July 2004 Tour
Itinerary July 2004 Tour
SUNSET VIEW B&B :
We’ll arrive in Johannesburg at 5.50 pm and will probably need an hour or two to clear customs and collect baggage. We’ll be met by my wife Bridget with our minibus and skirt Johannesburg city on the motorway to Pretoria , about 40 minutes to the North east.Dinner will be enjoyed at a local restaurant and then we can get a good rest. Weather should be clear and sunny with a frost and midday temp up to about 20 deg.
The morning will see us having breakfast and packing up to head for the Kruger park. We could have a quick look around Pretoria, which is an historic city and the administrative capital of SA . Doug did some of his compulsory military training here in the late 1980’s. We’ll need to keep going , however , as we have a trip of about 500km to our lodgings at the Northern tip of the Kruger Park . We’ll travel NE into the drier warmer bush country of the North and stop for lunch ,before descending into the Lowveld . We’ll cross the tropic of Capricorn and might pass tropical fruit farms and plenty of private game farms and cattle ranches . Perhaps a few big stringless mango’s might be found!
Weather should be clear and sunny with warm days up to about 35 deg and nights cooling to about 10 deg.
PAFURI RIVERCAMP :
We’ll arrive at this beautiful camp set in unspoiled African bush ,just minutes outside the Kruger park and a short distance from both the Zimbabwe and Mocambique borders. Accommodation will be in luxury tented treehouses with a bar , pool and views over the Mutale river ( a tributary of the nearby Limpopo).Dinner will be served ‘bushcamp style’ with a fire of hardwood logs and the hundreds of night sounds of the bush. The following day , after breakfast, is open to choice and I’d like to see the holiday feeling start to creep in , options are:
-Head straight into the park and work our way south, while gameviewing
toward our next stop about 200km away.
- African village tour 3km away
- See the “biggest Baobab tree in Africa “ 55km away
- Get in some fishing (tigerfish , tilapia bream or Barbel catfish), birding or a walk before heading out.
We’ll take a packed lunch and drinks with us as we wander through the park and sift through Africa’s most diverse selection of game and natural birdlife. The park roads are tarred and there are fairly regular picnic spots and ablution facilities. I’ll eat my hat if we havn’t seen several different creatures within a half hour of entering the Kruger.
STEYNS COTTAGE –PHALABORWA
We must leave the park by 6pm gate closing time. Only tours supervised by the Parks department can be out in the park after dark.We only have 1km to drive to the gracious guesthouse of Marlene and Steyn . Accommodation will be in double rooms with airconditioning and television. We’ll go out to La Werna restaurant for dinners and breakfasts and lunches will be provided by our hosts. There is a range of activities and visits available during the two days we will be spending here:
- Visits to the white lion and cheetah breeding projects 80km away.
- A night drive into the park with snack ( we’ve booked one already)
- Selati river boat trip 15km away
- Visit the Maholoholo wildlife rehab centre 100km away
- A bush walk of 4 hours ,either morning or afternoon.
- An early morning drive in the park
The little town of Phalaborwa also boasts the biggest open cast mine in Southern Africa and the SA Airforce base at nearby Hoedspruit (about 70km).
After our second night at Steyns and breakfast we will make our way south to the bottom end of the park about 200km before the gates close at 6pm .
ELEPHANT WALK RETREAT –Tuesday 13th
5 minutes out of the park we will get us to the retreat where we’ll be staying in an elevated lodge overlooking the Komati river. Meals will be provided by our hosts Mike and Stephanie.
After breakfast we’ll make our way through the intensively farmed ,sugar and fruit areas of the lowveld. Driving south will take us to the border of Swaziland and we’ll make our way through this little kingdom to the game country of Zululand.This eastern corner of South Africa is the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal , the kingdom of the Zulu people, and the most populous of the nine SA provinces.
After a trip of about 450km through some “real Africa “ we’ll arrive at the little village of Hluhluwe.
THE HORN AND THORN –Wednesday 14th to Friday 16th
Now to a chalet on the farm of our friends James and Jill Domleo . With double rooms set around the swimming pool and a communal kitchen and lounge. The Domleo’s farm sisal ( used for ropes and mats) , irrigated sugar cane and game for the hunting fraternity. Their house is situated about 7km from Hluhluwe village and a 15 minute drive from the gate to the Hluhluwe /Umfolosi game reserve , made famous by it’s “operation Rhino” which brought the white Rhino back from the brink of extinction.
Activities here include:
- Hluhluwe river boat trip
- Visit to st Lucia estuary a world heritage site and waterbird paradise.(50 to 100km )
- Visit game viewing, fishing at Pongola dam.(40km)
- Visit Zulu woodcarvers and basket weavers ( 15 to 50km)
- Get to the Indian ocean and sunbathe or perhaps dive/fish (80km)
- See lake Sibaya a coastal freshwater lake .
On Saturday morning we’ll head Southwest about 120km and see the old capital of Zululand at Eshowe and do a walk on a raised boardwalk through the mist-forest canopy . We’ll get lunch at a local establishment and try to catch up with old Zulu acquaintances of the Mackenzie family nearby.Then we’ll travel 120km to Ballito on the Indian ocean about 40km up the coast from Durban.
BROADSANDS COTTAGE – Saturday 17th to Monday the 19th 3 nights
This is the old family cottage of Bridgets family , owned by her aunt Ishbel Wakeman. It is a comfortable house with double rooms and sits among the mansions of the millionaires ( including Louis Luyt !! ).
