Our Return to Johannesburg transfer from Airport and arrival at Hilton Sandton.

We had an excellent flight from Tuningi back to Johannesburg with frontier airways, then were met by the Blacklane driver and transported to Hilton Sandton. this is a terrific Hilton property and has been modernised sine our last visit some 5 years ago.

Our check in is fast we are in a junior deluxe suite consisting of a Lounge room, Delux king Masterbedroom and a large separate Bathroom with commanding views over the neighbouring township. We have a late “high Tea” in the Executive lounge using out Hilton Honors gold Membership but also then decide that we are particularly tired and pass on an evening meal, instead preferring to go to sleep at about 9.00pm. Ken sleeps extremely well , whilst Jeanette has a disrupted evening and we wake at about 7.00am.

We showere aqnd make plans for an early breakfast back to our room, then depart for the Hilton Shuttle to Nelson Mandela Square, where we shop and have lunch.

Weather is a pleasant 23 C degrees, and despite a threat of rain, it remains dry.

The Shopping centre is immense but we find a Woolworths and replenish some toiletries , then have a fazala in the food court, and return via ther Hilton Shuttle at 1.45pm after taking photos of the Sculpture of Nelson Mandela. It is about a 10 minute shuttle ride from the hotel to the square and Shopping Centre.

We spend some time editing photos and answering messages and emails.

We use the afternoon as a down time to relax, Ken takes some photos of the hotel.

It was our intention to dine in the Hotel’s restaurant, but after consuming a couple of rusks, we decide to skip a meal, enjoy a cool drink and will wait to breakfast.

It is even more apparent this evening that we required this break in our schedule to revitalise, recover and rekindle our excitement and enthusiasm, as the daily ritual of early morning game drives at 5.00am together with the punishing daily schedule was wearing us down. today has proven beneficial and we both feel pretty good again and with lunch tomorrow with Elly we will have another enjoyable day.

We have enjoyed our visits to Hilton Sandton and then to Nelson Mandela Square on this and previous trips. The shopping centre is immense and necessarily involves much walking .

I will add photos of our Suite tomorrow. For now a significant period of rest and enjoying time to ourselves before the next part of our trip to Victoria Falls and then Chobe river. Things have worked well in terms of our processes and planning.