Apr 12 - Day 2 at Bakwena Lodge

We keep looking at each other and saying ‘pinch me!’  Thanks for your comments and emails about the blog; we are happy that you are sharing this fabulous trip with us!!!

Today’s written note will be shorter….  because pictures are a thousand times better than my words!  

Morning Safari

Den, our wonderful guide

Refreshment stop under the shade trees…

Birds - too many to mention and remember their names!!!…

Baboon troop - grooming the young ‘uns’, romping through the trees, etc.  Fun to watch… 

More impalas - they are around every corner!…

Saving the very best for last…. The Elephants!!!!!   OMG!   Den got some great shots for me on his side of the Jeep!

Evening Safari on the Chobe River

Crocodile sunning…

Eagle…

Can you spot it?

Lots of elephants feeding on the grasses.  They are safe in the river from predators like the ‘cats’…

Sunset…

I believe Dee has a new appendage - her camera!!! She is posting daily (?) on FaceBook and Instagram so if you are signed up there search for ‘hosted Africa’ 

That’s all for today, folks!

M & D

Apr 11 - 12 Chobe River Front

 Apr 11- Flight to Kasane, Botswana

Today was a travel day.  We left Johannesburg around 8:30, got to the airport for our flight to Botswana, arriving around 1:30.  After clearing Customs and Immigration we were taken out to the jeeps for our transfer to Bakwena Lodge

Oh my!  What a charming place and so welcoming!  After checking in and having a buffet lunch ( tossed salad, potato salad, cauliflower salad, and shish kebab) we were taken to our cabin!  It has twin beds, a little settee and two wicker chairs, a lovely bathroom with a shower, and an outdoor shower!!

A handwritten welcome note!

We had them separate the beds…

Sink and shower area…

What a great touch - a personal note…

By then it was time to get ready for our first game drive!  Our guide for this lodge will be Den, and it felt like he was our private chauffeur, not just a guide,  He had me sit up front so I wouldn’t have to climb up into the back seats and even brought a little set of stairs so it would be easier to get in!  They really look after you!  Everyone had an outside spot in the jeep with an unobstructed view, so Mary could click away to her heart’s delight!  

At 4 PM our convoy of three jeeps set off for Chobe National Park!  Pinch us!  We are in Botswana in a jeep looking for wild animals!!  Not far along we had our first sighting - an impala! 

We saw lots of other animals!  

Impala…

Water Bison… 

A crocodile…

Hippo….

Elephants,

Puku ( like impala, but an endangered species)…

And….

Wait for it!

A sleeping lion!!

By 5:30 we could see it would soon be getting dark, so Den and the other guides pulled over and served our sundowners ( a little adult refreshment before we headed back!). We sat watching some hippos, the beautiful scene, and the beginnings of the sunset.

Another meal at 7:30!!   Caprese Salad, Beef Pot Pie, baked in a little puff pastry pot, and for dessert - Panacotti!  After waddling out of the dining area, we were escorted to our cabin where we could hardly wait to flop into bed!

What an amazing day!

But we are expecting a 5:00 AM knock on our door to waken us in time for the first game drive of the day.  I best turn out the light and get ready to dream about that lion!!!

Night night!

The delirious travellers

Apr 12 -to follow when I get time!

Apr 10 - Day Visit to Pretoria

 Apr 10 - A Visit to Pretoria

Today was a great day!  So much history about the conflicts in Pretoria - throughout the 1800’s from the conflict with the Zulus to the Boer Wars. This link will give a timeline of the struggles in Pretoria.  I could not possibly remember or retell the information our Tour Guide provided as we drove to our first stop, Proclamation Hill.

There were 150 steps to the building at the top, so my personal photographer, Mary, has shared some of hers!

                                                                        Part of a story wall

                      Dutch women played an important role in Pretoria’s history

They travelled in wagons on The Great Trek

The next part of our tour took us through downtown Pretoria and to the Union Building, home of the President.  We stopped for a photo op - a statue of Nelson Mandela.  

From there we went to The Blue Crane for lunch.  The restaurant was next to a pond with ducks swimming around and even an ibis on the far shore.

 The menu and wine list were varied.  Our group was seated at two tables and, as we have found everywhere, the service was excellent.

This is our table - Dee is at the front left, and Ronnie is beside me.  Wonderful hosts!

                                                                      Dee 

Our guide was great!  We had a nice conversation while we waited for everyone else to tour the museum.

Before we left the site, we spotted a peacock….

and some wild horses crossing our path!

It was quiet on our drive back to Villa Simone  - a few heads bobbing as we recovered from another great meal!  

At Happy Hour Dee outlines the plan for the following day - up early, breakfast, luggage ready at 7:45 AM and on our way to the airport for our flight to Botswana by 8:30 AM.

We could hardly face dinner at 7!  So after a light meal we headed back to our room to pack and have an early night.  I am now starting to get behind with my daily updates!  We are busy!!  So some of these posts might be short and sweet!

Until next time…

M & D

Apr 8-9 - A Visit to Soweto

Apr 8 - this was a day to relax.  We could explore our surroundings, start to get to know the others in our group ( including our resident tortoise) and generally adjust to the 6 hr time difference.

Apr 9. Happy Easter from Johannesburg!

Everyone got a place card and a chocolate bunny at our breakfast table this morning!

The day started with a leisurely buffet breakfast and the morning to relax. We are happy we’ve had the first couple of days to take it easy after our long journey!  

Today we headed out to Soweto .