Overlooking the Indian Ocean, the lounge and verandah have beautiful uninterrupted views and the beach is about 40 paces away. Ballito is a thriving little town with plenty of restaurants , golf courses , art and craft outlets and adventure tourism places, and only 45 minutes from the centre of Durban. Here’s the list:
- at least 5 golf courses ranging from local club to international championship level within 40km
- A horde of top class restaurants and resorts
- Umgeni river bird park ( sort of exotic bird zoo )
- Microlight flights over the ocean
- Croc and snake farm (might catch the feeding!)
- Fitzimmons snake park in Durban
- Swimming ,surfing , paddleskiing
- Possible to arrange a deep sea charter for fishing
We’ll be in a big sugar growing area and could arrange to visit one of Bridgets relatives for a farm visit. This is also the centre of a very Indian area of SA ( the biggest population of Indian people outside of India) and there is no end to the range of Indian foods and snacks available. We’ll pick (black)mussels off the rocks and arrange a genuine Fishbraai ( BBQ’d whole linefish) . On Tuesday we’ll pack up and travel through Durban and Pietermaritzburg to the Natal midlands , a trip of 150km.
THISTLEDOWN COUNTRY HOUSE – Tuesday 20th
We might have a look around the cities / towns of Pietermaritzburg and Howick and get a look at the 110m Howick falls on our way through to the gentle Karkloof valley. This is the “home turf “ of the Mackenzie family and we’ll stay in double rooms at Thistledown on the edge of the indigineous mist forest . Weather here will be back to near freezing at night and mostly clear sunny days getting up to 25 deg C. We can try to get a look at a giant Yellowwood tree ( SA’s version of the Kauri ) and visit the Benson family , to have a look around their mixed farming operation including a world class piggery and stud , maize and soya operation , horse feed plant and thoroughbred stud.
We’ll then travel 120km on through the midlands to the village of Underberg in the Drakensberg mountains, and have a choice of visits on the way to:
- Handmade shoe and boot operation.
- Or Game hide tannery
- Or Home bakery and handworks and more on the Midlands Meander.
TAYLORS GUESTHOUSE – Wednesday the 21st to Friday the 23rd
In Underberg, (pop about 1000 normally and many more at weekends and holidays), we will be guests of Bridget’s parents , John and Edith Taylor , on their mixed and dairy farm “the Banks”. Weather here will be as cold as -15 deg C at night with plenty of frost , the days should be clear and sunny with temperatures up to about 20 deg. Accommodation will be in double rooms in the house and meals will be served in the house or taken at local restaurants as we choose.We’ll spend some time chatting around the fireplace with the Taylors about farming , John’s NZ roots and rugby (John is an ex provincial representative ) , before retiring to heated , fully serviced rooms.
We’ve made a booking for a 4×4 trip up the Sani pass to Lesotho with Jonathan Aldous to have a drink and lunch in the highest pub in Southern Africa at about 9000 ft. I’ve also made a tentative booking with Bruce and Peta Parker to visit their game farm and lodge and to take any enthusiasts wingshooting with them . Other activities:
- See San ( bushman) rock art
- Visit farms in the area to see “the Banks “ dairy , Nguni beef cattle operation , Apple and cherry orchards ,
- Sightseeing in the mountainous country crisscrossed with clear trout streams.
- Perhaps take a night drive to see the wildlife that uses the farms after hours .
On Saturday morning we’ll pack up and head through a little known back road travelling through some spectacular sandstone mountain farms to Nottingham rd and Mooi river , where we might have lunch and catch up with my brother Rod before moving on to Ladysmith . A total of about 200km travelling.
BLANERNE FARM B&B – Saturday the 24th and Sunday the 25th
We’ll be the guests of Ian and Pam Mitchell-Innes on their beef farm . Run on the Holistic resource management principle near Elandslaagte between Ladysmith and Dundee.Set in the heart of the battlefields from the Zulu wars of the late 1800’s and the Boer war at the turn of the last century. We’ll have breakfast and set-off with Neville Worthington to share with him his passion for the history of the Zulu war , and visit sites of the great battles fought between this proud African nation and the might of the Victorian British empire.
We might have time for a bit of a look at Ian’s beef operation before Dinner and another night at Blanerne. After an early breakfast we’ll head up the national road N3 through van Reenens pass and into the Orange freestate province and the highveld. We’ll travel about 250km through the mountains and out onto the plains to the Sparta beef feedlot near Marquard. Here we’ll do a tour of the feedlot and have a traditional Braai ( BBQ) dinner as guests of Lou van Reenen , director of Sparta Beef.We’ll spend the night at the nearby Arizona hunting lodge in comfortable double rooms.
ARIZONA LODGE-Monday 26th
After breakfast at the lodge we’ll make our way west toward Kimberley through the drier grassland plains of the Freestate and into the acacia thornscrub and semi-desert of the northern Karroo and eventually the Northern Cape province and Kimberley after about 250km of travelling.
CARRINGTON LODGE –Tuesday 27th and Wednesday 28th
We’ll spend 2 nights in luxurious ,heated ,double rooms and enjoy meals provided by our hosts or taken at restaurants in the ‘Diamond city’ a range of activities is available, from:
- Diamond mine tour ( booked for Wednesday morning) of 3hrs
- Visit to the Boer war battlefield of Magersfontein 32km
- View the “Big Hole” and museum of the original diamond rush diggings
- Take a drive through the Northern Cape farmland and try to see Springbok and other highveld game and perhaps the Orange river or nearby Vaalbos game reserve.
We’ll need to leave by about 10am at the latest on Thursday the 29th to drive the 500 odd km to Johannesburg, in order to check in for flights departing at 6pm for Sydney or Cape Town.We’ll travel through the Maize basket of SA and several mining towns in the North West province. Perhaps there’ll be some time for duty free shopping in Jo’burg before the plane goes.
2005 Tour
Itinerary 2005 Tour
Day 0– Arrive at Chch airport by 12.30 pm .Board Qantas flight QF46 at 2.35 pm in Christchurch arrive in Sydney at 3.15 pm after 3hr15 min flight Board Qantas flight direct to Johannesburg
Day 1: Arrive in Johannesburg early evening. Met at Jhb international and travel to our first class lodge in Sandton JHB. In case you’re hungry, dinner is served!
Day 2: A visit to Sandton City – a five storey shopping mall – with time to change money etc and do some shopping ( Gold in the City of Gold anyone?) A long drive to the north of the country on the Zimbabwe border to spend the night at Pafuri River Lodge in charming tree houses.
Day 3: After such a long day yesterday, have a relaxed time walking in the bush on the edge of the Kruger Park, fishing in the Pafuri River ( watch out for crocodiles!) and visit a real life Venda village. Have sundowners around the pool and dinner in the open air dining room.
Day 4: Up early to get into the Kruger Park as the gates open at first light. Travel south while gameviewing and stop for lunch at one of the superb restaurants in the Park. An afternoon rest and some more game viewing in the early evening, and back to camp before the gates close at sunset. A night drive and braai ( BBQ SA style) in the bush.
Day 5: Early start for good gameviewing , Breakfast after a short while , stop for lunch at a restcamp and proceed to our next camp gameviewing all the way.A walk in the Park for the keen ones in the afternoon.
Day 6: Time to say goodbye to the Park now as we make our way out of Kruger to an animal rehabilitation centre. Accommodation is at the centre.
Day 7: The Eastern Transvaal is known for it’s spectacular natural rock formations and today you will see them. The Blyde River Canyon and Sudwala Caves afford some fantastic photo opportunities.
Day 8: Breakfast and drive South through sugar and tropical fruit farms of the lowveld and Swaziland. After about 500km arrive at ‘The Horn and Thorn ‘ chalet near Hluhluwe in Zululand. If we are early enough, a walk on this private game,sisal and pineapple farm is the order of the day. Relax around the pool with a drink if you prefer. A leisurely braai is just the thing after so much travel.
Day 9: Our friendly local guide, Jan, will be ready for us at first light to go into the Hluhluwe/Umfolosi Park. Jan has communications with local rangers and we will be guaranteed a good days game viewing going to all the best spots.Lunch at the Centenary Centre and a chance to shop at the craft market there. Up close and touching a real rhino is possible if there are any animals in the boma where they are kept for care.Dinner at a local restaurant complete with resident Zulu dancers.
Day 10: Breakfast and a host of choices. Visit a Zulu village, take a walk in the bush canopy 30 m above the forest floor, visit St Lucia – a world heritage site are among the choices. We have 250 kms to do today to take us to the Indian Ocean and a beachfront cottage on the Natal North Coast. Great local restaurants where you can try Natal curry, seafood, or a world renowned South African steak.
Day 11: No pressure today but still lots of choice. Relax on the beach and at the cottage,stroll through the shops or cast a line right in front of the cottage from the rocks. Deep sea fishing charters or golf can be arranged.
Day12: Breakfast at the cottage and more coastal activities .We have the Sharks board to visit, uShaka Waterworld – an interactive aquarium par excellance, Kings Park if there is rugby on. Don’t forget the shopping in Durban ( Popn. 4.5M) –the beachfront with it’s rickshaw rides are all on offer.
Day 13: Breakfast and travel through Durban to the Phezulu Zulu cultural centre in the Valley of a Thousand Hills. Lunch and an easy drive to Howick via Pietermaritzburg to stay in the gentle farmland and indigenous mist forest of the Karkloof valley. Norma at Thistledown Country House is our hostess for the night.
Day 14: View the Howick falls and farms in the region . Lunch at local establishment and drive 110 kms, up the escarpment to the village of Underberg nestling at a height of 6000feet. Dinner at “The Banks Bed and Breakfast on a working dairy farm.
Day 15: View the spectacular Southern Drakensberg , look over farms in the region , play golf , look at local arts and crafts etc. Ever seen a vulture restaurant? Do some trout fishing, hunt for San rock art in the mountains, horseride in the Private Game farm of Penwarn. Birdlife, walks, scenery – it’s all there.
Day 16: Today take a trip up Sani pass (9400 feet) into the Independent Kingdom of Lesotho. Lunch at the “highest pub in Africa” , look for Ice Rats in the Alpine climes and meet Basotho people.
Day 17: Breakfast and travel through the Inzinga road into the Midlands Meander with its hundreds of craft establishments. Lunch at a pub on the way to Blanerne farm B&B ,35km from Ladysmith. If time and energy allow, a tour of the Anglo Zulu battlefields. Dinner with our hosts Ian and Pam Mitchell-Innes..
Day 18: Travel 200km up over the Drakensberg through van Reenen’s pass to the Orange Free State province and view the Sparta beef cattle feedlot at Marquard. Dinner and night at local game lodge.
Day 19: Travel 300km across the Highveld and into the Northern Cape province and the top end of the Karroo to Kimberley , the Diamond capital of the world.
Day 20: Underground mine tour and tour of the diamond workings .
Day 21: Return to Johannesburg for one last night before your flight to Zimbabwe
**Day22: An early start to catch the plane in Johannesburg bound for Victoria Falls. We spend the night at our hotel in Vic Falls.
