http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Africa , South Africa en-us Thu, 03 Dec 09 14:11:43 +0000 Thu, 03 Dec 09 14:11:43 +0000 We got up very early this morning and left Franschhoek at 8am. About 12 hour into our drive we finally met a family of baboons. We saw 8 adults and a juvenile they were playingforaging at the side of the road. Brian pulled over so we could take photos but we did not get out of the car to avoid having our passports stolen by the baboons not a joke Later on we saw a momma with a ti http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Wilderness/blog-455322.html Today is Leslie's birthday The reason for the trip. Or at least the impetus for the trip. Leslie wore a tiara all day and was a little unsettled that noone commented other than the three of us. We were allowed a rare late start to the day Brian was meeting us at 1100. Last night after Elephant and Barrel we went to Burgandy's for dessert. It was a nice place to go for dessert and cof http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Stellenbosch/blog-455315.html Today is a chilly rainy day. I would prefer a warm sunny day but the rain is soothing and the day is relaxing. We grudgingly left Leuwenvoet House at 930 this morning saying goodbye to Frankie our resident cat and the two wonderful women who were our hosts and who seemed to work 24 hours a day.Brian drove us to the bottom of the cable car for a view through the clouds a view of Cap http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Franschhoek/blog-455087.html At BreakfastSlept very well again but still not quite long enough. Each night I hope for eight hours but experiencing the day and night seems so much more important than sleeping. This morning's yoga practice was much better the stiffness from 24 hours of airportairplane time is finally receding.MidnightWhat a day No time sadly to journal will have to carve out some time tomorrow for http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Cape-Town/blog-455076.html I am back from my great South African Game Reserve adventure and adventure it was Carolyn and I left for the game reserve mid day last Sunday and drove three hours up north in the pouring rain. We reached the reserve in the late afternoon and as soon as we entered the first set of gates we were stopped by two huge elephants. They were on either side of the rd but soon one decided to joi http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/KwaZulu-Natal/Hluhluwe-Umfolozi-Game-Reserve/blog-455017.html It was a morning of sad goodbyes... Fiona and I along with all the other people leaving the tour got up early to wave off the truck full of new travellers and a couple of our friends who were staying on the truck as it headed off on its 3 weeks trip to Cape Town. After breakfast everyone else started to leave to go to the airport for their flights homeonwards. Fiona and I hadn't quite wor http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Gauteng/Pretoria/blog-454936.html The forecast is for today to be the best weather of our three days in Cape Town so Jessy has rearranged our itinerary a bit. Instead of city activities today we have been driving along the coast. It is a gorgeous day blue skies some white fluffy clouds warm and breezy. We are driving alongside the Atlantic which is crashing powerfully onto rock and sand beaches. We have just stopped at http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Cape-of-Good-Hope/blog-454508.html We are flying over desert it looks as if we are over the surface of another planet. We left home about 13 hours ago flew through Amsterdam three hour layover and have 8 hours left of this flight. Today's destination Cape Town South Africa. I have never been this far from home. However flying is a bit like suspended animation a slightly annoying and very cramped pause after which http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Cape-Town/blog-454441.html Today the only agenda is Table Mountain the sun has briefly appeared and I took the chance of going to Table Mountain to try my luck they said the cable car was working.As luck would have it when I got to the foot of the mountain I was told the cable car is closed for the day too windy Guess have to do Table Mountain on another trip Spent the rest of the day chilling by the Waterfront http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Cape-Town/blog-453580.html Howzit everyone16 November..the early days of summer.. yet it is still cold..it was warming up we had a few days of beautiful sunshineand heat..warming my skin as I walked through the farms oraround town..my skin transformed from pale white to moreacceptable tan.. and now..again... it is quite cold dampand gray. Dear summer please come soonI do not have any new photos well I do but not eno http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/KwaZulu-Natal/blog-453545.html Well I have now reached the last day. I have been back in Cape Town now for about a week and managed to see Robben Island tour of cape point go up table mountain and various other sights. Its all been such an amazing adventure can't quite believe it's nearly over but all good things must come to an end or so they say well my last day is a lovely sunny affair what a nice last day. It true to sa http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Cape-Town/blog-453336.html Before arriving in South Africa SA I was trepidatious to say the least. I had heard from a few South Africans that things had gotten quite bad there. The news had also been reporting strikes by the workers perpairing for the 2010 World Cup. Even a simple news search would easily pull up dozens of murder related stories. So rightly I was nervous when arriving in Cape Town.Cape Town September 18 http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Cape-Town/blog-452876.html Anyone like a glass of wine We were not in South Africa too long before we were at a winery tasting the nectar of the Gods. Our second night was spent camping at a small vineyard Highlanders where we sampled some of the local wines sensory sensational. The last day of our 42 day overland trip saw us passing through beautiful wine growing regions before we saw our first glimpse of Table Mounta http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Cape-Town/blog-452643.html Hi allApologies for the delayed blogging things have been a bit hectic. Jared Megan's Wedding was beautiful. It was a good mix of people and the venue was gorgeous. At one point there was a bit of worry that the ceremony would not be able to be outside but fortunately the weather permitted. After the wedding we hung around the area and did a bit of the Midlandrsquos Meander. On Saturday http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/blog-452624.html These pictures are from September Spring Break when I studied at the University of Stellenbosch JulyNovember 2007.Credit for certain photos belongs to Domink Roth Theresa Martin Tami Renard Michael Cuelen. I would have labeled them accordingly but I can't remember whose photos are whose any more. Sorry http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/blog-452431.html I am writing with some time lag thanks to travel and limited access to net. There is a song by Crowded House Always Take the Weather With You. Well I did bring the weather with me but just the wrong kind. After the first day being half decent sunny 10th and its 12th today and the weather hasnt improved saw temperature dropping to 1314 degrees with wind speed consistently around 50 kp http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Cape-Town/blog-452224.html Woke up early Monday morning Rusty dropped me to airport after we dropped Shaurya school. Domestic flights in SA are not as good as in India but I guess very few countries have the quality India now has in domestic airlines. But the flight was on time and I did get my seafood meal so cant complain.Cape Town when I landed was 18 degrees but quickly got to about 2122 which was pleasant. Got to http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Cape-Town/blog-452223.html Rcit d'un sjour au nord de Cape Town dans le West Coast national park. Au programme le West Coast National Park parc visiter au printemps lors de la floraison c'est magique.Les photos parlent d'elles mmes.sarah http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Saldanha/blog-452173.html Can you believe it 2 days later and I already have a new entryGot a phone call yesterday ... DRC visa is in I guess I'm legit.Met with Etienne and Erick yesterday to figure out exactly what is going on and to plan out the next few weeks. So ...I leave Hands Village sunday morning to catch the Citybug back into Joburg ... Meet Erick when he gets off his flight from Cape Town ... Hazy patch ... http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/blog-452170.html HelloCaution this blog contains some sensitive topicsI think this is a record a new blog two weeks in a row I had a full weekend and I am looking forward to a full week. While I didnrsquot have much time to sleep this weekend it was probably one of the best I have had here so I wanted to get some photos up right away. I will be adding more photos to this blog as I get them from friends bu http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/KwaZulu-Natal/Durban/blog-451900.html