Collette Vacations Part 2 Kruger to Knysna

So Monday morning we have a 445 wake up call 515 coffee and 530 enter the park sadly its raining but the show must go on, it started out with the typical Impala, Impala and then things got better a big Elephant bull some Giraffe and so the viewing got better by 9am we had 2 of the big 5 as well as 3 wild dogs on the hunt and a very restless Hyena which found the scrap it was looking for a three day old kill of a Steen-bok, then after breakfast we travelled towards Lower Sabi and found a heard of Elephant with some small ones crossing the road, then came across a dead hippo in a dam with some monster crocks near by, we stopped for lunch as the rain got harder and just after 1pm we set out back towards the hotel, then it started the ranger and I saw a bunch of cars parked I said cats he said Buffalo well 2 Lions young ones about 2 yrs old but nice and close but just behind some bushes, then not even 1km down the road 2 big male lions crossing the road and then laid down, one got up to stalk something made a dash but nothing, came back then walked right next to the jeep, a guest in the front seat almost climbed on the drivers lap, we all had a good laugh. Then just as we though we had seen enough lions 4 more cubs, so 8 lions in a space of 20min, WOW awesome.......,

Then we got a nice heard of buffalo and by the time 4pm came we had seen 4 of the 5 and lots more, as a guide who travels lots in the park that was a great day for a one day safari, and all in the rain with no complaints. As we got back to the hotel the missing bags were there so the guests were very happy, sadly a camera was removed from the bags but all else was there, now the trip is all together.

Tuesday morning its pouring down 730 we head back for Joberg airport for a flight to Port Elizabeth at check in one couple couldn't get on the flight was fully booked, I tried everything to get them on but they would not bump anyone else of the plane, so after some shuffling around they were put on a later flight and arrived three hrs after the group.

Arrival in PE was great no rain and warmer and the first glimpse of the Indian Ocean, checked in the hotel and almost all went for a walk along the beach front. Around 2130  the last 2 landed and went to bed.

Wednesday morning after breakfast we headed for Knysna the weather was much better and was a very interesting day I have one guest who was interested in doing a Bungie jump from the worlds highest 216m so I asked the group if they were ok with stopping there to allow her to jump, they all said cool they will watch, while Vikki was signing up another guest, David, said he wants to do it as well so they do all the registration kit up and of they go, 3- 2- 1 jump they jumped on getting back I chose to have lunch there on doing that David's partner asked if there was time for here and Kathleen to Jump, I said sure so Carole and Kathleen kitted up and 3-2-1 jumper 3 &4 went WOW well done to all four of you, continuing down the drag to Knysna  we met with a lady called Tracey who is in charge of an NGO to help disadvantaged kids with pre school education and Collette vacations use this as there foundation school in South Africa, lots of guests came back with tears and mixed feelings, then donated some crayons and stationary to Tracey to distribute equally to the kids.
At 6pm that evening a few of the guests and I met and I Took them across the road to have a local shooter, called the town ship toilet, as per normal 2nd and 3rd rounds were bought, all enjoyed, 7pm we went of to the Cruise café for a included meal everybody enjoyed the relaxed environment with the knowledge od a 945 departure on Thursday.

Thursday morning we had a late breakfast and then made our way to the Feathebed nature reserve on the boat spirit of Knysna for a little walk and a three course lunch, also it was Carole O'Donoghu's birthday so after jumping of the bridge her boyfriend and I sorted out that she had a bday cake for lunch HAPPY BIRTHDAY Carole.

Collette Vacations part 1

Well it started of with me arriving in Joberg airport a day before the group, so I caught the Gautrain,(the new public transport system in Joberg) to Sandton witch I haven't done in a long time, the train is still like new and so smooth, really awesome.

So I get to the hotel, and whilst I am waiting to talk to reception the former 1995 world rugby world cup captain Francios Pienaar walks out the lift, so I greet him and he has a little chat to me then got my photo taken with him (photo attached) then I get given an upgrade to the Michelangelo hotel very nice.

Friday morning the 18th Oct the airport runs start four different flights on the second arrivals only 1 of 8 arrive, ohoh after some running around I find out that they did not make the flight from Heathrow they will only be arriving on Saturday Morning, right then the late flight comes in and I have found 7 of the 8 arrivals now I am looking all over, a few phone calls later and some one comes up to me and asked if I was missing some one so I said yes and there she was sitting on a chair did not see me at arrivals. Ok so only the 7 missing in the UK all else seems great.

Saturday morning we have a welcome talk and I am trying to drag it out  a little to allow the other 7 to get in, no at 9 am they were still looking for luggage so of we went and started Soweto with a step on guide who for a change was not to bad, at the Hector Pieterson museum the 7 catch up with us but 4 pieces of luggage are still missing, Great. Soweto done after lunch at Chez and a visit to the Apartheid Museum where we had a massive storm then hail for about 10 minuets.

Back at he hotel check on the luggage but no luck, welcome dinner went well and an early start tomorrow towards Kruger park.

Sunday awesome pouring with rain and no traffic, we were on the road at 715 heading east wards for Kruger park, due to the rain not much visibility, stopped in Lydenberg for lunch then on to the three rondawels, Blyde river canyon and on to the Paul Kruger gate Protea, where after check in we heard lions in the park.