**Day 23: Vic Falls – one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Locally known as “ The Smoke that thunders”.A sunset cruise on the Zambezi River in amongst crocodiles and elephants and other animals is a must. A choice of bungy jumping, helicopter ride, elephant back ride or white water rafting awaits you.
**Day24: Whatever activities you didn’t do yesterday, you can do today.
**Day 25: We fly back for Johannesburg and one last night in Africa.
**Day 26: Farewell as you catch your plane bound for home. Visit again soon – maybe a Southern trip to the Fairest Cape next time.
**Note: Days22 to 26; This part of the tour is an add on facilitated by African Crusaders Tours, but conducted by other tour operators
June 2007 Tour
Itinerary June 2007 Tour
Day 0–1: Arrive at Chch airport by 08h30 to board flight SQ 298 at 10h50. Arrive in Singapore at 17h45 ( local time) after 10 hour 55 min flight. Stopover
in Singapore for 7 hours 45 minutes, then at 01h30 , terminal 2 ,board Singapore flight SQ 480 direct to Cape Town. 12h05 mins. Changi airport is a delight. As big as a small village, there is much to choose from with regard to meals, a shower, a sleep, shopping, shopping and more shopping! Sing dollars are about $1 to $1NZ so conversion is easy.
Aircraft: Boeing 777-200
Day 0: Arrive in Cape Town at 07h35. We will be met by our local guide Peter Tully who will transport us to our bed and breakfast. Today is officially the day before the tour starts, so will be a good catch up after a very long journey. We have the option of going to the Victoria and Albert Waterfront for a stroll and lunch and to get the feel of south Africas’ Mother city. Cheryl our other guide will arrive at lunch time and the rest of the guests at 22h30 ** – then we are all together and ready to go. **All guests will be collected from the airport and transported to Le Petit Vignoble – our lovely bed and breakfast in the suburb of Constantia near to 300 year old wine farms..
Day 1: Cape Town:Breakfast at 07h30 and then off to Robben Island and a bit of political history, then the Castle ( more history), followed by a ride in the Table Mountain Cable Car to have lunch up top and take in the view.
Back to Le Petit Vignoble to freshen up before dinner at a local a la carte restaurant.
Day 2: Cape Town: Breakfast at 08h00 and spend the day driving around the Cape Point, lunch at one of the quaint sea side villages. Back to town to stroll around Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
Dinner: a la carte restaurant.
Day 3: Cape Town: Breakfast at 08h00. Today is the Cape Winelands. Led by our able local, Pete, we will sample wines and produce of the fairest Cape. Lunch at a winefarm. Dinner: a la carte.
Day 4: Cape Town to Johannesburg: Breakfast at 08h00 and off to the airport to get our flight JE 146 at 10h35. We need to be at the airport at the latest 0930 so will leave the b&b at 09h00.
Arrive in Johannesburg at 12h40. Lunch : by consensus – either a snack en route or we can stop in JHB or Pretoria for a quick bite.
Danie ( pronounced Dahnee), our driver, will meet us and we drive about 250 km (2 hours) to Potgietersrus, half way between Johannesburg and the Zimbabwe border.
We should arrive mid afternoon in time for a visit to the local museum.
Dinner at our lodge.
Day 5: Breakfast and another 250km long drive to the Zimbabwe border in the north of the country to spend the night at Pafuri River Lodge in charming tree houses. We will arrive in time for lunch at the lodge, relaxed walks in the bush around the lodge and a tour of real life Venda Tribal Village. Have sundowners around the pool and dinner in the open air dining room.
Day 6: Up early to get into the Kruger Park as the gates open at first light. Crooks corner at the triangle between SA, Zimbabwe and Mozambique is an area rich in game and history. Travel south while gameviewing and stop for brunch at one of the camp restaurants in the Park. Game, game and more game!
Night one in the park is at Shingwidzi and dinner in the camp restaurant.
Day 7: Early start for good gameviewing , Breakfast after a short while , stop for lunch at a restcamp and proceed to Phalaborwa gate gameviewing all the way.
Freshen up at the Loerie Lodge and get ready to go on a night drive and braai ( BBQ) in the bush.
Day 8: Early morning is best for gameviewing. Today we will get a chance to visit the Elephant Museum at Letaba camp and have an easy afternoon in the Olifants camp overlooking the river. Dinner and night at Olifants camp.
Day 9: A relaxed day today viewing slowly ad stopping as we like at hides and hunting the animals out. Lunch/Brunch at a camp and dinner in the restaurant at Satara camp.
Day 10: Sadly today we leave Kruger Park through the Orpen Gate. A bit of roadside shopping is available as we speed on to get to the wild animal rehab centre in time for the morning tour. After that the spectacular natural rock formations of the Eastern Transvaal afford some fantastic photo opportunities as we move on to stay in Nelspruit tonight and have a special traditional braai organised for us in true SA hospitality with our hosts Johan and Laurie
Day 11: Breakfast and drive South through sugar and tropical fruit farms of the lowveld to the west of Swaziland. After about a 500km drive, with lunch en route, arrive late in the afternoon at ‘The Horn and Thorn ‘ lodge near Hluhluwe in Zululand. Dinner at a local hotel and watch some Zulu dancing.
Day 12: A day in the Imfolosi/Hluhluwe Park – a quiet sit on the Sontuli Loop to see if we can get the animals to come to us .Lunch at the Centenary Centre and a chance to shop at the craft market there. Dinner at a local restaurant. .
