent and enjoyable time. We eat at a local Italian restaurant and have a most enjoyable evening. Elly drives home. A long but very enjoyable day.
We sleep soundly but hear them packing the car at 6.30am in anticipation of us departing at7.30 with a long drive up the N2 covering almost 5 hours thirty minutes before we arrive in the Kruger Lodge Resort in Mpumalanga. The drive takes us through interesting scenery before we again climb to somewhere near 5,500 feet above sea level ,and also before we begin the descent to the Kruger National park area. We are between the Kruger Gate and one other gate.
Dinner is a superb meal prepared by Elly and Jeanette. We eat inside because the evenings are getting a little colder. We do talk incessantly as to what has occurred in our lives over these last several years. They explain the business changes, the decision to purchase and build their new comfortable home in the new city of Watersxxxxx. We update them as to our family, our changes re our home and our continuing desire to travel.
Finally, we agree a schedule for tomorrow visit to several important environmental and tourist areas.
We do get to sleep in a little with departure at approximately 9.15am and travel to the area of stunning geographic and geological formations known as "Bourke's Luck Potholes" where we observe a flooded river flowing through spectacular water falls and over unusual geological structures before flowing back into the river. We walk down a pathway of rock steps to several raised platforms overlooking the rapidly flowing stream.
It is a stunning walk through quite amazing and stunning rocks and geological formations. We then walk across to the bridge across the river and witness the rapids as they pulse across the rock formations. It is also unique.
Following this we drive to God's Window another platform overlooking stunning granite cliff faces which then reflect back to the valley below. It is another stunning vista, despite the mist and haze which is slowly covering the valley.
We also visited the Blyde River Canyon nature Park and see some beautiful plant life. Here we also take in stunning scenery, beautiful plants and stunning topographical and geological structures.
Earlier in the day we had visited the Lowveld National Botanic Gardens, where we walked through beautiful gardens with unique South African plant life. We then walk through several pathways and find a restaurant for lunch, where we enjoy lunch a drink and the scenery of this unique botanical gardens. We then drive on to another totally unique environmental area with Lake Panic Viewing area and viewing platform, where we sat in serious still environments watching quite unique bird life.
Another interesting area was the unique African Rainforest, where we observed totally different types of vegetation, which was totally outside anything we had previously witnessed in Africa. This was a unique area created in the Lowveld National Botanic Gardens and clearly reinforced the amazing diversity of animal, plants and bird life that we gave again observed over this 5 week holiday period.
On our 2 visits to travel with Elly and Berndt they have shown us an extravaganza of totally different geographic and typography, given that the animals and bird life are just an accepted unbelievable framework, with our expectations very high in relation to the lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, hippos and rhinos as well as water buffalo, zebras, impala and Giraffes, crocodile etc.
The geography is simply stunning.
We also are excited as to a superb dinner with cooking on the brai (BBQ) with hot vegetables and salads together with outstanding wines. This has been a stunning day of contrasting experiences, with the rock formations, the waterfalls and river flows, the simply stunning plant and bird life, the gardens, the lakes and waterfalls.
Bourke' Luck Pot Holes
From the bridge and walkway at Bourke's Luck Potholes
The view from "God's Window" -simply stunning!!
We again awoke to a perfect morning here at Kruger Lodge. Last night Elly prepared another superb meal and we drank an excellent red wine and celebrated our last night of what has been an outstanding holiday here in South Africa and our week in Botswana. It has been a most enjoyable holiday and concluding with our friends Berndt and Elly at Kruger Lodge and subsequently back at their new home was a pleasure of great joy.
Ken woke at 5.50pm and was out of bed to shower at 6.10am and then packed the electrical plugs etc. Then he assisted Berndt pack the car as far as we can.
Jeanette follows and is showered and dressed by 6.30am. We then enjoy breakfast and we all discuss what a great 4 days we have enjoyed here at Kruger Lodge and also enjoying Kruger National Park and in travelling to other areas.
We are on the road for 5 hours and 20 minutes travelling through the high veld to the low veld and then a steep climb. We stop at Millie's Readhouse and get petrol, use the facilities as well as having a coffee and rusk for morning tea. Berndt drove for 2 hours and 20 minutes, before Elly drove for a short break.
Lunch followed and Elly again put together a good spread using some of the leftovers from our stay.
We then repack our small soft bags and contents into our hard sided cases. We then shower and change and sit and relax for almost 2 hours before it is time to travel to O R Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.
Berndt and Elly then drive us from their home to the airport. It is a 25 minute track through heavy peak hour traffic before the turnoff.
We arrive in good time, they drop us off and the farewells were said and it is somewhat sad to say goodbye after a wonderful time together.
A porter took us from the car to the checkin of South Africa Airlines and we were processed and then into security and immigration inside 15 minutes. Then to the South Africa Lounge, where we have almost 90 minutes wait before boarding.
Boarding comes quickly at 8.40pm and we depart at 9.20pm five minutes late. We sit in seats 6d and 6d, these are the middle two seats in business class, not where we usually sit, but it is fine. Following departure Ken converts his bed lays out his mattress and doona. We both decide against being served Dinner and go to sleep. Ken sleeps until approximately 3.45am and wakes some 40 minutes ahead of breakfast.
We land in Perth after a flight of 9 hours15 minutes, collect our luggage and then catch the GoConnect bus and transfer from International Terminal to Terminal 3 and 4 Qantas Domestic. We have almost 2 hours before our scheduled 3.00pm flight to Melbourne with a scheduled 3 hours 30 minutes flight.
Gavin picks us up and delivers us to Wheelers Hill at 9.30pm.
It has been an amazing holiday. Photos are attached from Hazyview and our drive back to Johannesburg.
We woke to a perfect morning here in Kruger Lodge and following yesterday's drive n Kruger National Park, we are having a late cooked breakfast then visiting the hippo platform.
Last evening following our tiring but exhilarating day with the animals in stunning Kruger National Park, Elly served a beautiful dinner of prawns and salad.
We visited the Hippos and took some photos, then walked back across the golf Course to the car and drove downtown to a small shopping centre.
Finally we have returned home to our villa and after a late morning coffee and chocolate milkshake Jeanette has washed everything. We will pack later for our return to Johannesburg tomorrow.
This evening we are having a roast on the briae (BBQ) and drinking a lovely South African red and white wine with Elly and Berndt.
This has been an excellent few days here in Kruger to conclude this wonderful holiday.
We have a 5 hour drive tomorrow back to their home, where we repack our soft packs into our large cases then we will be travelling the 25 minutes to the airport. They will deliver us to OT Tambo International Airport for our South African Airways flight from Johannesburg to Perth departing at 9.45pm on Thursday 11th May 2015 and following our Qantas flight from a Perth to Melbourne we will be met by Gavin and returned to Wheelers Hill after a great 5 week holiday.
