From Cape Town to Johannesburg / Van Kaapstad naar Johannesburg
04-01-2010
back in South Africa
Happy New Year, Happy 2010 everyone !!!
Since 2nd January we are back in South Africa, after our 3 nights in Swaziland.
Our first night back in SA was with lightning and thunder, what we did not expect at all. It even rained into the place we stayed.
We have done the panoramic route yesterday. Unfortunately it was a very clouded day and we missed out on a lot of wonderful views.
This morning we were up early (around 3:30h) to do the hot air ballooning by sunrise ... luckily the sky was very clear today, but because of the lack of wind we did not get very far.
In this internet-cafee there is no possibility to put pictures on the computer so that will have to wait for later.
We have reached Swaziland now. This means half of our vacation is over ... time flies when we are having fun
Since our last message (from Durban) we have been traveling true Kwazulu Natal, we vistited St Lucia and Hluhuwe.
Until now we have seen some game but not as much as we would like. From the big 5 we saw a lot of Elephants and a Buffalo in Addo NP (Christmas), Hippos in St Lucia while we were having a drink, and Rhinos at At Lucia NP. So we arte still looking out for the Leopard and the Lion. Next to these we have seen lods of other animals ... but that you will see in our pictures (later).
Just a short update on our travels in South Africa.
Today we are usig the internet at St Philomenas, where we have spend the night. Herman has been a perfect guide and we had the opportunity to visit the Stadium of Durban, build for the World Cup 2010. Yesterday we have met Fabian Carey the director, after all the e-mails it was nice to finally meet up.
The flight from Port Elizabeth to Durban was not so good. The wind was playing with the small plain we were on. 80 minutes of flight were at least 30 minutes of terror.
Christmas we spent in Colchester near Addo Elephant Parc. Christmas-day we did not spend looking for gifts, but looking for Elephants, Lions, Buffalos, ... It was special.
We also have been visiting a lot of townships, this does leaves an impression. And we found out there are a lot more mountains in South Africa than we thought
Of course we made a lot more pictures ... but it takes a long time to get them on the blog and we do not want to spend to much time in this internetcafee.
Hope you enjoyed looking at our pictures ... we will try to put some more on this blog soon.
Have a great Christmas and an even greater New Year ...
We believe planning a roundtrip true South Africa is not possible without a good map.
On the internet we found several usefull maps, this is one of them: www.map-of-south-africa.co.uk
Maybe you can try to find all the (main) places we will be staying overnight in the above map, this way you can visualise the route we will be following:
Cape Town -> Swellendam -> Oudtshoorn/Bonghelethu -> Beaufort West -> Oudtshoorn/Bonghelethu (2nd time) -> Knysna ->Tsitsikamma -> Colchester -> Durban -> St. Lucia -> Hluhuwe -> Swaziland (2 different places) -> Barberton -> Hoedspruit -> Krugerpark (3 different places) -> Sabie Sand.
4 nights in Cape Town (arriving 13dec - leaving 17dec)
13 th december 2009: We arrive at the Cape Town International Airport around 23:00h after a journey from more then 16 hours ... We arrabged a taxi to drive us towards the apartment, where we'll stay for the 4 nights in CapeTown (Mouille point). http://www.adeniumbeachfrontapartment.co.za/
14th december 2009: We plann to see as much as possible of the "main attractions" of Cape Town.
After this we want to buy daytickets for the "topless hop-on hop-off bus", we'll hop on for the red route. (klick on the map to see it enlarged!) http://www.citysightseeing.co.za/ When we reach the centre of Cape Town we hop off and stop somewhere for lunch.
After lunch we continue the "topless bus - tour" until we reach the "Table Mountain Cableway". http://www.tablemountain.net/
The next 'hop off' is at Camp Bay, to see the 12 Apostles of South Africa. We hop on 1 more time to reach a supermarket or something to do some 'grocery shopping' http://www.spar.co.za/container.aspx?uc=StoreDetails
15th December 2009: For this day we have booked a wine tour, but not the usual (bus)tour ... a 'bikes and wines' tour. http://www.bikesnwines.com/ Tonight we probably hang around the "Cape Town"-centre a bit longer to enjoy the "city-vibes".