Day 13: Hluhluwe – a chance to see a real African town, back into the Park or a visit to a large and wild cat rehabilitation centre. A host of choices awaits you -visit a Zulu village, go to St Lucia – a world heritage site, relax around the pool or take a walk on this private game, sisal and pineapple farm. Evening around the pool and a braai with our hosts Jill and James.
Day 14: We have 350 kms to do today to take us to the Midlands of Natal to Dougs’ home turf in the Karkloof valley. We travel past Durban to the Phezulu Zulu cultural centre in the Valley of a Thousand Hills. Lunch there and an easy drive to Howick via Pietermaritzburg to stay in the gentle farmland and indigenous mist forest of the Karkloof valley. Our very comfortable lodge, “Thistledown” is hosted by Norma, a magnificent chef who is sure to provide a wonderful dinner for us.
Day 15: View the Howick falls and farms in the region and visit any of the hundreds of establishments on the Midlands Arts Meander.Lunch at local establishment and drive 110 kms, up the Drakensberg escarpment to the village of Underberg nestling at a height of 6000feet. Dinner at “The Banks Bed and Breakfast on a working dairy farm. This is home to Bridgets parents and Cheryls home town.
Day 16: View the spectacular Southern Drakensberg , look over farms in the region , play golf , look at local arts and crafts etc. Ever seen a vulture restaurant? Do some trout fishing , hunt for San rock art in the mountains, horseride in the Private Game farm of Penwarn. Birdlife, walks, scenery – it’s all there.
Day 17: Today take a trip up Sani pass (9400 feet) into the Independent Kingdom of Lesotho. Lunch at the “highest pub in Africa” , look for Ice Rats in the Alpine climes and meet Basotho people.
Day 18: No hurry this morning. After one of Ediths famous breakfasts we travel back to the Indian Ocean ( about 3 hours) and a beachfront cottage on the Natal North Coast. Great local restaurants where you can try Natal curry, seafood, or a world renowned South African steak to keep the hunger pangs at bay tonight.
Day 19: Relax on the beach,stroll through the shops or cast a line right in front of the cottage from the rocks. Don’t take too long though as we commute into Durban to the Absa Stadium for the big match between the Springboks and the All Blacks. Bring your Kiwi gear!
Day 20: Breakfast at the cottage and make our way up the main N3 highway to Ladysmith and a working Holistic Resource Management and game Farm. A tour of the farm or a trip to the site of the Anglo Zulu battle at Isandlwana are our choices for today.
Day 21: And here we are on our last day.
Breakfast at 06h00 to give us plenty of time to get to Johannesburg by11h00 in time for our flights – SQ 479 Singapore Air to Singapore, at 13h15.
Farewell as you catch your plane bound for home
April 2009 Tour
Itinerary April 2009
Day 1
Friday 10 April 2009
Meet at 0900 at Sydney Airport.
Depart: AM Flight NZ510 Sydney to Johannesburg
Airline: Qantas
Arrive: Johannesburg at 16:10 pm Aircraft:
Total Flight Time: hours minutes (Non-Stop)
Met by our driver Rodney.
Proceed to Melrose Place Lodge for the night.
Dinner at the Lodge.
Day 2
Saturday 11 April 2009
08h00 Breakfast at Melrose Place.
09h00 To Sandton City for a morning in the Mall.
Opportunity to change money, buy phone cards etc.
Lunch in the Mall
Opportunity to visit Gold Reef City this afternoon
Dinner at a local restaurant
Day 3
Sunday 12 April 2009
Breakfast at the lodge.
Leave at 08h30 to travel through the Eastern Transvaal to Pilgrims Rest (3hrs).
Arrive early afternoon in time to explore the Historical mining Town of Pilgrims Rest
Lodgings at the Royal Hotel.
Dinner in the hotel.
Day 4
Monday 13 April 2009
Breakfast at the hotel.
Leave at 08h30 to travel through the spectacular Blyde River Canyon, stopping at
Various spots for photo opportunities and then down the escarpment to the Lowveld.
Lunch on the way.
Depending on time we have the opportunity to visit Moholoholo Wildlife rehabilitation Centre, or a Silk farm
Tonight is our first night in Manyeleti Private Game Park adjacent to the Kruger Park.
Accommodation is in comfortable en suite safari tents as close to nature as you can get and still be civilized!
Day 5
Tuesday 14 April 2009
Animals and game Park all day
Day 6
Wednesday 15 April 2009
A very early morning is required as we have over an hour to travel to get to our elephant herd for a unforgettable elephant experience. More than just a ride, it is a real chance to get to know some gentle pachyderms and learn more about their individual traits
Day 7
Thursday 16 April 2009
Today we have an unhurried day quietly travelling through the bush looking for the animals. We spend the night in Satara Camp within the bounds of the Kruger national Park and experience the “camp life”. Drinks on the verandah, swim in the pool, open air wildlife movies – it’s all there to choose.
Day 8
Friday 17th April 2009
Hopefully you will not be tired of the animals yet! There are so many to seeas well as the hundreds of bird species, so we may only just be warming up!
Night in Satara Camp
Day 9
Saturday 18th April 2009
Our journey south now begins. We will travel through the park and leave the gates in time to get to Nelspruit in the early afternoon.
I can guarantee an evening full of laughs and splendid Afrikaans hospitality from our hostess Laurie and her helpers Manie and Esther at Emoyeni Lodge.
Day 10
Sunday 19th April 2009
Get your passports out – today we travel through the independent Kingdom of Swaziland to the Kingdom of the Zulu in Hluhluwe – a journey of about 500 kms.
