Its been a long time since I put my fingers to the key-board. But I have been doing "Stuff" like taking a wonderful group of Candians on tour. This was my first full National Tour of this particular Itinerary. What a great tour, I had a wonderful group that was not shy of having fun and they were accompanied by an execelant Tour Director.
We started in Cape Town at the end of January. On day 1 it was Table Mountain, what a day then off to do the Peninnsula and ended the day with Dinner at Restaurant 221 in the V&A Waterfront. The good stuff of Cape Town followed with the Winelands tour, wine tasting at 10AM followd by more at 11:30, followed by more at 13:00, the last was after witnessing how to remove the top of a "Champaign" bottle with a Saber!!
This goes back to the days of Napoleon, when the Cavalry officers would "slice off the top of a good bottle of chamaign to slate their thirst after a long day in the battle-field"
After all this we continued up the Garden route and Little Karoo as far as Knysna over the next few days, doing all the 'touristy bits' like Cango Caves, Safari Ostrich farm, Featherbed bay, Monkeyland and the Birds of Eden. An early morning start (05:30) for a flight to Durban from Port Elizabeth, then on to St Lucia in Northern Kwa-Zulu Natal for two nights. The Cultural Experience was follwed by a sunset and Sparkling Wine cruise on the St.Lucia estuary. Then it was into Swaziland for one night, with a visit to the Swazi Candle factory and the Nwenya Glass works. From ther we went into the Kruger National Park as an introduction to the next part, 3 nights at Lion Sands Private Game Reserve where we stayed at the River Lodge. On the way through the Kruger we were fortunate enough to see a loepard right next to the road, together with the normal Rhino, Elephant, Kudu, Impala, Zebra, etc. etc. etc............
Over the next 3 days we were pampered by 7 "meals" per day, game drives of about 3 hours each, most drinks free, very friendly staff and above all absolute proffesionalism from all. On the game drives we were almost in touching distance of the 'Big 5'. After this wonderful experience we had to come back down to earth and actually complete the journey to Johannesburg by first doing the Panoramic Route, Pillgims Rest, Mashishing (the old Lydenburg), Dullstroom and the boreing N4 highway. The next morning the group left for the rest of their African Experience, of Chobe in Botswana, The Victoria Falls from the Zambian side, Livingstone in Zambia and their final "Farewell Dinner" before flying back to Canada via Johannesburg. I bid the group farewell at the airport as I flew back to Cape Town, one days rest and off on the road again.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
The Christmas Group
The group of ten had a wonderful time by all accounts. The weather in Cape Town did not do as it was supposed to and the rain came and the wind blew, we did see some sun shine now and again, usually at a distance. Christmas lunch was at the wine Estate of Blauuklippen, did they put on a feast, we eventually left at about 15:45, with all in good spirits and full of food.
For the extension up the Garden Route we changed to a smaller coach and used a 15 seater Sprinter with a trailer, this was much better as there were only 7 guests, the driver and myself.
Day 1. We went up the Route 62 to Outdshoorn. A pleasant trip with a wine tasting at Calizdorp at De Kranz and checked ion to the 4* Op Stal Country Lodge, that night we had a wonderful meal at the Lodge.
Day 2. Start off with the Cango Caves, the group was lucky to have the Head Guide, Eric, as their guide. He gives a wonderful tour. Next stop was the Safari Ostrich Farm, with a tour of the working farm followed by the famous farm lunch of.......Ostrich Steak! From here we went into the town and did the CP Nel Museum and the Le Roux Town House. Dinner at the Lodge again, this time it was 'a la cart' (sorry my key board does not spell in French).
Day 3. Down the Outeniqua pass, through George, drop the trailer in Knysna, stop at the Knysna Elephant Park. A great time was had, I got some reasonable photos. Then it was off to the Storms River Mouth in the Tsitsikamma National Park, a quick snack lunch, (saving space for the dinner tonight!!) a good long walk in the forest to the swing bridges, then all the way back to Knysna for our 'New Years Dinner' at Dry Dock Restaurant in the Knysna Waterfront. Some of us went up to 'Olde's' looking for a party. By this time the party had moved on to the Zambeze Club in the main road, we stayed at Olde's and had our own party!
Day 4. Late start! We only had to be at the Featherbad Ferry Dock at 12:30. Here we went on the Featherbed Experience. Starting with a short cruise across the 'Lagoon', then lunch (a gorgeous spread of food) afterwards we get onto trailers to travel to the top of the Western Headland (+/- 2 km drive) then the fun starts, we walk back down via the forest and the beach. At the end we have a short cruise back to where we started from.
Day 5. Near the end. This is the long day, an early start, 08:00, stop off at Mossel Bay to visit the Dias Museum, then on to Swellendame for lunch. The long road home to Cape Town ends at the Air Port at 16:00 where the guests catch their night flight home leaving at 19:05. We all say our good-buys and wishes for safe travel and come back as there is lots more to see and do.
For the extension up the Garden Route we changed to a smaller coach and used a 15 seater Sprinter with a trailer, this was much better as there were only 7 guests, the driver and myself.
Day 1. We went up the Route 62 to Outdshoorn. A pleasant trip with a wine tasting at Calizdorp at De Kranz and checked ion to the 4* Op Stal Country Lodge, that night we had a wonderful meal at the Lodge.
Day 2. Start off with the Cango Caves, the group was lucky to have the Head Guide, Eric, as their guide. He gives a wonderful tour. Next stop was the Safari Ostrich Farm, with a tour of the working farm followed by the famous farm lunch of.......Ostrich Steak! From here we went into the town and did the CP Nel Museum and the Le Roux Town House. Dinner at the Lodge again, this time it was 'a la cart' (sorry my key board does not spell in French).
Day 3. Down the Outeniqua pass, through George, drop the trailer in Knysna, stop at the Knysna Elephant Park. A great time was had, I got some reasonable photos. Then it was off to the Storms River Mouth in the Tsitsikamma National Park, a quick snack lunch, (saving space for the dinner tonight!!) a good long walk in the forest to the swing bridges, then all the way back to Knysna for our 'New Years Dinner' at Dry Dock Restaurant in the Knysna Waterfront. Some of us went up to 'Olde's' looking for a party. By this time the party had moved on to the Zambeze Club in the main road, we stayed at Olde's and had our own party!
Day 4. Late start! We only had to be at the Featherbad Ferry Dock at 12:30. Here we went on the Featherbed Experience. Starting with a short cruise across the 'Lagoon', then lunch (a gorgeous spread of food) afterwards we get onto trailers to travel to the top of the Western Headland (+/- 2 km drive) then the fun starts, we walk back down via the forest and the beach. At the end we have a short cruise back to where we started from.
Day 5. Near the end. This is the long day, an early start, 08:00, stop off at Mossel Bay to visit the Dias Museum, then on to Swellendame for lunch. The long road home to Cape Town ends at the Air Port at 16:00 where the guests catch their night flight home leaving at 19:05. We all say our good-buys and wishes for safe travel and come back as there is lots more to see and do.
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