16th December 2009: This day we plan to take a train following the "tourism route", with a so called day ticket. http://www.sustainable.org.za/transit/cct-projects/southern-line-tourism-route-2.html The train will stop in several nice touristic places giving us the opportunity to explore one place and get on the train again to see the next.
CAPE TOWN STATION : start and end of this train-route OBSERVATORY STATION : The Transport Museumin the Groote Schuur Hospital : where the first human hart-transplantation was performed. / The South African Astronomical Observatory NEWLANDS STATION : Montebello Design Centre / Josephine Mill where we can buy homemade freshly baked bread and other things for a pic-nic MUIZENBERG STATION : The brightly coloured Victorian beach houses (this was Cape Towns premier swimming beach) / Het Posthuys the oldest building on the False Bay coast "Het Posthuys" in Main Road, dating to the 1600s KALK BAY STATION : The Holy Trinity Church / The majestic "Kalk Bay Theatre", a 78-seater theatre-restaurant >>Tuesday : Theatresports - South Africa's longest running and best known improvisation show / Kalk Bay Main Road offers a variety of arts & crafts, pottery, clothing, curios and bric-a-brac shops / The harbour, with its picturesque lighthouse and flotilla of brightly painted wooden boats SIMON'S TOWN STATION : Church of St. Francis / Martello Tower / Jubilee Square / Roman Rock Lighthouse / Bronze Age Sculpture House and Bronze Age Art Foundry / Mineral World: The largest gemstone factory in the world / Boulder's Penguin Colony at Boulder's Beach: Simons Towns most famous beach / Miller's Point / Fisherman's Beach / Seaforth Beach : one of the best swimming-beaches in Simon's Town / Harbour boat trips or sea-kayaking. / A wide range of seafood, French, family and deli cuisine is offered indoors, al fresco and on the Waterfront.
So many things to do and see in so little time ... this day will fly by fast! 17th December 2009: Today we leave Cape Town. We booked a Toyota Corolla (or simular) for 10 days http://www.budget.co.za/
From CAPE TOWN to PORT ELISABETH in 10 days (17 - 26 Decembre)
17/12/2009: ROUNDTRIP 1 _ 1st DAY: /335 km/ After about 3 hours driving , we will stop for lunch in a place called Napier: at the "Moerse Restaurant and Plaasstal" http://moerseplaasstal.blogspot.com/
After lunch we drive on towards Cape Agulhas http://www.lagulhas.co.za/ ... the southernmost point of Africa, where the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean officialy meet. At Cape Agulhas we take the obligated pictures, maybe take a strawl on the beach or go for a drink and then drive land-inwards again ... toward Swellendam http://www.swellendam.net/
In the Swellendam town we will do some basic shopping before we go to the Self Catering Accomodation where we will be staying for 2 nights : "Wildebraam Berry Estate" http://www.wildebraam.co.za/root/accomodation.html
18/12/2009 : ROUNDTRIP 1 _ 2nd DAY: /20 km/ While we stay in the Swellendam area, a trip to "Bontebok National Park" is planned. A nice naturewalk and a 'braai' are on the agenda
19/12/2009: ROUNDTRIP 1 _ 3rd DAY: /175 km/ After staying in Swellendam for 2 nights we drive on, following the R62. We pass the town of Barrydale, and stop at 'Ronnies Sex Shop' for a cold drink. We allso drive true Ladismith and Calitzdorp on our trip towards Oudtshoorn ... We chose to overnight in a Township near Oudtshoorn called Bongelethu (1 night at Lisa's B&B) Remark: As it's not possible to contact the owners of Lisa's B&B by e-mail (only by telephone) we will have to contact them (cell-phone) as soon as we are in South Africa to confirm our stay.
After these visits we drive North towards Beaufort West. We stay near Karoo National Park in "Ko Ka Tsara Bush Camp" overnight. http://www.kokatsara.co.za/
21/12/2009: ROUNDTRIP 1 _ 5th DAY: /160 km/ In the morning we visit Karoo National Park. http://www.sanparks.org/parks/karoo/news.php In the late afternoon we return to "Lisa's B&B" at Bongelethu.
