Blogs from Gauteng, South Africa, Africa - page 3

Hi, I started writing this back in Joburg after an amazing trip to Kruger. I could write a book about our five nights there but I will have to pick out the highlights for you. Chris's choice of accommodation at Foxy Crocodile Bush retreat was fabulous and we let the owners Mark and Gail organise us, I know that is pretty hard to do but they were good at it. The cottage was great, we chilled in the pool after our activities and loved having food cooked for us. A lovely lady called Gracie works with them and she exudes Grace, she is well named. Wednesday we drove into the nearest town and walked in the street and did some shopping for drinks and lunches and breakfasts. We needed just to chill after the drive from ... read more

The time with our spiritual master, Paramahamsa Vishwananda, was slowly coming to an end. But there was still one highlight to come. We went with him on safari. By car together with our friends we drove up north of Johannesberg into the Magaliesberg range, a beautiful mountain region famous among the city people during weekends. It was a weekday, so traffic was easy and after about 1 hour away from Emmarentia we arrived at the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre. We payed our entrance and waited for Paramahamsa Vishwananda and the rest of the group to arrive for the safari. Meanwhile we were treated with tea and coffee as much as we liked and enjoyed the tranquil bush atmosphere. It was good to be outside the city again. After a while the group arrived, but no ... read more

The posting of our last blog, UBBs, all felt a bit rushed and last minute. We are in a bit more civilisation now back in an area of Johannesburg called Melville. It is interesting to reflect, though, that during our travels through back-ish streets of Asia, including our £4 per night room in Sumatra, we were able to get internet access. But, despite Africa, including Kenya and Tanzania which we safaried in 10 years ago, being way ahead of us then in terms of remote technology such as internet banking, they seem not to have embraced internet for tourists fully yet. Day 14 - Friday 5th October - continued We left the Kruger and, as indicated in the last blog, there was no internet at our overnight stop, but we posted the last blog from a ... read more

Slept pretty well considering the hour we got in here. There was no car for us at the airport but got a taxi which was cheaper than quoted by the hotel and got us here in no time. Woke up around 0830 so decided to stay up and do breakfast seeing it was included in the room price. Got down there just after 1000 as breakfast was due to finish at 1030. No sign of that end time, as more and more people filtered in after 1030 and the food kept on coming out. Good brekky, we filled up before the fight so we didn’t need to do lunch. Went back to the room and repacked the bags - again. This time we decided to “lose” some old jocks and socks rather than bring them home ... read more

Our last day in the luxurious Royal Livingstone Hotel. We farewelled 2 couples who weren’t on our bus today - one staying an extra night and going straight back to Oz the other going to Kenya for a walking tour. The start of sad farewells. To the airport arriving before the security people were ready. Through 3 levels of security, big bags x-rayed before check in, then little bags and us as usual. Check in and passport control, then another us and little bag security check. Find out later that there are at least 100 hundred people queued up to get through security so the extra wait time isn’t really an issue. Time to shop and have a bite to eat or drink. On our flight back to Joberg where we have an overnight stay befor ... read more