  

Famous

I just met Francios Pienaar former 95 rugby world cup captain photo added

Botswana and home

So, during breakfast I saw a new spices of bird that I haven't yet got on  film, the read headed weaver, so I started to hunt for it but just couldn't get a good shot, went to sit down at breakfast and the bird sat on my lens, Murphys law but any way about an hour later I finally got a great shot. later , optional day, they all went to see the falls then returned for lunch, and saw the feeding of the Vultures, which was really great, then a couple went on a helicopter flip and was very impressed. then 12 went on the elephant back safari, and yep all enjoyed as well.
I was invited to join the few who decided to brave the Boma dinner, were a huge variety of different foods and cultural dancing as well as drumming, I was able to get 4 guests to taste the local Mpani worms, which are not bad just the fact that one is eating a worm/caterpillar, but any way, sadly by now the flu that was going round had caught up to me and man was I felling bad, I tried to keep my composure and carry on with the trip 3 days to go.

The next morning we were leaving  all at the same time but halving the group size yet again, 11 heading back to the USA and 11 and me going on to Chobe For two nights.

After the farewells we split and went our separate ways, On to Chobe Marina Lodge, the trip is about an hour to the boarder through national park about 1km before the boarder there was a police check nothing was done until one of the guests decided to take a photo of one of the cops, uhh wrong move, a shot from the officer and the bus stopped and the officer demanded the camera then the client showed the officer that he deleted the photo, he wont do that again!!!!!

The boarder was a breeze and check in at the Marina lodge all was Wow, just when they all thought things could not get better it just bumped up a notch, a three course lunch and the out on a sunset /safari boat trip, bids, elephants, hippos, Buffalo's and on and on it just was a great trip.
then back at the lodge another three course meal and then all to bed early for a 515am jeep safari.

Well 515am in Chobe Botswana nice and warm and all on two jeeps and we were of registration in the parks entrance and safari time, elephants, elephants, then a new antelope the Tessebe the fastest antelope in Africa, a great heard, I haven't seen them in  a long, long time so I was very happy to find them, and yes we found Lions 4 females, deep in the bush but we got some great sights of them.

Then back for breakfast and the afternoon of and then lunch and then back on the boat 330pm, another great boat trip witnessing two heards of elephant crossing the river.
Back at the lodge we were welcomed with traditional dancing and then a barbeque dinner, a great way to say farewell to Africa, then all to bed again for the last game drive sadly this time I did not go just felling to rough but they all had a great drive as they found the female lions with a giraffe kill, then breakfast and the mad dash through the boarder and back at the Vic Falls airport on to Joberg and to the connecting flights and me home, where Tracey waiting with antibiotics, witch sorted me out in two days.

For my first Gate 1 trip it was a great way to start had a very good group which also helped, no incidents or dramas. I look forward to the next one in March next year.

I start a new tour on Friday so stay tuned for another adventure

Zimbabwe to Botswana

Well Monday morning we were up at breakfast and on the bus by 7:30 am, sadly the Chicago 16 did not come down to say good bye, but that was done and dusted  the night before at the farewell dinner.

 Wow what a chilly morning, But I knew this wasn't long before the heat wave would hit us.

There was one accident on route to the airport but luckily on the other side of the road and did not interfere with us, the air port formalities went easily and all were through passport security with little issues.

On the plane and we were up and away, before you knew it we were on the tar mac in Zimbabwe Victoria falls airport, before you knew it people stripping their cloths because  the heat wave now hit us,  the formalities for entrance visas started. This took about one and a half hours as both planes were there, SAA and BA. CHAOS, small airport not much room, 3 immigration officers and tired passengers.

Of to the Hotel on a large coach the Victoria falls Safari lodge, a very nice place great rooms and views of the man made water hole, after check in we had a little time to explore the grounds, then we were on our way for a sunset cruise on the mighty Zambezi River, but just as we were loading I was called as they found a snake near the rooms, so I went to go look and wow, it was  about 4m long African Rock python a beautiful female just shed her skin giving a lovely shine to her skin (photo added)

Then we  left to go on the sunset trip, free drinks and finger food, and awesome scenery and just a great way to unwind, birds and hippos crocks and then all hell broke lose, a crock about 6m long came hurtling down the bank, with what looked like its mouth wide open, but actually had a bushbuck ewe in its mouth, just so quick, then hit the famous crock roll and then swam up and down the bank with the buck in its mouth, we stayed to see if it would get out but didn't, then while this was happening the crew was trying to show us the sunset and all said we can see that anytime but this crock once in a life time, then before you knew it boats everywhere and crock went down, then in the distance Elephants on the island, what a welcome to central Africa.

more to follow

Durban to Joberg

Well the flight was easy the check in was a laugh as some of the group was over weight and had to pay in.

We met up with our new driver and headed of to St Lucia for the boat trip to view the hippos, we got some great footage.

The hotel was good a new visit for me the Protea Umfalozi nice plac.

Next morning we left at 6am to be at the Hluhluwe gate for our first Safari which turned out really good as we got 3 lions right a the beginning, to big males and a female lying under a tree, then a kilometer down a second female, really happy.

Then we headed of to Swaziland and the candle factory and to the hotel all were happy with the days travel and events.

We left the hotel for the glass factory where all were shopping mad it was great everyone liked the stop, on to the Jeppies reef boarder post Malalane shop and on to hotel as we had a 415 am wake up call for Kruger park game drive, half day paid with other half optional. Well we got the Leopard and Elephant to make up the big 5 so all were happy, leopard was a little hidden but got some good shots, the 22 who went out on the afternoon got another leopard walk in front of the vehicle, so they were very happy.

The next day was  a long bus day to Joberg but seemed to be good, and then we arrived to a very busy Fire and Ice Protea hotel yep city life on a Saturday eve.

Sunday we did a Soweto tour and the Apartheid museum and Vilikazi street
Farewell dinner at the Melrose Moyo restaurant went well and said farewell to 16 of the group as we were on our way to Zimbabwe Victoria Falls with the other 22

will give more later.