This is our second day here at beautiful Kruger Lodge and we have decided to spend the day visiting wonderful Kruger National Park. We rise early at 6.30am and depart for the park to arrive at the entrance gate at 7.10am and already there are many cars lined up having paid their entrance fees. This is a huge national parkland of some 200 km in length and 130 km in breadth so our day with only take in a small part of the park driving on both paved and non paved roads.
Berndt drives and Elly has packed coffee, tea and snacks for a morning stop.
Surprisingly, the first hour of driving produces little activity in terms of either bird or animal life. But this changes quickly and we see a whole range of elephants, giraffe, impala , then lions followed by a further range of buffalo and when we stop for coffee beside a water hole there are hippos.
We drive on after a short break and quickly come across a breeding herd of elephants, then 5 Giraffes meander across the road in front of us. It is exciting and exhilarating to see these beautiful animals in front of us in their traditional environment. Hopefully the photos do justice to our visit and I will include them later on. We then see another small herd of elephants and many zebras.
The highlight of the morning, was the lions with their 2 cubs. They were sleeping on the other side of the water hole. It was quite wonderful. We have enjoyed the lions throughout our trip and this was no different.
We stop at 11.30amat Skukusa Camp for brunch at one of the large camps and we all thoroughly enjoy different burgers, although Jeanette has a chicken salad.
Following lunch we drive some 30 km to an area of high rocks and water holes where we again see elephants, this time no more than 5 metres from the vehicle. But it is spoilt as some idiot sits on the edge of his door almost exiting the vehicle and the skis enough to have one bull elephants, some 10 metres away, raise his trunk and kick his feet obviously agitated by this fool who was also endangering us. We subsequently moved on after a further 2-3 minutes because we were apprehensive as to the behaviour this bull elephant who was clearly upset.
We then came across hippos wallowing in the mud and water and only came to the surface every 2-5 minutes.
The bird life here at Kruger is again spectacular and Colourful with bright reds, blues, greens and yellows. We then come across two Karu, grazing and it immediately brings back memories of the kill by the female lions during our stay in Chief's Island at Sanctuary Chief's Resort, where we followed the 2 boys and then came across the two female lions who were resting following another kill of the wart hog.
We then divert to travel along the Sabie River hoping to see crocodiles sunning on the banks. We see several elephants and Giraffes walking down to the river and the water hole. There are several Wildebeest, several beautiful zebras and the ever present impalas.
Following this we drive to a waterhole and see an enclosed area reserved specifically for birdwatching at this lake area. It is definitely Simply breathtaking in terms of the the water, colours and breathtaking bird life.
Bernt had taken over from Elly after brunch, and now we drove in a circular fashion into another area following leaving the Sabie River. Unfortunately, with the temperature rising to some 28 degrees Celsius, obviously many animals were seeking shade and we saw less of the animals.
Arrival back at Kruger Lodge at 3.20pm, we had enjoyed a magnificent day in this amazing park.
We all showered and changed and we are now sitting outside having a drink.
Following the wake up with Coffee delivered to our villa, we had breakfast and then departed upon our morning game drive. We drove through the metre deep water on some roads and swayed through newly finalised dirt roads.
Not far from the Camp we came upon a large herd lwof water buffalo, then many Impala.
Our guide Fred then identifies Leopard footprints and we drive around for some twenty minutes. Fred is convinced that the Leopard has a kill and is dragging it through the undergrowth and is seeking safe refuge to eat its kill.
Suddenly, Fred points and there is the leopard high in the tree and on the ground beneath the tree is a full size male Impala, which has been torn apart, but remains largely in tact. There is no one else around and we get to watch the Leopard attempt to climb the tree and bring the impala up into the branches away from other predators, but after a couple of attempts including a lengthy rest, it becomes too hard and she is forced to drop the impala to the ground. She then has a rest all the while surveying and deciding what to do. She then drags it directly past us and into deeper under growth.
Just an amazing experience and we do have some brilliant video and photos.
We then drive on and see elephants, giraffe and suddenly there are lion footprints, but we are unable to locate. We experience nature at its rawest.
The drive is largely quiet after the excitement of the impala and Leopard.
Yet on the afternoon drive we see very little activity apart from the elephants, the water buffalo and the zebra and impala. Fred knows that there are lions about but in this area they have gone deeper into the forested areas.
Dinner is another superb feast of 3 courses. We all remain excited as to the Leopard. We are excited as to the following morning because we are scheduled to complete the "Walk with the Elephants " a special activity where the group meet and then spend some 3 hours walking with the 2 elephants and then having lunch in a clearing which is set up for a full buffet luncheon and the 2 elephants join us for lunch them they engage with us and present to us.
We are in bed at 10.15pm and we hear hippos and crocodiles during the evening. The morning comes quickly and it is another perfect sunrise and we enjoy the breakfast out on the balcony at Baines resort.
Following our depart, we drive through beautiful Savanna fields, see many animals, but not lions, and eventually come to the area where the 2 elephant keepers, have their 2 beautiful elephants(Aruba and Jabu) who are really refugees from elephant culls and they have been trained and rehabilitated over several years , not to perform as occurs in circus activities, but in the peace and tranquility of their own environment here in Botswana, where there are over 150,000 elements of the worldwide population of 330,000 African elephants.
This is truly a unique and wonderful experience, where the elephants are up close and we engage with them, pat them, hold their trunk, and also they give us a slobbering kiss. We each walk holding the trunk for a different distance along a defined track, we watch them walk, eat, play and they engage with us.
Jeanette has wonderful photos and we have memories to treasure.
Fred comes after we have had the most amazing luncheon, with the keepers and elephants set up in a clearing. The food is a buffet of salads, spaghetti and other assorted items. We are also inducted into their Elephants club and each receive a "kiss" from the female Arula. He advises that it is time to leave and go to the airport for our flight and subsequent drive to Sanctuary Chiefs resort and lodge.
Our plane arrives at the bush airstrip, we are loaded with our bags into the small 12 passenger plane and we are off for the next leg of our trip. At the airstrip on arrival there are warthogs, Giraffes and 2 elephants. But none goes near the airstrip. This is a short flight of 20 minutes over The delta with its amazing aerial scenes and amazing glows of water.
We land and are unpacked and we meet our guide Onks, who provides a run down and we set off on a game drive before we checkin. We see little and the drive is rough with many deep cut tracks in the Kalahari Sand and with all of the flood plains. We see few animals. We are inducted into the beautiful Chief's resort and in the Lounge area and enjoy drinks and a detailed briefing. We are then taken to #7 Merilloand you can only describe it as stunning interns of style and quality of facilities and fit out. The lounge, dining and bar area is superb,and the accommodations are even better.
