Kruger Safari

This elephant tried to attack us

 I realise I haven't been writing much here from my southafrican trip although I have seen and experienced a lot, but maybe that is exactly why. However now I have arrived at the Kruger area, although I will only enter the park itself tomorrow. Today I arrived at the Thornhill lodge an had a safari drive in one of the private reserves and I got really lucky!! First I was lucky with the company, two very nice girls from Germany, Tessa and Manuela. They told me about all the animals they had already seen and I got a little worried we would not have the same luck now, but we had. In just three hours we saw all the Big Five!!! Very close up! An elephant even tried to attack us.




leopard cubs

Lioness

 In a way I thought the rangers might have been a little too focused on finding the big five and did not pay much attention to other animals we passed on the way, but I guess that's what people come for. When I asked about some bird, they seemed a little surprised and often did not know, but from what I heard at dinner about tomorrows ranger he knows a lot about everything, even birds. And from what I understood I am going to get a private drive tomorrow so I guess I will be able to see and ask a lot!! Sometime it is good to travel off season! I am so happy! I love safaris!! I

A handsome male giraffe from the Kruger park



Black rhino

Almost at Cape Point...

Yesterday we had planned to drive down to Cape Point. On the way we wanted to stop by at the wineries in Constantia, first Klein Constantia because that's my friend's favourite and then I suggested Buitenverwachting because I had read about it. In my friends opinon this would go very fast "you don't need to stay long at a winery". I was a little sceptic. And I was right!
At Klein Constantia it took us quite a time just to taste the wines and buy some and enjoying the surroundings, but even more so at Buitenverwachting. I had suggested we could have lunch there, but my friend thought we would be there too early. It turned out it was already two o'clock when we got there. They have a really lovely lunch option where you get a delicious picnic basked and get to sit under the trees in the garden. Although this you have to book in advance, which we hadn't done. However yesterday seemed to be our lucky day so there was some people who had booked but did not show up. So we got there picnic for three for the two of us. Absolutely delicious!!



Our lovely picnic!

 Just a pity I could not really drink wine as I had to drive, but maybe that was good too, if I had been drinking wine, we might still have been there.



At least we managed to get to Boulder and see the pinguins and had a nice swim among the pinguins.

Driving around

Today we decided to rent a car. It seemed a little more complicated than expected. The first rentals we asked did not have any car available, but then we found one at a reasonable price. Though only available four hours later, but that was ok to us. We thought we could have lunch, visit the market or maybe even the District six museum first. But that was of course before we knew the administration around the rental would take almost two hours. So the time reduced to lunch and then we decided to revisit the travel agency that we consulted two days ago about safaris as it was nearby. So, now I have booked the three day safari in Krueger. Great!!

Eventually we got our car and started driving. That is I started driving. That was clear from the beginningas my friend Erik does not drive, but it was still quite interesting to see the interaction at the car rental. From the beginning the mainly addressed Erik, because of course renting a car is a men's thing, not?! But after a while they must have understood that it was not him but me that would do the driving. I don't really know what made them realise that because we did not tell them and I did not present them my drivers license before they asked for it, but they must have noticed anyway. It is quite funny to travel together with a man, who is not your boyfriend/husband. Some people simply assume we are married or at least togehter, but some seem to get the signals that we are not. Funny!

Since we now only had the afternoon we just drove a short turn around the city. We went to Kirstenbosch, to Constantia (but unfortunately the wineyards had already closed) then a sundowner on Sandy Beach, dinner in Camps Bay and watching the moon from Signal Hill. A lovely day, all in all! Tomorrow we will go down to the Cape. I was amazed again how easy I get used to drive on the "wrong" side of the street. I had the same experience in Harare too, but that was a while ago. It feels a little awkward, especially in situations like roundabouts etc, but it is quite ok.

Life is good

Enjoying a cappuccino and some fresh orange, carrot and ginger juice (thought that would be good for my cold) on a cafe in Sea Point waiting for my friend to pick me up on the way to Hout Bay and Sandy Beach. Life is good! The only thing I need to sort out now is when and how to arrange my safari trip. Could be worse!

The World of Nose Spray

As I have a tendancy, or maybe even tradition of catching a cold whenever I go on holiday, I have been thinking that I could almost write a guide book over decongesting nose sprays. It seems to be one of the first things I just HAVE to get, and still I always forget to bring it from home. If it wasn't for the fact that they have an expiry date (or that they finish) I could have had quite a decent collection of nose sprays from all over the world.
To be honest I guess the contents of them are probably pretty much the same, but the packing and the way they sell them differ. I can say the strange bottle that did not have a spraying function, that I bought in Rio, was not a hit. It made me feel like drowning. The one I bought here in Cape Town feels very much like the ones you get at home, but the lady selling it was very helpful. She insisted I should try it already in the pharmacy and helped me taking the outer packing off and almost offered to help me spray it too.
Here of course it was very easy to ask for what I wanted, but I have noted that even in countries where they don't speak much English this is a very easy thing to explain, sometimes you don't even have to say anything...

Arrived in Cape Town

So, now I have arrived in Cape Town! And it feels good!!
All the way until now I have not really had much time to think about this trip or make any plans for it and at times it even felt like a bad idea going here. I have been working a lot and neen very busy and tired, which made me somehow feel I really needed holiday, but also thinking maybe I should have choosen a place where I have been before and am familiar with, somehow I didn't really felt ready for a "new" country. However, all the time I kind of knew I would like it once I came here and so it is!
Immediately on arrival I felt good. I was a little surprised how calm and well organised everyting was at the airport and on the way to the guest house. I was also struck by how friendly everyone I have met is. And somehow it feels very "normal". It does not feel like a unknown country. Staying at this guest house feels like staying at home with friends (and dogs!)
Ok, I admit I haven't really seen anything yet. But considering the number of hours I have spent here I have seen quite a lot anyhow. As always I seem to be landing running. Already as we shortly landed in Johannesburg on the way here I got a sms about that today is the day of Cape Town Pride and that we should go there. So I landed, took a shuttle to the guest house, had a shower and changed clothes, then my friend came and we went for lunch and then to the pride party. So, you can say I have seen something. Met a lot of nice people and seen the most fabulous transvestites.  I like this place! Among all, and what firsts struck me and what I have missed since I left Brazil is the colours! Finally I get to see colours again!! I love it!!
Looking forward to see more tomorrow! And the coming two weeks!