AFRICA: Part II

My African Adventure story continues!! The rest of our holiday was spent in South Africa, beginning with a solitary night at Peermont Mondior Hotel, Johannesburg. To be honest, from all the scary stories we had been told about Johannesburg, we didn’t even want to spend one night in their capital city, but we had to due to flight times. As such, we didn’t leave our hotel complex so I have only two photos which was taken after we’d eaten ostrich… yummo!

From Johannesburg we flew to Hoedspruit, which the smallest airport I’d ever seen (and I’ve been to Hobart!). We then drove two hours to Makalali Private Game Lodge, where we spent four nights. We got two game drives per day... one ridiculously early 5.45am morning drive, and one late afternoon/night drive. We saw MANY animals here, however we unfortunately did not get to see leopard or cheetah, but get ready for the onslaught of photos of what we did see!

Our final destination was Cape Town; we stayed at Protea Breakwater Lodge. Overall I wasn’t impressed with Cape Town or the general hospitality of the people that worked there, this wasn’t helped by the shark diving trip we went on booked through Unreal Dive – who were completely disorganised, didn’t appear to even know what customer service is, and repeatedly through their cigarette butts (along with other general rubbish) into the open water.

We did get to go atop Table Mountain, which neither Stuart nor I could really understand why it is one of the current seven natural wonders and spent time leisurely walking around Cape Town city and waterfront areas.

Overall we had a brilliant time, and wish we could do it all again.. but first, the rest of the world to concur!!

Chantal on Table Mountain

Lots of Love,

Chantal xx

AFRICA: Part I

We just returned from two and a half weeks holiday in Africa, visiting Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. We had the most fantastic time; we definitely could have stayed longer!!

Our first point of call was Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe where we did a sunset dinner river cruise, rode elephants, walked with lions, and walked the Victoria Falls, and also flew in a helicopter over the Victoria Falls.


Riding a female African Elephant, Victorai Falls, Zimbabwe

 

Stuart and Chantal patting 8month old lion cubs, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

 

We stayed at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, where our room had the most fantastic view over the lodge’s waterhole! They had a traditional Boma restaurant attached where we got our face traditionally painted, played the Djembe Drum and also got to try a whole variety of traditional foods such as crocodile, buffalo, guinea fowl, kudu, impala, warthog and we both tried a Mopani worm each too.

The magnificent Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Our next point of call was the Ichobezi Luxury Safari cruise boat, located in Namibia. We had to travel via Botswana to get to the Ichobezi, which was such a surreal feeling, coming from Australia, to so easily move between countries via motor vehicle. The Ichobezi was a beautiful boat, but it was definitely the staff that made it the most amazing experience – they treated us like royalty! We will always think fondly of the Ichobezi with great memories.

The Ichobezi cruises along the Chobe River between both Namibia and Botswana, alongside Chobe National Park. We got to see a ridiculous amount of animals, including a huge herd of elephants.

Feeling refreshed and invigorated,

Chantal xx