High tea is served at 3.00pm with departure on the late afternoon Game drive ar3.30pm. It is enjoyable but disappointing for the first hour then we get word that a cheetah has been sighted in the open of the savannah. We drive quickly through various pasture and savannah grass plains and then see another land cruiser. Then we see the cheetah lying in the afternoon sun. She has been stalking impala and Wilderbeast. But she is resting. We stay and watch until almost 5.45pm before she again resumes her hunt. She is a beautiful animal with a superb coat and is in very good condition. She crosses directly by us. Just amazing.
A spectacular day and this only continues with our 55 minute drive back to the lodge in initial late evening sunlight and then under the stars. We are all amazed, we started out looking for Rhino and then come across a rare siting of the Cheetah.
This whole experience consumes our evening conversations. The meal is on the outdoor platform in the most romantic environment overlooking The Savannah.
We have enjoyed a magnificent day, initially with the Elephants in Baines and then via our flight and arrival in Sanctuary Chiefs and subsequently seeing the Chhetah.
A remarkable day, which you can only describe as amazing.
We received the wake up call at 6.00am and Ken wanted to do the morning drive, but Jeanette decided to stay in bed then pack later. At breakfast everyone was concerned as to Jeanette but I assured all that everything was fine.
Chaka departed the lodge for what was planned to be 3 1/2 hours. We drove out of the lodge through the gate to Chobe National Park and the drove on a side road, and surprise We then find two female lions just walking up the side of the road, obviously planning a hunt for either Impala or. Water buffalo, who are about a mile away, but up wind. We decide to wait and track one female lion along the edge of the bushland, but lose sight of the second, who is obviously seeking to out flank the approaching water buffalo heard of about 200 animals. The impala are awake to the impending danger and move roughly 400 metres away on higher open ground, where the outrider males can see anything approaching.
One lion is closing the gap and creeping closer and suddenly stops and almost hides, no more than 10 metres from the water buffalo , but not prepared to risk a fight with a full male bull or a female. So she waits her time. The herd now slows with many wallowing in the mud, then several begin to move on and the lion lets perhaps 120 move past before identifying a young female. She leaps out and roars loudly and charges at a small calf, the other lion remains hidden. But inside 10 seconds, despite the initial panic amongst the water buffalo, the male bulls have circled the young and females and set up a wall, so the first lion cannot sustain her attack, then all of. Sudden 4 males charge the lion. They then chase her away into the bushes and up a hill. At this very moment the second line breaks from dense undergrowth and charges a small female, but is also driven off by about 6 male bull water buffalo. The whole event takes 1 hour 40 minutes but the actual attempt to select and kill is over unsuccessfully in less than a minute. Simply amazing how the water buffalo responded, how the lions despite the stalking over an hour were not up for the fight.
After this exhilarating time we see many animals including elephants, rhino, hippo, giraffe, but we fail to see a leopard.
Just as we are about to drive back we come across a line of vehicles watching 4 lions hidden in bushes skirt and aim for Impala. It is again exciting to watch and sense these beautiful animals. We come along the Chobe River edge and also see more hippo and crocodiles.
Back by 11.10am, with time for Ken to pack and then shower, before we Lunch and depart for the Kisane Airport and our flight to Stanley. Lunch is superb pizza. Then fruit and cake for dessert. Time to pay our bill and make our way. China meet us ,our luggage is collected and loaded, we are farewelled by several staff and the manager. It has been an excellent stay at a wonderful resort.
Checkin can be described as haphazard, but we are eventually given our tickets and then go through the traditional screening process, having said farewell to Chika, then we sit for 10 minutes and are then walked out to our small aircraft. The plane is very small seating 12 people and there are 10 passengers. First stop sees a family of Germans depart and then board a helicopter for another resort.
we have travelled for 50 minutes from Knsane to the first stop and we depart and fly over roads and fields totally flooded in this delta area. So we understand it is wet, but that in no way prepares us for the landing at Stanley Airstrip, which is a dirt strip adjoined by flood levy. We arrive after another 20 minutes flying. There is no terminal only a shed and steps and the guides have had to shoo wart hogs off the airstrip before our flight can land and subsequently before the flight from Maun can approach and land. We are greeted by several guides and meet our, Fred a handsome big man who has a lively sense of humour and great knowledge. We depart the airstrip and do a Game drive before heading back to Baines Camp. The drive in through bumpy and flooded roads with water up to 4 foot deep and dome times flooding the guests seating area, and there is constant shifting up and gown gears.
We eventually get to the Baines Camp and are greeted by a choir singing wonderful African rhythmic welcome dongs. Then we go through to the eating area where we are offered cakes and drinks, before being advised of tonight's schedule. We are then walked down raised walkways above the extremely wet marshes and wet lands.
Jeanette unpacks, we have a large 4 poster bed with full mosquito netting. There is a separate outdoor viewing and observation deck, separate bathroom and a small indoor sitting area. Very comfortable.
Dinner is an outdoor BBQ in an area with fires and candles and lamps. We eat crocodile tails, port spare ribs, chicken and chops and beef and a range of salads. A separate beautifully set up bar was also nearby. We enjoy the company of the other 3 couples. We then have a wonderful choir presentation where they sing several African themed songs and dance for us.
Just a special evening of wonderful African food and musical entertainment.
The drive to see Game today was totally different amongst the grasses the deep water. The beauty of the Giraffes, the sheer size of the elephants, the many brilliantly coloured birds and the svelte Impala, the ugliness of the wart hogs. All just amazing. Here are photos of this lodge.
Our bedroom with the. 4 poster sky bed and the double mosquito netting.
Morning came very quickly after a latish evening and we were very tired. Jeanette still not sleeping well.
Wake up call was 6.02am then down to breakfast at 6.30am and leave on our Game drive / Safari at 7.15am. Perfect clear blue skies again.
We drive along the Chobe River for several miles, then cut back in land ,but it is unfortunately a very slow morning. We see the giraffe, wilderbeest, impala, and many beautiful birds. We hear the noises of the many hippo.
So after a disappointing 90 minutes, we take a coffee break and say goodbye to Rob from Vancouver and the young lady from Go2Africa, then we make our way further inland in Chobe National Park and all of a sudden we see a whole range of animals. It so exciting as we see a whole herd of water buffaloes probably 200-400 in number, then we see 8 giraffe all together and one giraffe actually sprinting. Never seen anything like it. Then we stumble across hundreds of Baboons, many more impala, and then we come across a couple of lions, with a young male and a strong female, perhaps his mother. But they just want to lie down and nor sit up for photos.
