I travelled with in a small group of 6 female Travel Agents plus a handsome male leader from our African hosts, what a time he was in for? Shame I am so old and he is so young!
We travelled from Heathrow with South African Airways on an AirbusA340-600 in economy class with lots of legroom and up to date seat back entertainment. After a nice meal with lovely South African wine, a good film and a night’s sleep we arrived in Johannesburg International Airport early morning. As we only had to adjust our watches by 1 hour we were fit and ready to go for our small light aircraft transfer to Madikwe Game reserve. This took approx 1 hour and one of our group had the time of her life actually flying and landing the aircraft, of course with a little help from our pilot.
Landing on a grass strip with two luxury jeeps waiting for us plus a table covered with a beautiful crisp white cloth stocked with wine and nibbles was certainly the way to arrive at an Airport. Terminal 3 at Heathrow seemed a long time ago!
We transferred to Thakadu River Camp via the bush with game viewing en route, it was just so exciting and of course, we were welcomed with the usual cold drink, hand towels and big smiles from the staff.
Thakadu is fantastic with luxury accommodation in tents; if you can call them that. They have thatched roofs with fantastic 5 star comforts, big beds, big views and all the latest creature comforts - Moulton Brown in a tent! We had a beautiful 5 star evening meal around the camp fire but of course all the little extras; starched napkins, the best cutlery, a little blanket for your lap or shoulders just in case you are chilly, and little tables all to your self, almost like a tray on your lap in a very friendly circle. A big crackling fire in the middle, together with the evening entertainment of singing and local dancing performed by the staff, they were just so professional with big smiles and obviously so enjoying themselves. Back to my beautiful bed with a lovely warm welcome, my electric blanket had been switched on in my absence. Did I sleep well?
Up very early in the morning for an exciting game drive after, of course some beautiful coffee and biscuits. The knowledgeable trackers and drivers make viewing of the big 5 very easy.
In total we had 5 game drives and were so lucky so see all the big 5, my main memory which will stay with me forever is being so close to a lion who had had a very hard day of lovemaking with his lioness and roaring to any other male in the vicinity “I am King”. His roars just got louder and louder till you could feel them in your chest, they certainly are magnificent, regal creatures. On the return drive we were treated to a very close sighting of a leopard - words just cannot describe how exciting that is. My list of ticks of the animals I had seen just grew and grew.
We then transferred to the Tuningi Safari Lodge on the opposite side of the Madikwe Game Reserve we visited en route:
Madikwe Hills: Very upmarket property with Gym, fantastic rooms offering treatments with amazing views: Little Madikwe is great for families a separate villa away from the main accommodations with its own butler and chef.
Buffallo Ridge Safari Lodge: Great property with fantastic views over the plains
Motswiri Safari Lodge: Very small and intimate rooms located around a water hole.
Overnight at the Tuningi Safari Lodge was lovely. Following a long day my scented bath was run after my evening game drive with a crackling roaring fire in my bedroom as a super welcome. A lovely soak in a deep deep tub with views all around of the bush, can you need more.
The scenery is very different between the two areas of Madikwe so it was interesting to experience them both. Evening game drives included a stop for a lovely glass of champagne plus nibbles served from a beautiful hamper. Morning drives included a coffee stop with biscuits and amazing homemade muffins.
My memories will always include those amazing African night skies. The lack of pollution means the skies are so dark its feels like you can pluck the stars from just above your head. Viewing stars so bright make seeing the Milky Way just another wow, it is so special.
We also visited:
Bush House with only 6 bedrooms. A super couple run this property who make you so welcome and the photos of local wildlife taken by the owner scattered around the property are amazing. There is also some great viewing of game around the waterhole - very homely.
After waving goodbye to our new friends as we trundled down the airstrip and left with fantastic memories we transferred back to Johannesburg by light aircraft to stay overnight at:
Whistletree Lodge in Pretoria: A colonial hotel crammed full of quality antiques.
Next morning off to The Blue Train for our 36-hour journey by rail to Cape Town with a stop on route at the Kimberley diamond mine. The train is a fantastic experience with quality food and a lovely excuse for us all to get dressed in our finest clothes for a lovely evening on board. A real chore to be spoilt by lovely smiling waiters and staff with A la Carte dining and the best of wines included. The scenery when we awoke the next morning was like a mini Switzerland, so mountainous and beautiful - what a way to travel. Many passengers on board were celebrating honeymoons or very special occasions. The first sighting of Table Mountain on arrival in Cape Town is awe-inspiring.