Our first stop was the Stadium that was built for the World Cup.  Its rounded shape was inspired by calabashes, which are traditional African pots. The cladding resembles intricate mosaics that represent fire and earth, while the lighting that encircles the base of the stadium mirrors the flames of a fire burning under the ‘pot’.  

Tap to enlarge.  

Built in 1987 the FNB stadium is located in Nasrec, near Johannesburg’s Soweto has a capacity of 94 736 and is the largest venue in South Africa.  It was the main stadium for the 2010 World Cup and needed to undergo major renovations to accommodate tens of thousands of football fans and players from around the world.

It was also the venue for Nelson Mandela’s funeral.

From there we went to Johannesburg’s famous power cooling towers ( read all about them). And now, if you can imagine, there is a bungee jumping venue between the two towers!

Our destination was Soweto.  What poverty and squalor.   It’s hard to describe, and I can’t help but feel a twinge of guilt as we travel around the world and then see how these people live.  

Today, being Easter Sunday, families were seen walking home from church, and people were generally enjoying themselves in their neighbourhoods.

Our hosts had arranged a place in Soweto for lunch, Chez Alina.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.za/Restaurant_Review-g312587-d4022593-Reviews-Chez_Alina-Soweto_Johannesburg_Greater_Johannesburg_Gauteng.html

It is run by a local family and Ronnie told us over the past 8 years when he first discovered it they had seen it grow from a couple of tables and chairs outside their home, to a building that now can serve 50 + people at a sitting.  The buffet meal was authentic and very tasty.  They even had an entertainer with a beautiful voice singing and swaying to the music for us!  

He also said a few years ago this could never have happened… having groups of whites having to make reservations for a meal!  

All the ‘workers’ we have encountered since our arrival are black, but every person who has served us, has been pleasant, polite, and so anxious to please.  

It was an interesting day and I think everyone enjoyed it.  

We were back for happy hour and Dinner, a buffet, at our hotel.  Tomorrow we need to be ready and on the road by 9 AM for our day in Pretoria.

We’ll keep you posted!

The Enthusiastic Travellers

♥️♥️

PS.  It’s pouring rain!  Hopefully the clouds will empty tonight and give us a good day tomorrow!!

 

Apr 5-7 Making our way to Johannesburg

Finally!  Departure day is here!  But the best laid plans….

Around 6:00 PM we received a notification from Air France that our flight, originally scheduled at 11:15 PM, is now delayed until 2:20 AM!!  I didn’t know flights were allowed to depart from Pearson that late!  Oh well, we are experienced travellers who always remain flexible!  Ha ha!   So we called our driver and asked to be picked up at 9:00 PM instead of 7:00 PM as we had arranged. 

We took off on our flight to Paris about 2:45 AM 😳😳, happy to be on our way at last!

They served a light breakfast shortly thereafter and then we settled in under the cozy blankets provided to try and catch a few winks.  It was hard to decide whether to sleep - or watch a movie…

LOL

About 7:30 AM Toronto time they turned up the lights and brought our meal!  The time said ‘breakfast’  but the meal was Quinoa Salad, Haddock Brandade,  Cheese and Crackers, dinner roll, and Caramel Cake and a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah blend.   Since it is now 1:30 in Paris, we didn’t really have wine for breakfast!

We landed at Charles deGaulle airport about 3:30 PM ( local time) and went to the Air France Lounge.  Quiet, comfy, with clean washrooms, a buffet of wonderful things! Even a shower and a nap room!   

And then along came a server with Champagne, a little baguette with red pepper spread, prosciutto & cheese, and a heavenly chocolate covered, chocolate cream filled profiterole!  Only in France!

 

Special Assistance picked us up right on time to get us to our gate for departure.   We were on our way a little after 10:00 PM; dinner was served soon after and then we could settle down for some sleep during our 10 hour flight.  A few hours later it was time for breakfast as we watched the sun rise!  

Our arrival into Johannesburg at the O.R. Tambo International Airport around 8:30 AM was straightforward, and with wheelchair assistance we were whisked past the long queue at Immigration and to the luggage carousel to our bags, and then to where Ronnie and Dee, our hosts, were waiting for us; they seem like very warm, hospitable people - kind of like meeting family!  They had greeted a couple from San Diego earlier, and were waiting for one more flight from Heathrow.  We are already looking like an ‘international’ group!

Dee and Ronnie had decided to use the speed train from the airport so we could experience this.  The station and trains were extremely clean and comfortable.  We had a change of trains and when we arrived at our station we were met by two young men from the hotel who drove us the short distance to Villa Simmone.

Our hotel is a quirky guest house with themed rooms - ours is Venice.  The staff are friendly and anxious to please.  Dee and Ronnie had arranged for a light lunch and beverages as we gathered in the 50’s themed bar until our rooms were ready.  We met some of the people from the first group for 2023 who raved about their experiences. They were waiting to leave for the airport for their homeward journeys.

We had the rest of the afternoon to relax in the garden.  

 

They have already taken our dinner order - Greek Salad, Main Course (Dorothy had Lamb Shank, Mary had Steak) followed by Carrot Cake - and of course, wine!    I wonder if we will be able to manage this for the next three weeks? 😋

I don’t think getting to sleep tonight will be a problem!  We are happy to be here, settled at our first stop, and judging by the comments from the first group of 2023, in for the trip of a lifetime!

Tomorrow is a day to acclimatize so we may not have much to report. Stay tuned for more from Johannesburg on Sunday.

The Happy Wanderers