Durban to Port St John – Tues 9 July

The flight down was smooth which according to our English captain unusual. After a long wait for our luggage, obtain some local currency and collect our car it was well and truly dark for our drive to Ballito for our first night. We spent some time getting under way as we could not find out how to start the thing. After finding out it was a keyless car we were on our way. The accommodation was right on the beach and we had a very enjoyable meal just up the road which the manager Wilson organised. We woke up to a lovely sunrise and after breakfast and a walk along the shoreline we set the GPS for Port St John. At Port Shepstone we went inland to see Obiri Gorge which turned out not all that good. After passing a lot of roadworks we were back on the road south.We passed through 2 towns Bizana and Flagstaff which are inhabited by the Xhosa people and different cultural experience. No photos of this area as it would have been too dangerous to try. The road was full of potholes and ruts which made the drive very hazardous. We arrived into Port St John just on sundown to what we thought to be a little backwater to find out that the Sardine Run was on and accommodation a little tight. We were lucky to get a 3 bedroom cottage overlooking the mouth of the Umngazi River. The owner was a decendant from the Fee-burgers dating back to early settlement on the Cape. (400+ years) We had several welcome drinks in the restaurant before a healthy home-cooked dinner.

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Chill Out In Dubai

Spent most of the day resting, eating and a session at the health club finishing the day with a reflexology session on the feet. Strange thou since they had the lest amount of use being on an aircraft for the past 16hours. Monday we were up early for breakfast and off to the airport for our 10.30 flight to Durban. Once again we were in a Lexus limo for the mad dash through the streets to the magnificent airport building. Checkin was a breeze and before long we were on our way

 

Where The Lions Roar 2013

Well, this year we are off to Africa and have decided to travel with our favourite airline…Emirates. Our itinerary in brief is as follows:

July 6   Port Macquarie to Sydney and onto Dubai for 1 night

July 8   Dubai to Durban to pick up rental car and overnight Vetho House Hotel

July 9   Start our 2000km drive via the Garden Route to Cape town Drive to Port St John for overnight

July 10 Drive to Hogsback

July 11 Drive to Jeffreys Bay

July 12 Drive to Knysna for 2-3 nights depending on previous days achievements

July 15 Drive to Swellendam for overnight

July 16 Drive to Stellenbosch for 2 nights at De Hoek Manor

July 17 Day exploring and winery visits

July 18 Drive to Cape of Good Hope then overnight Dreamhouse Guest House

July 19  Return rental & check into The Commodore Hotel for 3 nights

July 22  Set off for Victoria Falls on the 6 day rail tour with Rovos Rail

July 27  Arrive Vic Falls 5pm for 2 nights Ilala lodge

July 28  Helicopter ride over the falls

July 29  Flight to Jo’burg for overnight at City Lodge Airport Hotel

July 30  Flight to Kigali with Rwandair & then off to Sabyinyo Lodge for 2 nights

July 31  Trekking with the gorillas

August 1  Back to Kigali and then onto Nairobi for 2 nights at Fairview Hotel

August 2  Day at lisure in Nairobi

August 3  Day with driver & then flight to Ngorogoro Crater for 2 nights at Lemala Camp

August 5  Tranfer to Amboseli for 3 nights at Tortilis Camp

August 8  Flight to Maasai Mara for 2 nights at Rekero Camp

August 9  Hot air balloon ride over The Serengeti

August 10  Transfer to Naboisho Conservancy Maasai Mara for 2 nights

August 12  Flight back to Nairobi and then onto Dubai for 2 nights

August 14  Flight from Dubai to Sydney

August 15 Arrive into Sydney and then Qantas to Port Macquarie

There will be plenty to write about on this epic trip and we are both looking very much forward to it.