We drive another 2 miles then stop and we suddenly see many Giraffes and then we have another large herd of animals, elephants, immediately next to our vehicle. Just amazing with some excellent photos.
Then our guide Chico, brings Jeanette and Ken back for lunch which is served at 1.00pm and we again enjoy a stunning meal. The wines are just sensational. We sit overlooking the Chobe River and island between Botswana and Namibia. How good is this!
It is then time for a rest and free time before the scheduled"high tea" at 3.00pm, before we go out on the afternoon Safari at3.30pm. We have another 3 people join us, we skipped afternoon tea.
Our afternoon drive is again slow, but enjoyable. We see many beautiful birds, several crocodiles, giraffes, water buffaloes , many different types of Impala , hippos and a bull elephant swimming n the river. But the lions have moved on and we can't find them. The cheetahs are not to be seen. Similarly , the leopards are no where to be seen.
But the bird life is just fantastic. The animals we see are so close. We enjoy a stunning sun set.
We arrive back at the lodge at 6.30pm just as the Chobe Park gates are to close. We quickly change and then go to pre dinner drinks, before being ushered to our table. Tonight Jeanette and Ken have a table for two overlooking the river. We are served ore dinner drinks on the balcony before being ushered to our table. Dinner is a 3 or 4 course extravaganza of local fish and produce.
The complementary wines are just superb. All in all a spectacular evening. We are all escorted back to our villa by a security person at 9.15pm and when we open the door we are greeted by a champagne as a welcome and come back to Chobe. This is just a brilliant resort.
We enjoy the sparkling champagne as a night cap, how romantic given this wonderful venue, then complete this update. Just wonderful.
Tomorrow we do a Safari in the morning, return for a shower and to complete our packing, then are transported to Barnes Camp via Mack Air..
This has been an unbelievable couple of days in a superb resort.
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This has been another amazing day in n this phenomenal holiday. We stayed overnight at City Lodge Hotel , OT Tambo Johannesburg International Airport and dined in their cafe last evening.
This morning we fly out of Johannesburg to Kisane Botswana on a little jet aircraft on SA link and have an enjoyable flight with a meal and drinks. We departed Johannesburg at 11.45am and we were on the ground at 1.50pm then through a shambolic immigration and then customs check, which is clearly manual labour. We hen meet our guide and are ushered us to another type of Jeep. We travel the 15 minutes to the resort. We are greeted as royalty then checked in and taken to our accommodation n villa 14. Just unbelievable in every respect, beautifully furnished with animals on the king bed. We have nearly 30 minutes to unpack, then back for high tea at 3.00pm. This is superb with large bedroom, separated from shower and bathroom, independent dressing room etc.
We don't have a direct Chobe river view but can see through the trees with the ocean mpaoa and Wilderbeast in front.
Following high tea, we adjourned to the jeeps and were driven down to the boats, where we were ushered aboard, then directed through the security and safety issues, including nothing over the edges. We then power out through the growing weed and other vegetation and into a channel. There are superb scenes of the waterways, the island and then we come to the mesmerising first group of rhinos. We swing our the boat through 180degrees to maximise the angles for taking photos of the rhinos. There are about 10 in this group and we watch them pulling the plants off the bottom.
We then drive further along the delta and watch the amazing hippos, eating and walking and fighting.. There are several groups.
We then came across thousands upon thousands of lotus flowers on the river with superb flowers. We stop to take photos of the lotus flowers, then see the first of many crocodiles usually sunning themselves, but also totally aware of their mediate environment. It has so many amazing and birds to watch . We see buffaloes, also many babboons and girrafes. The size of the many crocodiles is also amazing.
wherever we look we see baboons as well as all sorts of birds.
From here we start to make our way back ,but stop for sundowners, watch a large pack of baboons. But we still do not want to focus on the many baboons, the immediate role re lions and other animals , the crocodile and the birds,
We enjoy the sundowners, but also realise another superb sunset is approaching. We anchor and watch the amazing sunset. Simply amazing with a perfect clear sky.
Then we return to the resort via jeep from the boat areas. but on the way we take in a superb multi coloured sunset whilst on the water
Following a quick shower and change we are ready for pre dinner drinks and then we move to sit by the outdoor fires. Dinner is then set out on the lawns and we enjoy the most amazing barbecue.
Dinner is served in the lawns with views down to the river. A superb outdoor buffet and barbecue, where we fit as a special able of 6, but one group withdraws. We thoroughly enjoy the company of other guests Rob from Toronto and a lady who is on an educational with our travel company Go2Africa..
We enjoy the excellent entertainment throughout this special night. There is a group ofb3 playing.
Deinner concludes at 9.30pm and we are ushered back to our villa. It had been a great day. Magnificent resort, with beautiful villas, the cruise was sensational. Enjoy the photos attached.
Our bedroom in our villa#14. Just superb.
An amazing sunset here in Choebe, Botswana.
We have thoroughly enjoyed our time at Thanda Safari and Game Park and the exceptional accommodation. We enjoyed lunch, but skipped High Tea served out on the area overlooking the water features and ponds, with various animals in attendance. Our group departs at 3.30pm on 28th April, 2017 for our last Safari and we are hoping to see leopard, black rhino and elephants. This is another superb warm sunny afternoon, but there are thunder showers in the distance.
Our Safari commences spectacularly because after 2 miles we come across the elephant herd of 25 elephants and Several elephant bulls. They are grazing on bushes and walking to a water hole. We have them walk right up to us and several Pass by almost touched our jeep. We then make an effort to circle around them, so that we see them circling around and through the Forrest before crossing another track.
This is quite amazing as we see them crashing through dense undergrowth and then several come right up to our vehicle, then Pass immediately beside us. They are just so close.
We then take another cross country detour to again get in front of them We can only comment that they are amazing in size , strength and surprisingly quick.
Finally, we depart wanting to try to find their small group of black rhinos, but we drive around for almost 20 minutes up and around various tracks, without any luck. But we to cone across many animals, suddenly out of nowhere comes a group of 8 Giraffes and we watch them for quite sometime, including two males who are fighting wanting to display their dominance. They swing their long necks from side to side against the head and necks of another male giraffe trying to get the other giraffe to acquiesce and acknowledge the dominance of that other aggressive giraffe. Quite unusual and fascinating to watch.
Our travel then takes us across to another water hole, where we see many zebras and impala and many wlderbeast. We laughed we enjoyed Wilderbeast fillets for lunch.
The chase to find both leopard and black rhinos continued, without any sightings although we again see the cheetah down near one of the boundaries. But we continue to see Giraffes, Water Buffalo, Zebras and impala of all darts of variety.