22/12/2009: ROUNDTRIP 1 _ 6th DAY: /120 km/ Today it's back toward the coastline, more specific toward Knysna. In Knysna we stay in "The Old Cape Road Guesthouse" for 1 night. http://www.oldcaperoad.co.za/ As Knysna is known for oysters, so ... that's what we will be enjoying when we visit the town and the oystertavern. http://www.knysnaoysters.co.za/tavern.htm
23/12/2009: ROUNDTRIP 1 _ 7th DAY: /200 km/ After breakfast we follow the coastline further to the East. We visit Tsitsikama National Park At Bloukrans-bridge we see some 'daredevils' take a bungy-jump from 216m ... who knows maybe we get tempted too.How many times you have the opportunity to do the world highest commercial bungy? http://www.faceadrenalin.com/bloukransbridge.html Tonight we stay at "Tsalanang township B&B" http://www.ttbb.co.za/
24/12/2009: ROUNDTRIP 1 _ 8th DAY: /130 km/ With the stay at 'Tsalanang township B&B', there's breakfast and a 'township walk' included ... so that's what we do this morning In the afternoon we will 'hit the road' again. This time we head for Colchester, a place near 'Addo Elephant Park'. http://www.addoelephant.com/parks/addo/ We booked a room at 'Happy Jackal Guesthouse', between the beach and the "Elephant Park". http://www.happyjackal.co.za/ This is the place were we are going to spend Christmas!
25/12/2009 : ROUNDTRIP 1 _ 9th DAY: /10 km/ Christmas-day: a visit to the beach is on our iternary, as well as visiting Addo Elephant Park. Tonight we have a "Christmas-braai" at the guesthouse.
26/12/2009 : ROUNDTRIP 1_10 th DAY: /50 km/ This is the last day of the first part of the roundtrip true South Africa. Maybe we will visit the town of Port Elizabeth ... we'll see what time brings. The car has to be returned at the depot at 'Port Elizabeth airport' before 14:00h as we have e-tickets for the domestic flight around 15:00h from 'Port Elizabeth' to 'Durban'.
From Durban (South Africa) to Swaziland (26 Decembre - 30 Decembre 2009)
26 December 2009 _ roundtrip part 2, day 0: Around 16:30 h we are expected to land in Durban after the domestic flight leaving Port Elizabeth about 75 minutes earlier. Tonight we will stay in a place Nadia 'knows' for ages ... the "St Philomena's Children's Home". www.stphils.org.za Fabian Carey, the director of this "children's home" promised to pick us up. A little story about this home: In this place Nadia's South African penfriend from over 11 years ago, Deleen Groom, used to work. In 1998 Deleen went to Umtata to work as a teacher, since then Nadia did not hear from her again.
Anyway the "St Philomena's Children's Home" (backthen it was called "St Philomena's Orphenage"), stayed in Nadia's memory. In the search for her penfriend, Deleen Groom, Nadia contacted the school, which resulted in e-mail-contacts with the director Fabian Carrey and the plan to visit the 'home'.
As the school also has an hospitality centre it was clear where we were going to stay. The 'home' is situated in Sydenham (a suburb in West-Durban), about 20 km from the airport. We were expecting to meet some of the orphens and interact a bit, but only a few weeks before we went there Fabian Carey informed us that there won't be any children staying there at that time. How did this happen ... that's a long story that Fabian promised to tell us when we are there.
27+28 December 2009 _ roundtrip part 2, day 1+2 / 260 km (3:45h) In the afternoon we pick up the second rental car at the airport. (again we rented a Toyota Corolla via budget cars) We follow the coast toward St. Lucia (Zululand) where we stay 2 nights in, "Maputaland Guest House", a 4 star B&B http://www.maputaland.com/
29 December 2009_ roundtrip part 2, day 3 / 290 km (1:45h) Our trip continues with a drive to Hluhuwe (Zululand) where we booked 1 night in "Umziki Pan" http://umzikipan.co.za/ This is a game farm so we do expect to see some game here!
30 December 2009_ roundtrip part 2, day 4 / 260 km (4:30h) We leave South Africa for some days and drive into SWAZILAND
30 & 31 Decembre 2009: 260 km (4:30h) We enter Swaziland from the South. After a long drive we arrive at Malandela's B&B, situated in Malkerns, near Mbabane. http://www.malandelas.com Mbabane is the capital city of Swaziland.
