Blogs from Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, Africa - page 41

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg July 5th 2008

Day two: July 5th Johannesburg Airport / Hotel Wake up at 5am, breakfast at the hotel (tres French- pastries, yogurt and all) and departure for the airport at 7am After a 10hour and 20mn flight we landed at Johannesburg international airport, initial impressions very efficient airport, people along the way directing us and people of color in positions of authority at immigration for example. We were met by our tour guide Willem who would be with us for the next 10 days, we gathered our luggage, boarded our bus (our home away from home) and headed to the first of many hotels. The Zulu Nyala Country Manor (www.Zulunaala.com) Beautiful hotel, rustic (thatched roof, wooden furniture) with modern amenities (heating, fridge, coffee machine). img=http://i254.photobucket... read more

Apartheid, Separation and History in South Africa

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg » Soweto July 4th 2008

Soweto Skyline

jessiegoes

Still entralled with my cloistered lifestyle behind the palace walls, I woke up this morning to utter luxury and to breakfast in bed, still sore from whitewater rafting in what seemed to be a world away. I had questions. They were the first questions I asked my driver when I got in for my day tour of Johannesburg and Soweto. They were the first questions I started asking anyone whom I could screw up the courage through my American upbringing to ask, "how do you think things are going since the end of the apartheid government with respect to racism?" and "what is with all these walls?" You see for me, the racism and classism (which still go hand in hand), and variance in economic prosperity was so readily apparent it was like a slap in ... read more

Complete and Utter....bliss in Jo'burg?

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg July 3rd 2008

Heated Bed

jessiegoes

After what seems like an eternity of living in either tents, huts, or sketchy hotels with mystery lumps in the bed, where you definitely didn't want to run barefoot across the floor, I was estatic to get into my room at the Peech Hotel in Johannesburg. Jo'burg is rife with tales of urban warfare and random crime and its enough to make anyone a lot wary. Because my main goal was to rest, really enjoy a nicely made meal, bed and shower, I had the hotel pick me up at the airport, and whisk me away. My driver (and I later found most drivers), was very chatty and told me all about the history of the different streets we were on as we drove through to the northern suburbs. The northern suburbs are where the rich ... read more

Last Minute Info

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg July 2nd 2008

Gigisxm

Last minute useful info Hi guys, The time has finaly come. I'm off!!!! I feel like i've been talking about this trip forever and it's finaly here. Here's some last minute info for you. You can Check SA weather here Time in Johnanesburg and where you are And lastly hotel numbers Zulu Nyala country manor +27 (0)11 708 1969 Hannah Lodge +27 (0)13 238 0483 Nkambeni Tented Lodge +27 (0)13 798 4000 Lugogo Sun +268 416 5000/4000 Zulu Nyala Heritage Tented Lodge +27 (0)35 562 0177 Sica's Guest House +27 (0)31 261 2768 Garden Court +27(0)21 465 1311 ... read more

Another 5am start....are you kidding me?

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg June 26th 2008

Local take out

RichandCarol

Hello Peeps! So, it's time for another entry into the blog. We're currently in Johannesburg after travelling down from Zambia, through Botswana on a 6 day overland tour. More of that later. So, where did we leave you last? I think we were in Botswana, just before we travelled over into Zambia. We'd travelled to a place called Muan so we could pick up a two day tour on small boats called mokero's which take you into the Eastern part of the Okavango Delta. We were still with David and Sabrina, are American travelling buddies. Another early start we had a 2 hour drive to pick up our local polers and guide for the two days and to our horror, this was in an open 4x4 truck. It was freezing....Afrioca should be this bloody cold. Full ... read more

Adventures with Toni Tours in Johannesburg

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg June 18th 2008

Beaded Zulu Dolls

ToniD

This is a continuation of our trip from Zambia on June 16, 2008. June 18, 2008 It was a smooth quiet flight to Johannesburg. We cleared customs and immigration and were picked up by Kookie in a very comfortable mini bus, for our trip to the hotel Sandton Garden Court Hotel. It is a typical business hotel, but quite comfortable. At 7:00 PM we headed off to Moya Restaurant in the Melrose Arch suburb. It is a brand new residential, shopping restaurant neighborhood. The restaurant was really neat with Bedouin type décor and Pan-African foods served family style. We had an assortment of breads served with different spiced sauces, tabouli and cous cous salad, curried carrot and coconut soup, lamb stew and barbecued lemon chicken. Dessert was vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce and chocolate fruit ... read more

Johannesburg - The start

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg June 18th 2008

Jo'burg

AdventuresOfTheWartas

On the road yet again. If you’re wondering what’s going on then that ok. I still owe lots of you and email about the what, why, how and with whom of this trip. It will happen shortly I promise It has been only about a month since I heard that I will be made redundant and now I'm sitting in a small office in my backpacker's in Johannesburg. Was glad to leave the last few weeks behind me as there was so much to organize and do but hey who is complaining. No other commitments for the next 7 1/2 months :) Ok shall not forget to meet Kellie in 7 weeks… The flight was rather uneventful and pretty relaxing as I had a whole middle row of seats to myself. Doesn’t happen very of then ... read more

Jambo Jo'Burg

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg June 5th 2008

Tash01

Well, I made it on to the continent! After stupidly leaving a water bottle in my carry on I got the third degree in customs. They then went through my entire bag and the customs manager wanted to know why I had so much medication. I explained that I was going to Africa and I expected to have diarrohea for a long time. He let me through. Plane was delayed for half an hour so I made friends with an older lady in the terminal, she was originally South African but had moved to the Central Coast of NSW. We had a long discussion about where I should go and what I should do. I explained I was a little nervous about the security in Africa but she assured me I would be fine but I ... read more

Xenophobia, Snakes and Lists

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg May 31st 2008

Louise and Ross in Knysna

Kerry100

It feels like ages since I last wrote an entry, although it's only a couple of weeks. I seem to have lost all concept of time (although that could involve the fact my watch stopped the other day). Anyway. Louise accompanied us on our South African extravaganza. She went home on Thursday night, accompanied by a giraffe that's almost as tall as her and a hippo which took up all the room in her backpack. I should point out these are wooden; she's not smuggling animal dwarves out the country or anything. We started off in Cape Town, which is a really lovely city. We stuck to the tourist areas and felt completely safe. We went to the Cape of Good Hope which did feel a bit like the end of the world (who cares about ... read more

South Africa

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg May 26th 2008

krstnhsy

I made it! BUT, I am getting ready to leave our Southern Sun hotel to get back on a plane to Malawi... I have not pictures, this area is super industrialized around the airport so there is really nothing to take a picture of. Plus, we were told to STAY IN THE HOTEL. Anyway, I hope that I will be able to find some time (and electricity/internet access) to post something during training! ... read more

Brief history of South Africa

After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many of the Dutch settlers (the Boers) trekked north to found their own republics. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred wealth and immigration and intensified the subjug...more history

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