At 5.45pm after surveying several water holes it is time for our nightly "sundowners " and we watch a beautiful sunset.
At 6.10pm we again start to circle and we again see elephants, zebras, water buffalo, impala, Giraffes, but no lions, black rhino or leopards. Willard our guide suggests that we are expected back do perhaps it is just bad luck tonight. We drive around in the dark with our search light blazing seeking further animals, but after some 25 minutes he advises we are going back via an alternative way. We drive for 10 minutes until we come to a raised cleared area and beyond that is a small valley , where we can see about 4 bonfires and about 30 kerosine lanterns, and behind are several tables beautifully presented for our "bush" dinner with Zulu dancers entertaining our group. Today there were 3 jeeps with trackers supporting the guide and up to 6 /7 guests.
We are initially greeted with warm towels, then a celebratory glass of champagne, followed by other drinks before dinner is served from the outside buffet.
In each corner of the area is a large bonfire, with a larger central bonfire in the middle area of the tables.
Dinner consists of local African ingredients, with a beautiful soup, then BBQ fillets of Wilderbeast followed by warthog curry, vegetables (hot) and salad. We are enjoying outstanding Wines from Stellenbosch area.
Deserts followed and it was a cake of sort ( sponge pudding with butterscotch pudding) and we were entertained by 9 Zulu dancers who used the central bonfire as a prop through and around which they danced several different Zululand dances of special significance. As our guide, Wellard, commented you see first hand the major impact of the feudal Zululand culture upon the broader community. Jeanette and I really enjoyed the whole evening, a touch of Zulu mystery, wonderful environment of shimmering lights and smoke, no wind and no insects.
We were driven back to the lodge and the central lounge where we all said our goodbyes. Thanked, Willard, our guide and his brilliant tracker, Thuba, before being escorted to Villa 7 for the last occasion. But there is another surprise awaiting as our room is showered in red rose petals, with our 4 poster bed behind the mosquito netting forming a pattern saying "I love you" inside a large heart. Then there was 2 chilled glasses and a small champagne. There were further rose petals on the bath mat in front of both the bath and shower and in the lounge area a tray with further rise petals.
We can say that this has been another wonderful tasteful decorating process to make another memorable moment of our amazing stay.
We sleep soundly but 6.00am wake up call comes quickly. We finish packing and shower and dress and at 6.50am our luggage is collected and taken to the jeep at reception. We pay our account and there is a breakfast bag for each of us as we drive the 95 minutes from Thanda Game Park to Richards Bay. It is a smooth drive on the N2 a major highway.
Checkin goes well following dropping off the car at Bivest Car rental.
We board our prop jet plane at 10.00am with Jeanette seated in 5D and Ken in 5C. We depart 5 minutes early and land 25 minutes ahead of schedule after a very quick flight.
Our luggage is quickly delivered to the luggage carousel and we then have a 300 hundred metre walk to the City Lodge Hotel. We hope to check in ahead of the scheduled 2.00pm check in official time . Yes we have a room straight away. We quickly reshuffle and repack our cases and ring Berndt and Elly, who are collecting our hard cases, advising that we are in our room and will be available earlier to meet with them and have a drink. We change our arrangements from 3.00pm back to 2.30pm.
They arrive at 2.35pm and we are all excited. We them go to the lounge bar for drinks, then enjoy the catch up for the next 2 hours.
We have now repacked all of our gear and they collect the cases and we look forward to seeing them in about 8 days when we go to Kruger with them.
A terrific couple of days, hope you enjoy the photos.
Having had a fantastic time at Isandlwana Lodge, we left after breakfast for another 4 hour drive to Thanda Safari Lodge and game park. It is a private game Park of some 14,000 hectares Big 5 Game reserve. The drive was initially easy, but the GPS took us off the highway and through a large township. We then drove almost 2 hours on unmade but sound off-road tracks to get to this famed park and Hotel of Distinction.
We are met at the gate, where our car is securely parked and we await our guides to come the 20 minute drive from the hotel, then load our luggage and then proceed to the superb reception area. Our guides are named Willard and Zedland, who are exceptional trackers and they will be responsible for the game drives that we undertake over the next 3 days commencing at 4.00pm this afternoon.
Our welcome and initiation here at Thanda is conducted in the open air lounge overlooking the water holes, where there are Impala drinking. We are then used to our Suite / Villa #7 which can only be described as stunning luxury consisting of a separate lounge area, large bedroom, separate dressing room and separate bathroom, shower and toilet areas. Then it opens out to an outdoor Brai, (BBQ area), a separate pool and spa and elevated day bed looking back over the wilderness area. It is totally private.
We are then advised our daily schedule as follows:
- rise with wake up call at 5.30am then coffee and biscuits followed by Safari departure at6.15am
- Safari from 6.15am through until 9.00am with 8.00am coffee stop.
-breakfast either indoor or out on patio overlooking the water features with animals drinking.
-free until time to lunch at 1.00pm again on outdoor terrace, with delicious 3 course meal (5 stars dining)
- high tea at3.00pm
- prepare for afternoon evening safari drive with departure at 3.30pm or 4.00pm with sundowners out on the range at 5.45pm - 6.00pm.
- return to Hotel foyer greeted with cold or hot towels at 7.00pm
- Dinner following pre-dinner drinks in the lounge bar.
- Dinner of 4 courses served from 7.20pm in the restaurant. It is gourmet 5 star dining with house wines or premium wines.
- post dinner relax in lounge with liquor and coffee. ( if you need).
- escorted down the decking to our villa at about 9.30pm.
The next morning wake up call comes around very quickly. It is stunning luxury accommodation in every respect with a world renowned wellness and spa set-up.
We commenced with our first drive and for this day we were the only guests in the Hotel. We start our afternoon drive by going toward the mount, where we are chasing the first lion pride. We drive around seeing impala, wilder beast, some giraffe, but no lions. Our guides continue to search and after about 35 minutes further driving through a variety of areas with different vegetation we come to a mound just beyond a waterhole. The guides are excited, they have found them and we find them sleeping, but the guides feel that they have lost condition and tonight will go out hunting.
it is just wonderful.
We return to the lodge, having enjoyed a fantastic drive. Dinner can only be described as sensational with 4 courses and excellent wines.
We are walked back to our villa having enjoyed a wonderful day of arrival and our first game Safari, is amazing.
The next morning we have trouble finding the telephone, when our wake up call arrives at 5.30am. We dress quickly and then are walked from our villa to the lounge area for coffee/ chocolate and biscuits. Our guides are excited and want yo find the lion pride and see what they gave been up to, then go on to find elephants, giraffe and rhino and possibly cheetah and leopard.
