South Africa 2012 – MariaTravels.info

June 21, 2012

Day 1 – Arrival in South Africa

Bill and I have begun our adventure to South Africa. We have been planning this trip for several years now. Originally it was to be Bill’s Senior Trip. Each of the kids got to take a nice trip after high school graduation. We decided that retirement after 34 years of working warranted a special trip...

June 23, 2012

Days 2 & 3 – Cape Town

After a very short stay in Jo’berg at the Afton Guest House, we headed back to the airport to catch a flight to Cape Town. The Johannesburg airport is very modern and beautiful. A driver from the guest house we booked, Parker Cottage, was waiting for us at the airport with a sign for Mr....

June 24, 2012

Day 4 – Sunday Township Tour

Sunday morning we had to get up and get going fairly early as we had planned a Township Gospel Tour. We had scheduled the tour with Camissa Tours and our driver was scheduled to pick us up at the Parker Cottage B&B at 8:30am. Our driver was there with a van right on time. His...

June 24, 2012

Day 4 continued – Bus tour in the rain

Glad we had clear skies for our morning tour of the township. Afterwards our guide dropped us at the Q&A Waterfront where we enjoyed lunch at one of the harbour restaurants – feeling a little guilty though for enjoying a meal with white tablecloths after visiting neighborhoods where people don’t have running water. We had...

June 25, 2012

Photos

June 25, 2012

Day 5 – Cape Point

Monday morning the sun was out and it was looking like a beautiful day. We took our time getting organized, enjoying a nice breakfast at the inn and then heading out around 10:30. Christopher took us to the Dollar car rental office at the Cape Town airport where we picked up a nice little car....

June 26, 2012

Day 6 – Simonstown to Franchoek

Time to get moving on our journey. We woke up to a beautiful sunrise over the harbour from our room at the Quayside Hotel in Simon’s Town. However as we ate our breakfast we could see some storm clouds rolling in. We spent about an hour checking out the shops on the main road. Found...

June 27, 2012

Day 7 – Winelands to Garden Route

Woke to beautiful day in vineyards. We got a good look at the beautiful setting for Cape Vue B&B, set among owners vineyards with large porches, a pool and views toward the mountains. But no time to linger. After breakfast we packed up again and browsed the town of Franschoek, stocked up on some snacks...

June 28, 2012

Day 8 – Exploring Knysna

After several one night stays, we decided to stay put in Wilderness for two nights so we could enjoy the area without worrying about packing up and finding another place to stay. Wilderness is a quiet lovely village by the sea (Indian Ocean). It is on the Touws River which is a calm body of...

June 29, 2012

Day 9 – Driving from Wilderness to Grahamstown

Left wilderness right after breakfast because we are now on a schedule. Picked up laundry, cash, snacks and mailed Grammys postcards. We are headed to Grahamstown, a university town in the Eastern Cape and host to the country’s National Arts Festival. I had purchased tickets for three shows on Friday, at 2:00pm, 4:00pm and 6:00pm....

June 30, 2012

Day 10 – Arts Festival in Grahamstown

We are very happy with our guest house in Grahamstoen. Its called 11 Worcester on Durban and we have our own entrance to a nice room behind the main house. Love the heated stone floors in the mornings. Saturday was clear, sunny and a little cool. We started out with a walk around the village...

July 1, 2012

Day 11 – Full day of Arts Festival

Sunday we had a full day planned. Glad it was sunny and warm again. Our first show was a gospel concert at St. Aidan’s chapel which wasn’t too far from the guest house. On our way there I got hungry (of course) so we stopped at a place called the Highlander. I’d say it was...

July 4, 2012

Days 12 , 13 and 14 – Hunting

Sad to drop off our car on Monday morning at the airport because I know it means the exploration and sightseeing part of our trip is almost over. However Bill is excited because now the reason for this trip begins. We met up with our professional hunter Kobus Hayward (PH) at the airport and he...

July 5, 2012

Day 15 – Game Viewing

On Thursday I arranged to go on two game drives at (somewhat nearby game parks). Madeline drove me to Addo Elephant National Park to meet tour group, about 35 kilometers from the house. Our driver and guide was Malcolm with Schotia Safaris. He was very knowledgable about the animals and their patterns and was able...

July 6, 2012

Day 16 – Cold, grey day

Today is Friday July 6th. At home it’s a hot holiday weekend, hopefully with no storms lurking in the Gulf. But we haven’t had any news or Internet access since Monday morning. Here it is damp and cold today and I’m hunkered down in my bedroom with heater on, all my clothes on under the...

July 7, 2012

Day 17 – Time for a change of scenery

Saturday July 7th. We awoke very early to a downpour, much to Bill’s dismay. Not the right weather for them to head back into the bush with a 4×4 to look for a kudo. I had decided that I was ready to see more of South Africa so I organized my things and Bill and...

July 8, 2012

Day 18 – Day safari at Pumba Game Reserve

Sunday morning. I had no idea what time the driver to Pumba was coming until I jumped in the shower at 7:30 and the front desk said he was here. It turns out that I’m his only client for the day so I grabbed breakfast to go and a cup of coffee and Johann and...

July 9, 2012

Day 19 – Tour of Port Elizabeth

Good Morning. today, was my first morning to be up before the sunrise. My room has a view of a wall so I headed to the beach to catch some sunrise pictures. lots of activity – runners, swimmers (brrrrr) and beach cleaners. One thing that SA towns do well is to leave the beachfront...

July 10, 2012

Day 20/21 – Joberg to Pensacola

I did find Bill at PE airport eventually and we flew to Johannesburg where we were met by folks from Afton Guesthouse again. apparently most of SA hunters stay at this place. Everyone we talked to had used Afton. We had a whole day to kill until our 8pm flight so I thought we’d go...