Part 1 - Johannesburg and Kruger National Park

Just a couple of weeks ago, I headed off to South Africa with a team of fellow Travel Counsellors to meet our host for the next 7 nights who would show us what South Africa has to offer. She did not disappoint! After the 11-hour direct flight to Johannesburg we were met and taken to our hotel for the first 2 nights. We stayed at 54 On Bath, a beautiful boutique hotel in the Rosebank area of Johannesburg. The hotel was attached to a shopping mall, so very easy to nip out into the mall to buy any bits and pieces that you need. We were greeted on arrival with a drink and then shown to our rooms. Rooms were very spacious, air conditioned with a lovely bathroom. A delicious welcome lunch was then served to our group with champagne! We were really looked after. After a short rest we were then taken by our lovely and informative guide Taki to Constitution Hill, a former prison complex to learn about the history of South Africa. It’s been a prison for women but also held Nelson Mandela! Today the precinct houses the Constitutional Court, one of the highest in the country and one which protects all South Africans. The next day was a visit to the Soweto Township, some of us on bikes and some in tuktuks! The story that the locals tell is a real reason to visit. We bought local produce and ate the street food to support the local businesses. Back to the hotel for a quick change and then we were honoured to be taken to our hosts sisters house for a brai (BBQ) where we met the rest of the South African team from Sense of Africa our supplier that was hosting us. What a beautiful house she lived in, and the food was amazing! Next day we were off to Kruger National Park for the start of our 5-night safari. We flew from Jo’burg on Airlink to Kruger Mpumalanga airport, just 50 minutes away. We were met and transferred to our tented camp where we were going to stay for 2 nights. The Nkambeni Safari Lodge a 3.5* fenced tented lodge – our tent was lovely, air conditioned and a full bathroom with walk in shower – what more could you want? The swimming pool was in lovely grounds near to the waterhole where we could see and hear the hippos happily wallowing in the water. Lunch served near the pool, again a wonderful affair and then afterwards we had time for a quick dip in the pool before we would go off on our first game drive! How excited were all of us! We were split into 2 game vehicles so that we just had 2 people in each row of the seats. So, although you could fit 9 people in, 3 to a row, we just had 6 of us in the vehicle. This is how it would be for any clients too, never all squashed into one vehicle full to the brim! Our first game drive did not disappoint, we saw a small herd of elephant with their babies, so cute, dozens of impalas, zebra, waterbuck, kudu and hippo. We stopped for our sundowner overlooking a lake where hippos were lazing; drinking whatever we wanted that was produced from the mobile bar at the rear of the vehicle, including the local drink amarula – this became a firm favourite tipple amongst our group! Watching the sunset was magical! It was dark before reaching the lodge, but we were still spotting various nocturnal animals and birds including the eagle owl. It was a buffet dinner with a wide choice to choose from including kudu stew! Next day we were up to meet at 8.30am to go on our bushwalk! Our guide Pindi, one of the very few female rangers that is trained to do bush walking; along with her fellow guide Tembi also trained, both with a firearm in hand. We were given the very serious strict instructions of how a bush walk works, single file and in silence. If we see or hear anything we had to tap our side to draw Pindi’s attention. Thankfully we didn’t come face to face with any large animals although there was some very, very fresh hippo poo that we passed! This bush walk was all about the small creatures that live in the bush, including the spiders the termites the snakes and also learning about the markings on the trees; what might have made them and why. It was really interesting and something worth doing when on a safari holiday if the opportunity is there. Back at the lodge, the rain had started so we were shown a presentation on the other properties that Aha hotels feature. Then back out for the afternoon game drive in the heavy rain, but donning our ponchos off we went, the rain did not put us off! The rain didn’t stop the animals being present either and again we saw numerous wildlife. Earlyish start at 7am the next day as we were moving onto our next lodge – The Kruger Gate Hotel, this time we travelled in covered vehicles as our journey was going to take us a few hours and it was still raining! We stopped off for breakfast at Nkuhulu Picnic Site where we were treated to a full English style breakfast and then a viewing of the accommodation here, again I’d be very happy to stay there! En-route we still saw lots of game including warthogs and wild dogs!! As we approach the hotel, we were allowed to walk across the bridge to the property, we stopped for photos keeping an eye out for any wildlife that might be lurking – a lot of baboons hang out on this bridge! Arrival at the Kruger Gate Hotel a 4* property, another lovely welcome by the staff, check in and lunch on the terrace out by the infinity pool that overlooks the open plains and river. A cheeky monkey ran through and stole a slice of pizza, made us all laugh! A very lovely lunch and then we were given a tour of the hotel and viewed the various room types on offer here. They were all beautiful whatever grade you’d choose to stay in! Time to relax, sample the cocktails and have a dip in the infinity pool….bliss! Before dinner, just had time to catch the hippo and a buffalo come right up to the electric fence that protected the hotel! Amazing to see. Dinner was under the stars in the boma which is a circular enclosure with a fire pit in the centre used for social gatherings. It was a buffet style so you could go and sample all the delights of the South African food. Just one night here before we leave at 7.30am with our transport for our first stop at the little town of Graskop the start of the Panorama Route. We stop off at Graskop Gorge where the lift takes you down 51 metres into the gorge with a circular walking route (around 600 metres) through the canopy for beautiful views of the waterfall. This is the world’s 3rd largest canyon after the Grand Canyon, USA and Fish Canyon, Namibia