After driving for 30 minutes we come to the same general area where last night we saw the lions, this morning they have moved a little distance but the guides observe and are really excited that there has been a kill overnight and the lion pride is devouring a small water buffalo calf. When we arrive the mother, grand mother and 2 sisters are all sated, but the mother is ensuring the two cubs gave sufficient. Yes it is gruesome, but also amazing to watch nature in the wild at work. We are told that after the kill they will eat until mid morning, then sleep with their stomachs full during the afternoon and will occasionally drink at the water hole. But this kill will last them for 2-3 days, but they will engage in another kill tonight if it is easy, but they are traditionally lazy only killing to satisfy their needs for food.
We drive off, amazed but the guides can hear the elephants in the distance. There are several small herds and a larger herd of 23 elephants including 2 bulls. After another 15 minutes we come to a raid, where the guides identify recent elephant pas marks. We drive on and suddenly come across the family of 6 elephants, we stay behind them and watch them demolish any trees and eat every bit of the trees down to the roots. We are amazed how quickly they move with each step being 11 metres in length. They are amazing animals with enormous strength and surprisingly agile. They can walk up to 120km per day.
Time to move on, we come across a large herd of water buffalo an sit perfectly still and take in their activity. The guide explains that the buffalo are the most dangerous of the big 5 because they will unite and act against predators. They will fight off or eaven kill lions because several will react when lions attempt to separate or cull one water buffalo from the herd.
We also come across many zebras and wilder beast grazing, but also ever wary. We don't see any cheetah in leopards.
It has been a stunning morning experience, which cannot be explained in words.
We are greeted by the staff and Manager with towels then, ushered into the dining area for breakfast. We have the total dining room to our selves and a seoarate table with all breakfast items has been set up. We remain excited following the wonderful morning Safari, highlighted by the lions and their kill.
Folliwing breakfast we return to our villa, Ken catches up with his blog, Jeanette also completed Facebook entries after showering.
Lunch arrives quickly and a table had been set for us out on the terrace overlooking the waterholes. A superb luncheon is served, which we thoroughly enjoy. The guides have emphasised that we will have a larger group this afternoon and we find that Safari time has been advanced to 3.30pm. We take off and quickly find our lions all asleep, but some gently rolling from side to side, we watch and are fascinated.
From here we quickly find the rhinos and observe the 5 rhinos as they graze and play.
Then we move on to Giraffe and zebras and impalas and see some monkeys
We stop for "sundowners " at6.00pm and observe a stunning sunset as well as watch all sorts of animals come back to the water holes. This has been a sensational day.
Dinner has been served following drinks. We are all still fascinated and amazed by what we saw with the lions, the elephants, rhinos, giraffe, zebras, water buffalo and the myriad of bird life.
Ken enjoys a superb red wine 2014 Cab Sav with a main course of fillet and vegetables. Food is just to due for.
We sleep much better on our second night inside the fully screened bed but also leave the air conditioning on low. The alarm goes very promptly at 5.30am and I am delighted that Jeanette has enjoyed a better evening's sleep.
The Safari leaves at 6.15am after coffee and biscuits. We have 5 others in our jeep plus our two guides. We are looking for the lions, the elephants, we do find a cheetah who we follow for aboutn15 minutes and then watch as he sets a trap fir impaka, but they sense or hear him.
Eventually we do see the elephants, watch the water buffalo, see paw marks of a leopard, but do not see him.
It us another fantastic morning.
Back for breakfast , then a hot shower and Ken completes this update.
The front entrance to Villa7
Our bedroom , the screened 4 poster King bed
The plunge pool and exterior terrace with the day bed in the covered raised are behind
The entrance to Thanda Hotel and Private Game Reserve.
Jeanette enjoying lunch out on the terrace overlooking the water features.
Our shared platter for lunch - just superb.
We have enjoyed a remarkable stay here at Thanda Game Park. We have this afternoon Safari then dinner tonight and tomorrow drive on tonRichards Bay the fly back to Johannesburg where we meet aur friends Elly and Berndt. We will then repack our gear, then put what we need for Botswana in soft bags for those 8 days. Elly and Berndt will take our cases to their home.
They will then pick us up on our return from Maun, then we will enjoy 4 nights with them in Kruger.
I do intend to do another update from here later tonight following our final Safari and dinner. It has been an unbelievable 3 nights.
We completed 2 terrific days at Cathedral Peak in excellent accommodations with great food and friendly service. This morning we left at 9.30am for a drive of 3 hours 18 minutes to the famous Isandlwana area, the scene for the infamous British Zulu wars.
The drive was quite interesting as we saw a dramatic change in topography from the stunning mountain scenery of Cathedral Peak to the plains and hills of Isandlwana. It was also the dividing line between Natal and the Zulu kingdom.
We thoroughly enjoyed the drive right until the last 10 mile which again required us to leave the paved bitumin road and take toa winding rough dusty side road. Jeanette was driving and did a terrific job in getting down a steep potholed dirt track, which then led along another dirt road to a spectacular lodge, high on a large hiiside overlooking the plains.
Jeanette drove down a side road running parallel in front of a major rock embankment called the Nyoni Rocks, where the Zulu commanders stood and directed the Zulu warriors in the infamous Battle of Isandlwana, where the Zulu inflicted a significant loss on the British Imperial forces. Here the British Army faced one of its worst defeats on the morning of 22 January, 1879.
The Lodge is a brilliant piece of architecture using huge wooden columns and thatch with stone supporting floor to ceiling glass walls. Our room is #1 and has spectacular views from the bedroom and sitting area over the valley and takes in the enigmatic Isandlwana Mountains and the battle site below.
We arrive at 12.45pm and check in and un pack then enjoy a lunch.
At 2.00pm we embark on an excursion with our guide Barry taking one vehicle and us with the manager, Shane, to visit the famous Rorke's Drift the scene of another major battle where a force of 140 men holed up in a hospital and stores area and held off 3,000 Zulu Warriors and eventually the Zulu withdrew with over 500 casualties, before the regiment of reinforcements arrived.
We spend 3 hours then drive over two other battlegrounds involved in significant Zulu wars , before the British reinforcements from Durban and CapeTown led to the eventual end of the Zulu Wars in early 100's.
Our group then returned and we changed and had a drink at their unique wet bar with a large timber table top supported by false ivory tusks.
Dinner was served at7.15pm and we enjoyed an excellent 3 courses, our guide Barry Marshall joined us for dinner.
This has been an outstanding day and a highlight of our holiday, both in terms of the historical significance of the Wars, together with the beauty of this spectacular Lodge and its imposing architecture. We are on a high after a day of beautiful weather, unique historic significance, a first class educative guide and outstanding facilities and accommodation.
