swasiland

October 31 (Halloween) Hluhluwe Park

Just arrived from Kingdom Swaziland where we spend one day and night it is now Zulu Time....

SIYABONGA - Hello to KwaZulu Natal... Official language here is "Zulu". South Africa  has 11 official languages and we can only pick up bits of it as we travel from one place to the other ...Yebo!
Hluhluwe Park is where we are at now... interestingly Africa's oldest National Park - and the second oldest Park in the world (after Yellowstone). This park is considerably lusher than Kruger Park and it is habitat to many Rhinos.

South Africa has huge problems with rhino poaching (ridiculous people still think that rhino horns  have some magical power ?!) Thanksfully the country has set drastic laws against poachers and recently a man has been fined to 40 years in prison. The awareness of protecting rhinos is very big in South Africa and Rhino Breeding Projects are in place all over the country.

At Hluhluwe Park we had two more game drives ... so far we have captured 4 of the Big Five and the leopard will be probably not on our list. So we have to come back, right?!  Being such a beautiful animal it can afford to hide... So no Leopard spotting for us this time....

This morning we saw a hyena trying to go after a rhino baby.... No luck for the hyena as the baby mother was chasing him away quickly...
The others are off to the craft market now and I am sitting in the lobby trying to update this blog... Not quite easy as the internet works slow and not in all places. We are still in very rural areas.... So enjoy some of our pics below .....

Old buffalo in the mud

Today's Traveller featured:

Dr Keh Gong Shih and his wife Lynn.

An amazing couple...They call Keh Gong over here "Madalla", which means old wise man.

He used to be a scientist for Geology and as many others of the group they have travelled to many many places - they have even been to Tibet (still on my "must do" list!)

They are so easy going.Lynn looks so young... I am still trying to find out her secret... :)

Glad to have you with us, Lynn and Keh Gong!!!

Tr

Hyena taking a rest

Our ranger explains about the park

Zebra mom with baby and fighting buffalos

Krueger National Park

Heia Safari ...

we haven't seen the big FIVE quite yet ... we are still missing the leopard. Leopards spend a lot of their time in trees. They are shy and therefore very difficult to spot. Now you wonder which are the other four beside the leopard. 
It's the rhino, the elephant, the buffalo and the lion. Those we have encountered in their natural habitat.

Our bush camp at SHISHANGANI is a paradise...
it feels like "Out of Africa".
Last night we had about 50 hippos very close to out tented camp. They kept us awake almost until dawn. At our camp we could hear the sound of an African night in the bush. If you never experienced the sound of nature in Africa you really miss something.
WIFI is very limited and slow ... we come back soon.     

Today's feature is "Stan the man"

Stan hailed in from Malaysia, to be precise from Borneo.  Sadly, he does not have a "head hunter' background. Why headhunter?

Being to Borneo myself, I have visited a former 
"headhunter" village,which quite impressed me.

So, Stan is a retired engineer and he has so many stories to tell - this would make this blog explode he should not write one book, but many. You can't get tired to learn about his life and he has lived  and worked in many countries. He is also best buddy with Ping, the Dalai Lama, which tells it all. Yes, and he chose Nova Scotia as his favorite domicile. Yes, that's right.....Nova Scotia!!!

So we are glad to have you on board, Stan!!!

 

26 Oct 2013 Blyde River Canyon and Part 1 Panorama Route

Alright! We successfully beat  the jetlag and started early in the morning heading to the Blyde River Canyon. We are all in good spirit and very excited to see and learn more about South Africa. Our tourguide
Sean tells us many interesting facts about the country and the people, things only a insider would know. On our way we stopped for lunch at a restaurant in Dullstrom, well known for its "trouts".
The culinary experience is amazing and we are only here for two days. To all Maritimers at home: forget about Mc's and Kings. SA offers an excellent fine cuisine.  

Sean gave us an introductory
crash course in Afrikaans, which
is the most spread language.

Today we started with 
"Baie Dankie" (pronounced BUY
A DONKEY). That means thank you and is easy to remember. We can't wait to learn more.




Before we checked into the
AVENTURA BLYDE RIVER RESORT we enjoyed the scenic first part of the Panorama Route and had a stunning view over the canyon and the famous three rondavels.

Weather was perfect. The Aventura Resort is nestled in the Canyon and we are staying in chalets which allow us a scenic view.  If you don't want unwanted visitors you have to keep the doors shut at all times, otherwise you might find a baboon looking through your luggage for food....  A baboon is a monkey  (not a donkey!!!).

Now, as I promised, I will introduce you to all of my fellow travelers during this trip.

So, let's start with Linda and Ping Seto.

Again, Linda was the one which came up with the idea to visit South Africa. She knows travel inside out and is always on the look out to find the best deals and therefore makes my life as a travel agent quite easy. If I had my own travel agency, Linda - I sure would hire you!!!

Her husband Ping is a retired scientist and a tennis crack. He has a sharp and sarcastic :) humor and you never really know who's next on his list.... Thank you both, Linda and Ping for making this trip reality!!!

PRETORIA - the Jacaranda City

Sabuyo or Welcome to SA.....

Finally!!!  We arrived without any delays (!) at Johannesburg Tambo airport, where we met our local  tour guide Sean (who is our "main man" over the next 3 weeks) and our bus driver Sam and off we went to our first stop in Pretoria - only a short drive away from Jo'burg - the Jacaranda City and Capital of South Africa. There we will spend the first night. We were lucky to see the thousands of Jacaranda trees in full bloom.
After a quick City Tour and lunch we have now checked in to the Classic Court Hotel in Pretoria.
This is not going to be a huge update today as we are pretty beaten after our long trip. Weather is fabulous (around 28 Degrees C) and we are off to the pool now !!!
Pretoria is not really a "must" when visiting SA, but
after the long flight from Canada we better relax before we are heading to Blyde River Canyon tomorrow!!!

Hotel Classic Court Pretoria

Party Seto heading to South Africa ....

Welcome to my Blog


We are only a few days away and our excitement is rising. In less than a week we will start our adventure

A journey to a fascinating

and inspiring continent 

I am looking very much forward and can’t wait

“to get ready for touchdown” to land in

South Africa

The idea came up in April...

My good customer Linda and her friends have traveled the world - except they have never been to South Africa, which just happens to be one of my favorite travel destinations. It did not take much to convince me to come along as their "tour guide" to a country with contrasts and many touristic highlights - known to be  as  "A world in one country". 

In a short period of time Linda gathered a group

of 15 interested travelers and our trip became reality in a matter of weeks. You will learn more about my fellow travelers during our tour.

South Africa is a country which has plenty to offer. There is no visa required for Canadians and no

vaccinations are mandatory. If you visit the KRUEGER NATIONAL PARK - like we do -  only a malaria precaution is recommended, but in our case, staying only 2 nights in the park the risk is very limited.

To get adjusted to the climate we will stay the first nights on milder, higher altitude and travel the world famous Panorama Route with its stunning views before heading down to the "lowveld" in hope to see "The Big Five" in the Krueger National Park.

The mountainous kingdom of Swaziland and the province of Natal, home of the pride Zulu Nation are our next stops. In Natal we are looking forward to

visit the Hluhluwe National Park (pronounced Shlushluwe), with its vast Rhino population. 

Later we will visit the Cape Province with its scenic

Gardenroute, the ostrich capital of the world Oudtshoorn and finally the cosmopolitan city of Capetown, with its spectacular surroundings.

Stay tuned to get up-to-date information once we arrive on the 25th of October.... 

Our Route: