READER POSTCARD:
AFRICA’S NATURAL WONDERS
CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Our hotel provided proximity to the Victoria and Albert Waterfront, with views of Table Mountain to take your breath away.
The rolling fog flowing over the flat mountain top seemed like a cascading waterfall; locals call it the tablecloth.
The waterfront has an abundance of shops and great restaurants and is also the ferry point to Robben Island, our tour of which was hosted by a former political prisoner — a moving experience.
Our guided travels brought us to Cape of Good Hope, where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet.
Tours included Boulders Beach, where a protected penguin colony has been established, Kirstenbosh National Botanical Gardens, Cape Winelands touring and Table Mountain via a slow rotating tram that carries you up the 1,085- metre mountain.
Up top there’s a café, gift store and a great walking trail offering incredible views.
Our journey continued up the east coast, the Garden route, visiting and staying in Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital and home to the Cango caves.
In Plettenberg Bay, our stay at the Hog Hollow Country Lodge was an experience never to be forgotten. The villa is something where stars would go for privacy.
At Knysna Elephant Park, we touched, fed and walked holding the trunks of these massive animals. In Durban, we walked the Golden Mile. Sunny beaches stretched as far as the eye can see.
In KwaZulu Natal province, the Hluhluwe- iMfolozi Park at 960 square kilometres, is home to the Big Five African game animals, the lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard.
Our expert guide took us deep within the reserve when our vehicle stopped abruptly; a white bull rhino emerged from the bush and brushed the vehicle on its way past.
Swaziland
This is a country within a country ruled by a king. Along with a game of golf at our hotel, we visited a glass and candle factory where it was impossible to hold back on purchases. A quick border check later brought us back into South Africa. At Kruger National Park, the world- renowned reserve of 19,485 square kilometres, we spotted and caught on camera an elephant rocking a tree to to get an Amarula fruit, with all of us cheering it on. Before ending our South Africa tour in Johannesburg, we travelled the panorama route with stops at three Rondavels ( a Westernized version of an African hut).
Zimbabwe
A walking tour of Victoria Falls presented plenty of photo opportunities. Other excursions included a helicopter ride over the falls and gorge; an elephant- ride safari; and a game drive at the Stanley and Livingstone Private Game reserve, ending with dinner under the stars.
Botswana
We drove to Chobe National Park, which has one of the largest concentrations of elephants in the world, and watched several charge at each other. January and February are Africa’s summer when temperatures averaged 28C. No rain was encountered during our travels.
This trip gave us a better understanding of Africa. The people are so full of joy despite the hardships and challenges they face.
This vacation left us smiling from beginning to end, with so many treasures bought along the way.
Never had we had a vacation where it is on our minds each day, drawing us back to where the adventure is alive and well.