end and start

Well the last days of the Kuoni

PE to Cape Town

Well we were met by the new bus driver and of we set towards Knysna. We got to Storms river mouth and set on a short walk to the suspension bridge, it was a great walk to stretch the legs and see some new scenery, the only thing that spoilt the whole day was the one and half hour wait for lunch, which in turn made the day late, we then visited Monkey land and the birds of Eden, by passed Plettenberg bay and on to Knysna, smooth check in and a great meal had by all at JJ’s.

Oudshoorn

We visited Safari ostrich farm and finally convinced two of the group to sit on a bird, then off to the Cango caves for an hour walk through the great formations, then on to Hlangana, our hotel for the night, all claimed the best accommodation on the trip,

We then ventured along the R62, South Africa’s version of the R66. Stopped in at the well-known Ronnie’s Sex Shop, an area that bikers have started to use, and leave their mark by leaving girls underwear hanging from the bar.

Then we drove on and had lunch in Ashton at the old train station, that is being converted into a wine shop, with a small restaurant and a brick and brack sales area. The chicken salad was really good.

On to Cape Town via the Huguenot tunnel it was raining and very windy around Worcester, so we opted to through instead of over. Cape Town here we are.

Cape Town

This morning we were welcomed with bright sun shine so 8am we left the hotels and raced up Table Mountain all were very happy as we came down the queue was very long and at least an hour and a half wait. Then we went on down to the Cape of Good Hope and on to Simons Town, visiting the Penguin colony and on to the town were we had lunch at the Salty Sea dog , thanks Debbie, as usual the fish was really good. Next morning we went to the wine country and visited Franschoek and Stellenbosch with a final vist to Kannon Kop wine estate, NICE very nice all were happy. Fare well dinner, thanks all hope your travels home were safe and on time

The end of this trip

Good news I have a Grand Circle Trip starts on Wednesday the 29^th Feb 25 days with 33 guests thank you. Stay close new places and faces

St lucia and Hluhluwe and on to Durban

Well we embarked the boat on the estuary of St Lucia and we got nice and close to hippos and lots of them and even got a great shot of a fish eagle. it was great.
In the afternoon after the lunch stop we went to Hluhluwe National Park and wow we were rewarded
with a massive heard of Buffalo then got Elephant right up against the vehicle then found some Zebra with Blue Wilde beast and got some nice close sightings of Rhino.

Durban
well we were blessed with a bit of rain on the way in to Durban and it lifted as we got out the bus visited the spice market and went to Ushaka for a lunch stop, all enjoyed
now at the hotel in Umhlanga what a great few days we've had, the humidity is high.

New company

Well here we are with Kuoni, Private Safaris, and a new venture.

Well day one started of with three different landing times from London,

Finally after starting at 530 am I got the last peeps at 0900 then of to Pretoria we went, and all went well two different hotel check ins but an way, the we had a welcome dinner at Moyo just outside Pretoria, Awesome, really great food the clients got their face painted all was fun.

Day two

 a long day we drove from Pretoria via the Blyde canyon all the way to White river, Wow what a long haul, and hot got to the hotel just after 630pm.

Day three Kruger Park

Well the riots are on no access to Numbi gate so we have to drive An hour back so wakeup call 415am, got to the gate just after 500am,fantastic everyone is now very excited and we are of in the jeep. First thing we see is a , No wait for it , a Duiker then yes your rite Impala, we drive for about an hour then the ranger slams on breaks and we have two Leopard not close enough for photos but all can see, YES thank you.

Then a pair of Elephant at a water hole decided it is time to take a bath wow what a great sighting. Now it’s time for breakfast so we go to Skacuza and all sit down and enjoy a light meal, and back on the road we go an hour later one Giraffe then 3, great we are on a roll 2hrs go by and finally an Elephant 15 min later in 33 deg heat a Rhino, lunch stop at Pretorias kop its now 230pm we find another Rhino and just before 4 we get a dazzle o Zebra, not a great viewing day but all enjoyed.

Day four Swaziland

Of to Jeppies reef boarder post to Swaziland a longer trip than coming out of the park but interesting, Check out of South Africa was smooth the a small visit to a Swazi cultural experience, all enjoyed just very hot. Next stop Swazi side boarder entry easy this time fantastic, Nigwe glass factory stop and lunch, very nice stuff but no one bought as worried it might break, I found an invention they have started, I think next time I will buy one, a wine cooler but with a compartment to put the ice in so it does not dilute the wine. Then we made our way to the craft market nice stuff and priced well. Hotel check in smooth just after we all were in three coaches arrive talk about timing.

Day five Swaziland to St Lucia

Wow what a hot day 38degC and 80% humidity and the busses ac decided to go on the blink. So we visited the candle factory in Swaziland not a great stop some pretty candles but expensive, Swazi boarder was easy today smooth sailing other than being uncomfortably hot all went well hotel in St Lucia is nice.

Tomorrow we do a boat trip and visit Hlehluwe I will post that and more when we get to Durban

New tour

well well  well , I have been given a tour from Private Safaris,Thank you
I fly up on 11 feb and tour starts on 12th ends on 24th feb. i am very excited to get out there with a new company lets hope there is more to come.

finally we got some rain here to cool things down but not enough.
still no diving stay close and follow me on this trip.