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Vic falls & South Africa
  • Paul and Diane N
  • Paul and Diane N

Vic falls & South Africa

A 16-day adventure by Paul and Diane Read more
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  • Trip start
    September 3, 2023
    Paul and Diane NVic falls & South AfricaTraveler

    Travel day

    September 3, 2023 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    Early start and a long day of travelling but it can't be avoided and its all gone to plan, no problems. It seems we have spent all day at Schipol. Thankfully it's a great airport.
    Vic Falls tomorrow via Nairobi for a few hours.Read more

  • Paul and Diane NVic falls & South AfricaTraveler
    1

    Victoria Falls arrival

    September 4, 2023 in Zimbabwe ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Overnight flight to Nairobi and landed early but we had to queue jump hundreds (some were a little annoyed, mainly French but we didn't mind that) to make our last connection to Victoria Falls, a 3 hour flight.
    In all its been 29 hours travelling house door to hotel door!
    Ilala Lodge Hotel is a bit special, we can hear the falls and see the spray above the trees, also there are animals right outside, so doors will be locked at night.
    Won the lottery as you can see, will be sharing it out when back.
    We did a Ra-Ikane Sunset River cruise tonight. It was a bit more successful than our whale watching! Saw hippos, elephants and a few birds and a lot of other boats. And more outside hotel room tonight.
    Early night 7:30pm, we are very tired.
    Tomorrow is early start to see the falls.    Read more

  • Paul and Diane NVic falls & South AfricaTraveler

    Victoria Falls

    September 5, 2023 in Zimbabwe ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Early start today to see the falls before it gets to hot, it was 33 yesterday but the sun is stronger.
    Falls are really impressive and this is start of low water season. People in Devils Pool and a fisherman if you look closely.
    Went round local crafts, all really good and inventive, but all too samey and too big to carry.
    Visited local supermarket for wine at ZUD 40,000 + a bottle, you work it out. Walking from 7:30 to 13:00 with a couple of refreshment breaks so now chilling with wine on patio.    Read more

  • Paul and Diane NVic falls & South AfricaTraveler

    Victoria Falls to Port Elizabeth

    September 5, 2023 in Zimbabwe ⋅ 🌙 29 °C

    Another day of traveling, this time cutting it too fine with problems. Flight into joburg was late, had to queue jump again, run to gate where we found out they said we had to collect our luggage and recheck them thru. We were told on Vic Falls that they would go all the way and we had tags to show that.

    Left hotel at 11:00 and got into Port Elizabeth Airport at 19:00, then into hire car for short journey to hotel with NO luggage.
    Hopefully get bags tomorrow!

    Vic Falls airport was a breeze to get through, surprised me. Shops more expensive than Heathrow!    Read more

  • Paul and Diane NVic falls & South AfricaTraveler

    Luggage! And onto safari

    September 7, 2023 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    Last night's hotel was cheap, cheerful and ok. 5 large wines and a lager for £8. It was a unique place, much better than your standard Western white tourist hotel, I say that as at breakfast there was only one other white person, not a problem and ok.

    Went to airport, as they did not phone me and our luggage was there. That was a great relief, I had nightmares of having to spend a day in a shopping mall while mam got all she needed! Lol.

    Amakhala safari Lodge is something special, but I think all african lodges are similar. It's all inclusive, 6 game drives and a well stocked room bar.

    First safari this afternoon, most people are dressed for something entirely different! A party or beach, don't think they want to see wild animals. Safari drive was best mist successful we have ever had to see giraffe, cheetahs, gnu, wart hog, lion, zebra and obi wan kenobi (Diane doing a good impression) it was very cold.

    First impressions are that this is a top experience, all inclusive, free bar, safaris with picnics, very friendly helpful staff etc etc    Read more

  • Paul and Diane NVic falls & South AfricaTraveler

    Full safari day

    September 8, 2023 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Morning 7am and afternoon 4 hours safari drives today, pretty tiring on these bumpy roads. Safaris were good with rhinis, elephants being the best action. We have agreed to skip tomorrow afternoon drive if morning one is successful.
    Food here has been really good.    Read more

  • Paul and Diane NVic falls & South AfricaTraveler

    Morning drive/ chilling afternoon

    September 9, 2023 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Another early morning drive in search of lions. We found them but they were hiding, caught sight of them.
    Decided to pass on the afternoon/ evening drive, we are getting too tired, it's actually hard work being a passenger for 7 hours on seriously bumpy terrain. It was also hottest day so far, animals will would be sheltering from sun and we were sunbathing in our pool. We have seen best of weather, getting colder as you can see.
    We have now been away 7 days and we have seem so much already and have had fantastic friendly service all the way.    Read more

  • Paul and Diane NVic falls & South AfricaTraveler

    Lions and onto Plettenberg

    September 10, 2023 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Last safari drive this morning and it was really worth it. For the last 2 days we had glimpses of lions, today we found and watched the whole pride of 7 lions for a long time, brilliant.
    The whole 3 days at Amakhala Safari Lodge was brilliant, great all inclusive, more than we could expect, extremely helpful friendly staff and a park that limits traffic (no public) and even limits numbers of Jeeps per zone.
    3 hour drive along fairly empty roads to Cottage Pie Plettenberg. Another lovely place. Beach is similar to Weymouth and you have the Robberg headland which is just like Portland. Whales are seen here, but not for us today! Will try at lookouts tomorrow.
    We had sherry on the room at Amskhala and have it here as well. Found out talking to locals on beach that its traditional in the winter.
    Have a full wallet of notes that amount to £20!
    Experienced our first electrical "load shedding" where hotel had its power cut.    Read more

