South Africa

South Africa - Diverse and Different

This was our first trip to the African continent. It was quick - just to get a taste and see if we wanted to go back there. WE DO.

We flew from Rio de Janerio in Brazil to Madrid for a few days, then flew down to Johannesburg, staying overnight in Jo'burg before we caught a flight to Hoddespruit, the entry point to the Greater Kruger National Park.

We spent 3 days at Drifters, a private game lodge on the perimeter of Kruger. This means that the animals can roam in from Kruger (and they do) but the people can't. The weather was extremely hot (December). We were up at 5am for a quick bite and cup of coffee, then out in the Landcruiser to roam the many bush tracks in search of wildlife. Back at 9:30am for breakfast, then a lazy day trying to keep cool in the swimming pool and watching out for animals as they came to drink at the waterhole just below the main lodge.

We didn't see lions (although we heard them up close and personal at night). But what we did see made up for this, and gives us a reason to come back.

Our chef and maitre'd at Drifters	Ellery, our guide and a fountain of knowledge about wildlife
Trees around Drifters are a photographer's delight	Sunsets are brilliant
Our mode of transport	There's a female lion and her cubs nearby
A Vervet Monkey peaks out at us	A little Dung Beetle pushing ..... uphill
A Bush Buck near the waterhole	The zebras have a nack of hiding behind trees
This female elephant was protecting her young one	She throws up dirt to make herself appear bigger and tougher
Adolescent Elephant at a waterhole	Is this close enough?
Warthogs everywhere	Chacma Baboons at the Drifters Waterhole
Impallas - called the MacDonalds of the Jungle!	Taking a drink, rhinos and buffalo are nearby
Mexican standoff with the White Rhinos	Up close and Personal
A Kudu cropping a tree	Oh that feels good!!!
A psychaedelic lizard	Hornbills are plentiful - but hard to photograph at Drifters

From Hoedspruit we flew to Capetown for a few days. Capetown is definitely one of the few liveable cities in the world. The trip up to Table Mountain behind Capetown is amazing - the floor of the cable car moves in a circle so that everyone can see all of the view.

View of Capetown from Table Mountain	View from Table Mountain
A local inhabitant on Table Mountain	The cable car to Table Mountain
Table Mountain and Capetown at its base	The colourful Muslim quarter in Capetown
So that's how they plait your hair	The All Blacks and the South African Rugby Teams protecting the strawberry patch!!
Stellenbosch, a quaint village in the winegrowing country	She's a waiter at one of the wineries - great look!!
Here we are at the Cape of Good Hope	Beautiful coastline around Capetown

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