Settle in around the pool of our lodgings called “The Horn and Thorn”.
Dinner at a local hotel.
Day 10
Sunday 19 April 2009
Up early to get to the Imfolosi Park – about an hours drive south.
We spend the day traveling through the Imfolosi/Hluhluwe park in a northerly direction, to come out at the Hluhluwe gate about 19kms from The Horn and Thorn.
We will visit the local craft market at the Centenary Centre, and if there are any animals in the boma under acclimatization, we will see those too.
Dinner at the Hluhluwe River Lodge
Day 11
Monday 20 April 2009
We have a good Zululand breakfast and then off to see more animals.
The local wild Cat rehabilitation center is always worth a visit – see how the variety of special cats are affected by man.
Lunch at a local craft centre, some curio shopping and a chance to see some Zulu culture. Farmers might be keen to travel around with our Host, James, and have a look at his sugar cane, Pineapple, Sisal and game farming operation.
Dinner at our lodge – a Traditional Braai (BBQ) with our hosts James and Jill Domleo.
Day 12
Tuesday 21 April 2009
After breakfast, travel about 2 hours to just north of Durban to the seaside town of Ballito and the beachfront bach where we are staying. Previous experience tells me that we will arrive at lunch time or later by the time we have checked out all the roadside shopping on the way. We may get a midweek church service here in Ballito.
Day 13
Wednesday 22 April 2009
No hurry today. We can breakfast at our beach cottage which has been in my aunts family for about 50 years, and then decide on our movements.
Options today include a visit to the Natal Sharks Board laboratory, shopping at the enormous Gateway Shopping Center, visit a Bird Sanctuary or just quietly chill at the beach. There is also a dear little mall in Ballito if you choose to look at some shops.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 14
Thursday 23 April 2009
Breakfast at the cottage and a leisurely drive through the valley of 1000 Hills. We stop at Phezulu Cultural Village for lunch, a tour of the Reptile Park and some Zulu Culture.
Then wind up the escarpment from Durban to Pietermaritzburg and on to our next overnight stop in the rural area of Karkloof. About 150 km drive in all.
We spend the night at the quaint “ Thistledown” country house and are hosted by Norma and Norman Maguire. Norma’s dinners are to die for!
Day 15
Friday 24 April 2009
A leisurely morning start ad a huge breakfast – I know- I’ve had one before!.
We will meander the 200 kms to Underberg through the Midlands of Natal and have the opportunity to visit many craft establishments. These may be a leather works ( fantastic shoes, hats and bags!) or a nougat factory or any one of literally hundreds of interesting nooks and crannies – we will decide with the help of a comprehensive guide.
At Underberg we will be at about 6000 feet above sea level and in a totally different climate to that which we have been experiencing up to now.
We stay at “The Banks” Guest house – the home of my parents – John and Edith Taylor.
They are both keen bowlers and love to meet guests from all over the world. They live on the roughly 1200 ha dairy farm that my brother Tinny now runs.
Dinner at “The Banks”
Day 16
Saturday 25 April 2009
Breakfast at “The Banks” and then a day trip to Lesotho, an independent Kingdom
10 000 feet above sea level. This tiny Kingdom boasts the highest “low point” of any country in the world!! Test the “African Massage” up Sani Pass and have lunch at the highest pub in Africa.
Even though we will probably all be exhausted by the end of the day, there is still dinner to see to at a local restaurant.
Day 17
Sunday 26 April 2009
Breakfast at “The Banks”
Choices abound in this sleepy little village.
St Michael and All Angels Anglican church has a morning service in English and an evening service in Zulu and the Catholic church offers a Zulu service.
The local Museum has been judged one of the best small museums in the country. Dairy and beef farm tours are available, a tiny cheese factory that makes delicious exclusive cheeses and have names for all their “Ladies” ( cows), San rock art, many art studios – the list goes on..
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 18
Monday 27 April 2009
Early breakfast as we bid farewell to the mountains and head for the airport in Durban – a comfortable 2 and a half hours drive.
Arrive at the airport at 12h00.
Depart at 14h25 Flight SA617 Durban Louis Botha Airport to Cape Town
Arrive in Cape Town at 16h40 where we will be met by our local guide Pete.
Settle in to Le Petite Vignoble guest house for the next 4 nights.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 19
Tuesday 28th April 2009
Breakfast at the guest house followed by a busy day.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, the Victoria and Albert Water front, Table Mountain, The Castle…..
Day 20
Wednesday 29th April 2009
Stellenbosch and the Winelands…..
Day 21
Thursday 30th April 2009
…Robben Island ,Cape Point , Simon Town, Boulders Penguin Colony and Hout Bay….
Our time in Cape Town is packed. We may swap attractions around in order to fit in with the vagaries of the weather as the Table Mountain Cable Car is not open if it is too windy up on top! Don’t worry – we fit it all in somehow.
Dinner at a local restaurant for the “Last Supper”!
Day 22
Friday 1 May 2009
Today we say farewell to the fairest Cape and South Africa as we head to the airport and the journey home to New Zealand.
Depart: 12:40 PM Flight SA334 Cape Town to Johannesburg
Airline: SAA – South African Airways
Arrive: Johannesburg International at 2:40 pm
Total Flight Time: 2 hours (Non-Stop)
Boeing 737-800 Jet
I will leave you here at 16h30 .
Your flight should be ready for the whole check in process by now.
Please see your tickets for your onward flights to Australia and New Zealand
June 2008 Tour
Itinerary June 2008 Tour
Day 1
Tuesday 15th July 2008
Meet at 0930 at Christchurch Airport.
