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.

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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'.

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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

05-07-2009 om 00:00 geschreven door KOENADIA  

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.

"Malandela’s 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.

25-06-2009 om 00:00 geschreven door KOENADIA  

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

As soon as we drive true some kind of town we do some grocery shopping and this night and the next we stay at 'Kwa Thabeng'
http://www.kwathabeng.co.za/limpopo-marulaneng-hoedspruit-self-catering-accommodation.html

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

20-06-2009 om 00:00 geschreven door KOENADIA  

13-04-2009 om 00:00 geschreven door KOENADIA