"Malandelas B&B is a converted country farmhouse scenically positioned in magnificent indigenous gardens." A possible way we will be spendingour last day of 2009 is by driving a Quad Bike: http://www.beachandbush.co.za/stuffToDo/quad_biking/swazi_quad As we stay here for New Years Eve, we have informed ourselves about the way to spend this special night. This is one of the sugestions: http://www.house-on-fire.com/
1 January 2010 or 01/01/10: 115 km (2u) After recovering from the year-change we drive toward "Shewula Mountain Camp" in Simunye (Swaziland). http://www.shewulacamp.com/ "The Camp is the 1st community-owned Tourism Camp"
2 January 2010 : We leave Swaziland from the north side and drive back into SOUTH AFRICA.
The final part: 02-12 January 2010 + return13-01-2010
02/01/2010 205 km (4:15h) First we drive toward Barberton. We 've arranged to stay 1 night in 'Jock of the Bushveld', this place is situated somewhere between Nalspruit and Barberton. http://www.jockaccommodation.co.za/facilities.htm
03/01/2010 about 290 km (5:15h) Today we have a whole day of "panorama route" - experiences ahead as we follow this route towards Hoedspruit. We'll visit different things and places:Mac Mac Falls - Mac Mac Pool - Forest Falls - Pilgrim's Rest - Graskop - The Pinnacle - God's Window - Blyde River Canyon - Bourkes Luck Potholes - The Three Rondavels
04/01/2010: One of the things we have been looking forward to is the thing we plan to do today: A Hot Air Ballooning Safari _ we've made arrangements at a place nearby, Otter's den, for this special experience
05/01/2010 - 10/01/2010: We will stay on 3 different places in the Kruger National Park : The first night we stay in the 'Shipandani Hide'. = 165 km (4 hours) http://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/camps/shipandani/ "Shipandane Sleepover Hide, situated approximately 3 km south of Mopani on the Tsendze River, is a unique accommodation facility where guests can feel part of the nature. A bird hide by day, it transforms into a primitive overnight dwelling by night, where a select few can experience the Kruger National Park nightlife first hand. Large buffalo herds and many elephant bulls frequent the area meters away from where you are sleeping. This is your chance to experience Africa in its truest form." Then we drive on to 'Lower Sabie Restcamp', where we will stay for 2 nights. = 295 km (5h40') http://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/camps/lower_sabie/ "Lower Sabie Restcamp in Kruger Park is on the banks of the perennial Sabie River, which draws a wide variety of animals all year round. " Our 2 last nights in Kruger will be at 'Olifants Rest Camp'. = 152 km (3h10') http://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/camps/olifants/ "The panoramic view from Olifants Rest Camp provides a perfect vantage point from which to spot wildlife."
10/01/2010 - 12/01/2010:/ 157 km (3h15') Today we leave the 'Kruger National Park' and drive to our last accomodation: Elephant Plains Game Lodge. http://www.elephantplains.co.za/introduction/geninfo.htm Situated in the Sabi Sand Wildtuin, adjacent to the Kruger National Park, Elephant Plains Game Lodge offers comfortable style and affordable luxury. Here we can enjoy ourlast das in wonderfull South Africa.
12/10/2010: / 460 km (5h45') We have a very long drive ahead. The rental car has to be returned at Johannesburg Airport. Our fligt is leaving at 20:30u. We fly overnight toward France (Paris) Early the next morning (13/01/2010) we arrive in France where we can take the Thalys towards Belgium (Brussels) and then a train towards Lier, where we live. THE END
Het heeft even geduurd, maar het is weer zover. Na onze avonturen tijdens onze rondreis in Australie 2007-2008 www.bloggen.be/downunder) hebben we weer nieuwe plannen: ZUID AFRIKA !!!
Zoals we 2 jaar geleden deden maken we ook nu een "weblog" (of "blog") aan: www.bloggen.be/SA_09_10 De blog zal worden gebruikt om: - onze voorbereidingen en plannen te beschrijven - interessante links voor ieders gebruik te verzamelen - tijdens onze reis contact te houden met het thuisfront - achteraf nog even weg te kunnen dromen als we terug in België zijn - in onze private blog: kopies van belangrijke documenten bij te houden - in de private blog: overzicht te houden van contactpersonen / boekingen
Jullie zien het ... redenen genoeg om die extra inspanning te doen om deze weblog aan te maken en aan te vullen.
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