  • Paul and Diane NVic falls & South AfricaTraveler

    Plett to Oudtshoorn

    September 11, 2023 in South Africa ⋅ 🌬 10 °C

    Excellent stay at Cotrage Pie. Our TV did not work so manager replaced it very quickly for us to watch the rugby. Then we fell asleep half way through the Wales match!
    Did a walk around headland looking for whales, not a sighting as usual. Mam did really well climbing up a steep exposes section.
    On our drive today we experienced sun, high winds, heavy rain showers and snow all in 30 minutes! Wild weather here.
    On the drive we passed many locals including children walking, it seemed in-between nowhere and sometimes hitch hiking. Felt wrong not to offer a lift but you just can't do that.
    Diane found the strangest place a safety evacuation sign could be placed.
    Current place is very safety minded when it comes to placement of plug sockets as can be seen in photo!
    This is the only place where the waitresses wear puffer jackets, it's so cold !    Read more

  • Paul and Diane NVic falls & South AfricaTraveler

    Ostriches yes. Whales no; again!

    September 12, 2023 in South Africa ⋅ 🌙 1 °C

    The stars last night were incredible, never seen so many.
    Each morning has a different vista which is making the your interesting. Today there was frost on the ground and it may make 15 degrees today; cold! But it got really warm and sunny.
    Went to ostrich farm which was good, some of them are a bit menacing at 2.4m tall!
    Went into Mossel Bay, another whale watching place, but no luck as usual! But the best carrot cake and fabulous views. Then went to Still Bay. A completely beautiful beach all to ourselves.
    Riversdale is another different place, nice cottage we have.    Read more

  • Paul and Diane NVic falls & South AfricaTraveler

    Riversdale to L'Agulhas (most south)

    September 13, 2023 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    We woke up this morning freezing cold, no lights or heating because of Load Shedding!
    Drove to swellendam, lovely town with a lot of history and the prettiest church in South Africa. Tried to go shopping but all shops were still in darkness at 10am with electricity cuts.
    Got to destination, most southerly point of Africa where the oceans meet and we of course had to drink in most southerly pub.
    B&B we are in is again very different, this is a B&B! Strange for us but the view is great.
    No whales again. Took a walk out in the dark ar 7pm, nothing to see so will be early night.
    One positive from load shedding (power cuts) is that the stars are brilliant, never seen so many.
    Off to Cape Town tomorrow.    Read more

  • Paul and Diane NVic falls & South AfricaTraveler

    Cape Town via Penquins

    September 14, 2023 in South Africa ⋅ 🌬 15 °C

    Drove from L'Agulhas to Cape Town Airport via several renowned whale watching sites; Hermanus is world famous. After several hours of driving along coastal road we did not see a whale. Did stop at Betty's Bay where we found Penguins. Road from Betty's Bay to Gordon's Bay was stunning. All in we have driven over 1200 km.
    Hotel in Cape Town Seapoint area is right on beach and great location, safe to walk out at night. Our room is on corner of building on right one below top floor where we see beach or signal Hill.    Read more

  • Paul and Diane NVic falls & South AfricaTraveler

    Cape Town storm & V&A

    September 15, 2023 in South Africa ⋅ 🌬 15 °C

    All night and most of day experienced a wild storm. Our planned trip to Robben Island was cancelled and we are now scheduled for Sunday.
    Spent morning in V&A area. Its a major tourist area on old docks. Quite impressive, massive with 3 shopping malls, craft areas, hotels etc. We walked back against the wind, took over an hour, feet hurting! And can't have a bath!Read more

  • Paul and Diane NVic falls & South AfricaTraveler

    The last cheesecake ha ha

    September 17, 2023 in South Africa ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    We had high hopes for today with good weather. But Cape Town has not been great. We have had 3 big letdowns; 1 no whales throughout the south coast, 2 no robben Island and 3 no table top mountain. We tried to get robben Island and table mountain in today but boat not running for 3rd day although it was calm and the cable car queue was huge with several days of people backlog.
    Stayed in V&A area again, it's really impressive, I think the best Cape Town has to offer, there really isn't much else in the city.

    Tonight we ate in hotel as I wanted schnitzel so I ordered lamb chops special! We had a group of 9 african women all wearing coats and Bob hats by us who took all the cheesecake! We ordered 2 cheesecakes, waitress came back and said there was only one left, so we took that with another dessert, she then came back and said there was no cheesecake so we cancelled all desserts. 5 minutes later she came back and knelt down and said "I have a plan, I can take a cheesecake off the women" . We declined her offer and thanked her but found it hilarious.
    This is Africa.

    To top it all, not sure there is any whiskey in our Irish coffees!    Read more

  • Paul and Diane NVic falls & South AfricaTraveler

    Last day and travelling home

    September 18, 2023 in South Africa ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Leisurely morning and a few hours at Cape Town Airport. Uber took 20 minutes for £6. Cape Town Airport is very good, small but efficient with everything you need.

    Lasting impressions are;
    People are very friendly,
    Service is very good but sometimes slow,
    Food is high quality and cheap,
    Every clean except Cape Town,
    Scenery is varied & impressive,
    Safer than you read but still be sensible,
    Roads are great and drivers are more polite than UK,
    Still a 2 race system with lots of poverty,
    Black Africans don't rush they saunter (very sloely) and make mam look like a sprinter,
    Definitely worth a visit.
    Ps we may have seen a whale from our room while waiting to leave this morning!    Read more

    Trip end
    September 18, 2023
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