Overnight stay at:
Franschhoek County House + Villas: A big beautiful property with amazing views over vineyards, lots of different blocks of rooms that felt like large houses each with a central sitting room with crackling fires. The rooms were large and again, I slept with a crackling fire in my room after a super meal at the Monneaux restaurant. Lots of excursions can be arranged from this property to world famous vineyards, some of which you can do on horseback. Sounds a great way to travel.
On route we visited the River Manor Boutique Hotel in Stellenbosch very central to this lovely university town.
Franschhoek is very welcoming with nice restaurants a few very nice shops, properties visited:
Maison Chablis: a lovely Bed + Breakfast very central to town.
Rouxwill Country House: a working farm with a lovely host and hostess that would make guests feel so welcome. Clients would eat together of an evening in the beautiful farmhouse with food arranged with lots of thought and personal touches by the owner. You can also experience farm life, helping round up the sheep etc plus lovely excursions can be arranged; picnics by a stream, visits to local attractions including Vineyards. Beautiful rooms with amazing views and personal touches.
Travelling through mountain passes to Grootbos Private Nature Reserve was beautiful and there are lots of activities from this property including whale watching and shark diving, plus nature walks, horse riding and beach safaris. Our evening excursion to a look out point with a glass of champagne in one hand and viewing whales in the bay was yet another great experience. Great huge rooms with amazing views over the bay.
Grootbos also runs a very successful community project called Green Fingers; it takes twelve students each year from the local township and at the end of that year they have a scholarship in horticulture along with other educational abilities to make a better life for themselves. At the moment they have a 100% success rate of these students obtaining jobs at the end of the year’s course, you are encouraged to visit the project during your stay
We travelled through Hermanus, a real Whale Town, famous for the sightings of whales just lounging in the bay and again we were not disappointed. Then through Pringle Bay and Gordons Bay to Cape Town visiting:
WillowbrookLodge at Somerset West - great for a stay near to the airport.
Winchester Mansions: Just outside of the city at Sea Point this older character property has a central area which hosts a great Sunday lunch with a Jazz band which is really popular with the locals. Situated on the oceanfront there is also a shuttle bus for easy transfers for the 10-minute journey to the city.
Also visited:
Table Bay Hotel in the centre of Cape Town, a large grand well established hotel in the centre of town.
The Bay Hotel in Camps Bay: an exclusive hotel with a seaside feel just across from a great beach. Lovely rooms and all the amenities you could ask for with a lovely location away from the city but with easy access. A good base for 4/5-night luxury stay.
Hout Bay Hideaway: A Bed + Breakfast run by an English couple.
Rodwell House in False Bay: a very different 5* boutique hotel with an amazing art collection, a great wine cellar and amazing rooms. This hotel would fit well in the Mr & Mrs Smith collection and I can imagine celebrities staying here.
We visited the huge colony of penguins at Boulders Beach with sightings of whales along the coast and the famous V + A Waterfront with its luxury hotels and great shopping in the malls, lots of lovely eateries outside on the wharf with views of Table Mountain in the background. The new One + Only makes an impressive addition
Table Mountain Lodge is another Bed + Breakfast close to the City. The amazing 2 in 1 Kensington Hotel is a beautiful boutique property. A great upmarket location and so well run by its owners; lovely rooms with a great apartment available.
The Grand Daddy Hotel is another firm favourite with its incredible top floor accommodation where clients can stay in Swift caravans transformed into different themes, Dorothy’s Room, the Three Bears and many other themes - amazing for a very different night’s stay. This hotel is great for a conference, incentive or special surprise.
We flew home overnight from Cape Town with South African Airways on an Airbus A340-200, dreaming of our lovely memories.
South Africa is amazing country; it really does get under your skin. It is 20 years since my last trip and I had forgotten those lovely skies, beautiful jacaranda trees, the amazing animals and lovely wines. You just want to see more and more of this country.
I am impressed now how safe you feel, security personnel are everywhere plus CCTV cameras have made such a difference. Locals will watch you car while parked along the Garden Route in the towns for a few rand.
The locals are very excited about the World Cup in June 2010 and preparations are happening everywhere; new roads, stadiums, hotels - the buzz is everywhere. I cannot wait to return again and to share the experience of Africa by enthusing my clients to go and visit.
South Africa offers the “ wow” factor for everyone: Honeymooners, Families, Young at Heart, Young and Active, Golfers……..Call me to find out why !