Depart:11:00 AM Flight NZ510 Christchurch to Auckland
Airline: Air New Zealand
Arrive: Auckland at 12:20 pm Aircraft: Boeing 737-300 Jet
Total Flight Time: 1 hour 20 minutes (Non-Stop)
Depart: Flight NZ175 Auckland to Perth 2:25 PM
Arrive: Perth at 6:10 pm Aircraft: Boeing 767 Jet
Total Flight Time: 7 hours 45 minutes (Non-Stop)
Day 2
Wednesday 16th July 2008
Perth – under own arrangements
Day 3
Thursday 17th July 2008
Perth – under own arrangements
Day 4
Friday 18th July 2008
Depart: 11:20 AM Flight SA281 Perth to Johannesburg International
Airline: SAA – South African Airways
Arrive: Johannesburg International at 5:15 pm
Total Flight Time: 11 hours 55 minutes (Non-Stop)
Met at the airport and transported to our Tladi Lodge for the night.
Dinner: At Tladi Lodge
Day 5
Saturday 19th July 2008
08h00 Breakfast at Tladi Lodge.
09h00 To Sandton City for a morning in the Mall.
Opportunity to change money, buy phone cards etc.
Lunch in the Mall
Met by our driver Danie and proceed to the Cradle of Mankind.
About one hours drive
Local attractions: Origins Museum
Dinner at “ The Olive Tree”.
Lodgings: Origins Guest House
Day 6
Sunday 20th July 2008
Breakfast at Origins Guest House.
Day tour of Soweto including lunch.
Return to Tladi Lodge in the late afternoon.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 7
Monday 21st July 2008
Breakfast at Tladi.
We need to be at the airport by 0830. Bridget and Danie say good bye here.
4 Kiwi’s Depart for Victoria Falls at 11h20 Flight BA 6285 L
Arrive VICTORIA FALLS 1310
Land Transfer from Victoria Falls to Chobe Safari Lodge, Botswana.
Night at Chobe Safari Lodge in the Chobe River wilderness area.
Great game viewing, Tiger Fishing and outstanding bird viewing. (as this is a package, there might be extra charges for activities and Lunch/Dinner for your account)
Day 8
Tuesday 22nd July 2008
Land Transfer from Chobe Safari Lodge to A’Zambezi River Lodge, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
4 Passengers 2 doubles
Bed and breakfast ( Dinner/Lunch is for your account)
There is a vast array of activities here from Bungy Jumping, Zambezi whitewater rafting, Flights over the falls, Sundowner cruises up the Zambezi, Tiger and Bream fishing, game viewing in nearby Zambezi national Park, Great Curio shopping, Casino’s Bars and restaurants galore. Contacts and pricing for these will be available at your lodge or in Victoria Falls town.
Day 9
Wednesday 23rd July 2008
Victoria Falls
Day 10
Thursday 24th July 2008
Victoria Falls
Day 10
Friday 25th July 2008
Transfer from A”Zambezi River Lodge to Victoria Falls Airport.
Depart Victoria Falls 13h50
Arrive Johannesburg at 15h30
Met by Bridget and Derek Dickson ( Driver/Guide) at O R Tambo Airport.
Transfer to Tladi Lodge for Dinner and the night.
Day 11
Saturday 26th July 2008
Breakfast at the lodge.
Leave at 08h30 to travel through the Eastern Transvaal to Pilgrims Rest (3hrs).
We will have a packed lunch on the way.
Arrive early afternoon in time to explore the Historical mining Town of Pilgrims Rest
Lodgings at the Royal Hotel.
Dinner in the hotel.
Day 12
Sunday 27th July 2008
Breakfast at the hotel.
Leave at 08h30 to travel through the spectacular Blyde River Canyon and down the escarpment to Moholoholo Wildlife rehabilitation Centre.
Dinner at The Wildbeest Lapa restaurant
Day 13
Monday 28th July 2008
Breakfast at the Centre.
09h00 Morning tour of the Centre to see what animals they have at the moment and to learn a bit about local fauna and ecosystems, presentation by Brian Jones.
A quick lunch and then about an hours drive to the Phalaborwa gate of the Kruger National Park and a couple of hours drive in the park to our lodgings at Letaba camp in the Park.
Dinner in the Letaba camp restaurant.
Day 14
Tuesday 29th July 2008
A chance to look at the elephant museum and brunch al fresco overlooking the Letaba River.
Game viewing for the rest of the day to end up at Mopani Camp (direct drive about 2hrs North).
Dinner at Mopani restaurant.
Day 15
Wednesday 30th July 2008
Up early for our drive south, looking for animals all the way.
Leave Kruger Park in the late afternoon to go to Ndzhaka Camp,
Manyeleti Private reserve, , for the next three nights in amongst the wildlife.
Dinner around the fire with the sounds of the bush and a couple of quiets.
Day 16
Thursday 31st July 2008
Today is totally dedicated to game viewing.
A bush walk, quiet time, night drive and game drives are all available.
Dinner again in the bush around the fire.
Day 17
Friday 1 August 2008
Up early to meet our family of trained elephants and go for a ride
In the bush on an adult loxodonta Africana (African elephant).
Afternoon back in Manyeleti and another chance to check off the elusive Big Five from your “been there, done that” list.
Day 18
Saturday 2 August 2008
We leave Manyeleti today after our last chance to game view.
We travel South to the little town of Nelspruit to experience some real Afrikaans hospitality with Laurie and Johann at Emoyeni Lodge.
Day 19
Sunday 3rd August 2008
Today is a travel day.
After a breakfast to remember from Laurie our hostess, we travel 500kms, around Swaziland, to Hluhluwe in the Kingdom of the Zulu.
Settle in around the pool of our lodgings called “The Horn and Thorn”.
Dinner at a local hotel.
Day 20
Monday 4th August 2008
Up early to get to the Imfolosi Park – about an hours drive south.
We spend the day traveling through the Imfolosi/Hluhluwe park in a northerly direction, to come out at the Hluhluwe gate about 19kms from The Horn and Thorn.
We will visit the local craft market at the Centenary Centre, and if there are any animals in the boma under acclimatization, we will see those too.
Dinner at the Hluhluwe River Lodge
Day 21
Tuesday 5th August 2008
We have a good Zululand breakfast and then off to see more animals.
The local wild Cat rehabilitation center is always worth a visit – see how the variety of special cats are affected by man.
Lunch at a local craft centre, some curio shopping and a chance to see some Zulu culture. Farmers might be keen to travel around with our Host, James, and have a look at his sugar cane, Pineapple, Sisal and game farming operation.
Dinner at our lodge – a Traditional Braai (BBQ) with our hosts James and Jill Domleo.
Day 22
Wednesday 6th August 2008
After breakfast, travel about 2 hours to Durban.
Options today include a visit to the Natal Sharks Board laboratory, shopping at the enormous Gateway Shopping Center, visit a Bird Sanctuary and more.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 23
Thursday 7th August 2008
Breakfast at our lodgings and a leisurely drive through the valley of 1000 Hills. We stop at Phezulu Cultural Village for lunch, a tour of the Reptile Park and some Zulu Culture.
We travel about 150 kms from Durban to our next overnight stop in the rural area of Karkloof.
Lodgings are at “Shafton Grange Guest House”, dinner at the Grange.
Day 24
Friday 8th August 2008
A leisurely morning start.
Option of a farm tour, through a 6000 sow piggery, maize, Soy and beef operation. Then we travel our way( 2hrs) up to the little village of Underberg at 6000 feet above sea level.
On the way,we meander through the Midlands of natal and have the opportunity to visit many craft establishments.
Dinner: Ediths legendary farm fare at “The Banks” Guest house.
Day 25
Saturday 9th August
Breakfast at the Banks and a day trip to Lesotho, the independent Kingdom 10 000 feet above sea level. Time to test out the “African Massage” up Sani Pass and have lunch at the highest pub in Africa. There also should be Tri-Nations rugby on TV.
Dinner at Mikes,a local restaurant .
Day 26
Sunday 10th August 2008
Googies breakfasts are to remember.
Just the right thing to give you energy for the high country walks and visits to San Rock Art sites.
Lunch and afternoon tea at Penwarn Private Game Farm.
Dinner at Barbaras, a local restaurant.
Day 27
Monday 11th August 2008
Visit the local Museum, farm tours (dairy, beef, Spuds).
Wing shooting if you like, play a round of golf or fish for rainbow trout in a local dam.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 28
Tuesday 12th August 2008
Early breakfast as we bid farewell to the mountains and head for the airport in Durban – a comfortable 2 and a half hours drive.
Arrive at the airport a 12h00.
Depart at 13h10 aboard Kulula.com flight MN 762 to Port Elizabeth.
Arrive Port Elizabeth at 14h25
Met by Pete our driver for the rest of the trip, and transfer to Dempseys Bed and breakfast.
An afternoon to catch up with your old friends.
Dinner at a local restaurant
Day 29
Wednesday 13th August 2008
Perhaps a trip to Addo Elephant Park today will give the chance to see the rare Addo ellies who are a special bloodline surviving in a small pocket of land, against all mans incursions into their environment.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 30
Thursday 14th August 2008
After breakfast at the Dempseys, we travel South west away from the coast to the village of Oudtshoorn.
Options are to visit a commercial ostrich farm or the Cango Caves.
Overnight at De Oude Meul Guesthouse.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 31
Friday 15th August 2008
Travel further South west through valleys and vineyards of the Little Karoo region – perhaps take a little stop at one of the vineyards for lunch and to check the produce.
Overnight at Le Petite Vignoble guest house in Cape Town.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 32
Saturday 16th August 2008
Breakfast at the guest house.
The morning at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and the Victoria and Albert Water front shopping and entertainment complex.
Tri nations Rugby!!!
A special lunch, followed by the game and after match function.
Transfer back to the guest house.
Day 33
Sunday 17th August 2008
A full day with a trip to Robben Island followed by a drive around the Cape Point visiting such attractions as Simon Town, Boulders Penguin Colony and Hout Bay.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 34
Monday 18 August 08
Today we say farewell to the fairest Cape and South Africa as we head to the airport at 10h00.
Depart: 12:40 PM Flight SA334 Cape Town to Johannesburg
Airline: SAA – South African Airways
Arrive: Johannesburg International at 2:40 pm
Total Flight Time: 2 hours (Non-Stop)
Boeing 737-800 Jet
Depart: 6:10 PM Flight SA7700 Johannesburg International to Sydney
Airline: SAA – South African Airways
Arrive: Sydney at 1:55 pm, Tuesday 19 Aug 08
Total Flight Time: 11 hours 45 minutes (Non-Stop)
Boeing 747 Jet
Day 35
Tuesday 19 August 08
6:20 PM Flight NZ786 Sydney to Christchurch
Airline: Air New Zealand
Arrive: Christchurch at 11:20 pm
Total Flight Time: 3 hours (Non-Stop)
Airbus Industries 320 Jet