Tomorrow we have another 4 hour drive to Thanda Safari Lodge located 23km north of Hiuhluwe in northern Zululand. Thanda is a private game park and world famous hotel. Should be another terrific experience. This has been just amazing. I should have commented that the heavy dining room chairs are covered in Inguni,Cowhide, the Royal cattle of the Zulus.
As you can sense this has been something special.
We completed 2 terrific days at Cathedral Peak in excellent accommodations with great food and friendly service. This morning we left at 9.30am for a drive of 3 hours 18 minutes to the famous Isandlwana area, the scene for the infamous British Zulu wars.
The drive was quite interesting as we saw a dramatic change in topography from the stunning mountain scenery of Cathedral Peak to the plains and hills of Isandlwana. It was also the dividing line between Natal and the Zulu kingdom.
We thoroughly enjoyed the drive right until the last 10 mile which again required us to leave the paved bitumin road and take toa winding rough dusty side road. Jeanette was driving and did a terrific job in getting down a steep potholed dirt track, which then led along another dirt road to a spectacular lodge, high on a large hiiside overlooking the plains.
Jeanette drove down a side road running parallel in front of a major rock embankment called the Nyoni Rocks, where the Zulu commanders stood and directed the Zulu warriors in the infamous Battle of Isandlwana, where the Zulu inflicted a significant loss on the British Imperial forces. Here the British Army faced one of its worst defeats on the morning of 22 January, 1879.
The Lodge is a brilliant piece of architecture using huge wooden columns and thatch with stone supporting floor to ceiling glass walls. Our room is #1 and has spectacular views from the bedroom and sitting area over the valley and takes in the enigmatic Isandlwana Mountains and the battle site below.
We arrive at 12.45pm and check in and un pack then enjoy a lunch.
At 2.00pm we embark on an excursion with our guide Barry taking one vehicle and us with the manager, Shane, to visit the famous Rorke's Drift the scene of another major battle where a force of 140 men holed up in a hospital and stores area and held off 3,000 Zulu Warriors and eventually the Zulu withdrew with over 500 casualties, before the regiment of reinforcements arrived.
We spend 3 hours then drive over two other battlegrounds involved in significant Zulu wars , before the British reinforcements from Durban and CapeTown led to the eventual end of the Zulu Wars in early 100's.
Our group then returned and we changed and had a drink at their unique wet bar with a large timber table top supported by false ivory tusks.
Dinner was served at7.15pm and we enjoyed an excellent 3 courses, our guide Barry Marshall joined us for dinner.
This has been an outstanding day and a highlight of our holiday, both in terms of the historical significance of the Wars, together with the beauty of this spectacular Lodge and its imposing architecture. We are on a high after a day of beautiful weather, unique historic significance, a first class educative guide and outstanding facilities and accommodation.
Tomorrow we have another 4 hour drive to Thanda Safari Lodge located 23km north of Hiuhluwe in northern Zululand. Thanda is a private game park and world famous hotel. Should be another terrific experience. This has been just amazing. I should have commented that the heavy dining room chairs are covered in Inguni,Cowhide, the Royal cattle of the Zulus.
As you can sense this has been something special.
We again had a 4-5 hour drive from Myboti River Lodge again covering quite challenging and changing topography.
The Hotel is in a small village and sits adjacent to superb gardens and is also at the entrance to Sani Pass Road.
We do take an excursion to Sani Pass and that is covered separately. The hotel is very much old worldy. Our room is a separate building like a bungalow with a large bedroom and lounge, separate second bedroom with a dingle bed and adjoining ensuite bathroom with full bath but no shower.
The area is known as being cold at night (2-3 C) but at this time of year superb days with clear blue skies and temperatures of 20C.
This is a 1950's style pub with separate al la carte dining room and lounge.
The highlight of our room is a superb fireplace, but on our first night , we failed to convince the fire to remain alight.
Suffice to say that even with 3 blankets we were cold.
Food again excellent, area exceptionally beautiful with stunning mountains as the backdrop,
We again had a 4-5 hour drive from Myboti River Lodge again covering quite challenging and changing topography.
The Hotel is in a small village and sits adjacent to superb gardens and is also at the entrance to Sani Pass Road.
We do take an excursion to Sani Pass and that is covered separately. The hotel is very much old worldy. Our room is a separate building like a bungalow with a large bedroom and lounge, separate second bedroom with a dingle bed and adjoining ensuite bathroom with full bath but no shower.
The area is known as being cold at night (2-3 C) but at this time of year superb days with clear blue skies and temperatures of 20C.
This is a 1950's style pub with separate al la carte dining room and lounge.
The highlight of our room is a superb fireplace, but on our first night , we failed to convince the fire to remain alight.
Suffice to say that even with 3 blankets we were cold.
Food again excellent, area exceptionally beautiful with stunning mountains as the backdrop,
We departed Coffee Bay having enjoyed breakfast overlooking the rolling waves. Our trip from Coffee Bay proved a real challenge as we drove considerable distance across unmade and poor roads passing through several townships, where we felt uncomfortable.
We were being guided via the instructions and GPS and this process was somewhat un-nerving as we were often on the D and P roads which are of varying quality.
The scenery remained spectacular with hills and flowing undulating agricultural land and then regular villages dotting the hillside.
We eventually arrived after approximately 4 and a half hours of difficult driving where we traverse every possible driving terrain in the BMW. The entrance to the Hotel at Mboyti was itself a challenge, passing through 2 sets of security gates and elaborate inspections prior to being admitted to the hotel reception car park.
The Lodge is about 50 years old with an interesting history and it being fully renovated. We are assisted with our luggage to our room. Your breathe is taken away by the sheer beauty of the river mouth to our left flanked by stunning green fields and the local community and a slight move of the head gives stunning surf and golden sandy beaches. Our room is a comfortable superior room with full glass windows on 2 sides. These windows take in the full panorama of the river and ocean.
The room itself is also probably 35 years old, with a renovated appearance, but still a little old worldy.
The hotel / lodge was an elite property at the time of the full revolution against apartheid and it was taken over and then allowed to go through a major period of disrepair as it was vandalised and left empty for more than 12 years.
Subsequently sold to wealthy hoteliers who recognised the potential along this beautiful area, they have set about restoring it to its former beauty, wanting to retain the traditional character of the blocks of rooms, taking advantage of the view options, whilst modernising the hotel and restaurant infrastructure. Yet whilst this is progressing the entry through the local community does present challenges.
We enjoyed 2 full days here largely relaxing and recuperating as we were very tired after the difficult driving of the last 4-5 days. In addition, there was limited activities in the local area. Many activities involved walking and horse riding or specialised fishing.
The dining facilities were comfortable and the meals just excellent and on evening there was entertainment from one of the staff singing and playing guitar.
All in all an enjoyable 2 days in beautiful scenery and comfortable accommodation. But we wouldn't travel through the difficult roads and terrains.
The photos reflect the beautiful environment and the stunning beaches.
We departed Sibuya knowing that we had a long drive of almost 6 hours to travel to the picturesque hamlet of Coffee Bay, but none of our literature or reading prepared us for the rough driving on in made roads wth deep pot holes.
The first hour or so was a drive out of Kenton on Sea, a quaint seaside resort town and through undulating countryside.
But from there the journey changed markedly as we travelled across rough and challenging countryside with the aim of traversing roads between the highways to eventually get us back onto bitumen.
The drive was interesting as we also passed through a variety of townships consisting of many shanty town type constructions and everywhere there were many people walking haphazardly along either side of the road of all ages and shapes and sizes. Additionally, there were the continuing goats, cows and monkeys so there was a continuing challenge to drive on roads that can only be described as deplorable with monstrous pot holes and cross camber angles.
Just to simplify the challenge the GPS maintained that these were non roads, but kept providing regular instructions. This went on for almost 2 hours climbing in and out of valleys and across hill tops. You may sense that this was frustrating, but we are sure that these tracks should only be challenged in a high four wheel drive and not a state of the art BMW 320d.
We reached a township after 2 hours and felt like we had found civilisation. Suffice to say we also felt uncomfortable driving in these locales , where we were clearly the only "fair skinned" people.
Jeanette took over and we looked for toilet and eating facilities, but there was nothing in these roads so we needed to improvise and that was challenging as there were few trees and the side of these gravel roads were often steeply banked. The next hour was easier and we found a better road, but the GPS still failed to record the address of the Ocean View Hotel and Coffee Bay. We put in a nearby Town named "Mthatha" and this proved sound as we were now back on a very good highway having finally cut across the countryside. Little did we know that this was going to cause difficulties, because after another 90 minutes, we drove past the turn off to Coffee Bay, then drove the 28mile into Mthatha, before realising that we were in the wrong place. This was certainly not the type of township that 2 Aussies should be driving in late afternoon. Yet it was very interesting although we were somewhat nervous as to the environment and did Ferla a little unsafe. Certainly not something we would do at home.
We reprogrammed the GPS and found that we had traveled some 52 mile out of our way.
The GPS took us back to the Coffee Bay turnoff but we still had some 53 miles from the turnoff and the standard of the road deteriorated back to a paved but pot holed road. The light was beginning to fade at 5.30pm but we still had about an hour yo drive. Jeanette was able to follow a vehicle obviously driven by a local with current knowledge and we drove the distance in about 70 minutes. She did a remarkable job for people having no knowledge of the terrain.
Eventually we reach d the address and the hotel was inside a locked secure compound, with guards on the gate. We checked in and then had dinner.
The restaurant was on a level above the rooms to take account of the wonderful views of the surf, which in the morning was just beautiful and 8-10 feet of rolling waves thundering into the beach.
We had no realisation upon arrival as to how close the beach was. We were just happy to get there.
This had been perhaps the hardest day's driving that we have ever undertaken. The hotel accommodation is comfortable and probably a good 3 star. Needless to say we both sleep well. But you would understand that we harbour some concerns as to tomorrow's drive out of here and then to another idyllic seaside location.
We awake after a good night's sleep, to just wonderful views of an incredible surf beach with us recognising somewhere very special. Over breakfast we talk to a lady from Perth, who migrated to Australia from South Africa, some 10 years ago. They have family still in Durban and still come back to this beautiful part of the world when holidaying.
She was very surprised to hear that we had driven into Mthatha on our way. She understood that we took an incorrect route and commented that that is not the type of area, they would venture into. She also commented that the drive from the turn off is on poor roads and through isolated native townships. But also commented that a Coffee Bay stopover presents just amazing views of a superb Bay and magnificent surf with rolling thunderous waves.
We depart after a delightful breakfast n the fining room taking in the views. Just superb.
The view from our front porch, just beautiful.
Standing on the steep bank outside our room 60 feet from the beach
From the porch out front of our room at Oceanview Hotel, Coffee Bay east coast South Africa.
We pack after an enjoyable breakfast. This has been an enjoyable stay over 2 nights here in the scenic township of Himeville. We decide to sit in the lounge of the hotel using wi-fi and sending emails then depart the township at 10.15am and travel through some amazingly beautiful farming and agricultural land before we are due to climb into the hills. We have a 4 hour drive with a stopover for lunch at a petrol station and fill the BMW with diesel and enjoy a light meal.
The morning involved some off road driving before we got back to the highway, but since it has been an interesting and varied drive through stunning scenery which only gets better following lunch.
Jeanette drives the afternoon and goes really well apart from "flying" over a cattle grate on our way through the foot hills to Cathedral Peak.
Our arrival involves coming through 3 different security gates, but we eventually arrive at a spectacular hotel entrance gateway which leads to a superb older style building and reception.
Our check in is smooth. We are in 301 which is a modern room with large bedroom and full ensuite and superb outlook over the valley and the golf course, with stunning mountains circling the valley. The colours change over the afternoon. We drive from irrigation area including corn and dairy cattle to drier beef areas.
The hotel can only be described as spectacular in both location and in presentation.
Dinner tonight is in the formal dining room with a huge open fire. We are seated a a table near the bistro and buffet dinner. Beforehand we stop for a "rock shandy" and gun and tonic in Alber's bar before adjourning to the dining room.
We have unpacked and showered and we have enjoyed an excellent relaxing drive to this superb resort.
Ken takes a variety of photos of the resort and the the mountain range, it is truly just amazing scenery in spectacularly beautiful country side.
Following dinner we get our laundry ready and sent emails.
We awake to a significant change in the weather with heavy rainfall in the early hours of the morning, but this clears before breakfast, but the mountains are shrouded in dense cloud cover.
Breakfast is in the main dining room overlooking the valley and the golf course with the mountains behind. We had determined to drive 45 minutes back into a traditional village to see displays, but there is a forecast that f heavy rainfall this afternoon, so we defer and will instead stay in the hotel and use their excellent facilities.
Ken does visit the hotel golf club, but finds that they don't have balls with logos and so decides against playing. It is very much a challenging social Course with sweeping fairways and wide heavily sloped approaches to small greens. He spends tine talking to several players who are here for the week as a break from Joburg.
Ken is sitting enjoying a cappacino and biscuit on the patio. But it is noticeably cooler and there are showers with heavier rainfall predicted later.
The Cathedral Peak Hotel
Afternoon tea time out on the terrace looking back over the golf course
Our room is in the thatched roofed area some 50 metres from the main hotel
Looking back out to the magnificent mountains.
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