Viivi riding an elephant:)
Liina riding an elephant:)
Viivi says " kakka"
Räätälöityjä matkoja eteläiseen-ja itä afrikkaan / Tailor-made Tours to southern and eastern Africa
Friday, January 29, 2010
Pictures
Touching the elephant
Micro light flying
Kruger Park
Boulders beach
Cape Town( from Table Mountain)
7 more african weeks
Hello there,
We have been far over half the time here already, in a way it seems like we just arrived, but when I really think I see many memories flashing by and I realize how much we have done. Last 4 weeks has been busy busy for me, but I LOVE my job!
It is almost a week since I came back to Johannesburg, no stolen handbags at the airport this time, I had my handbag glued to me:)
Im very happy with this seasons tours, and it is with new energy and enthusiasm Im looking forward planning next season.
Our good friends Lena& Simon, thank you! Without you I had not been able to take part in the MATKA show in Helsinki this year.
The girls are doing fine, yesterday Viivi had a bit fever, but seems like she is ok today, running around as her usual self:)
We are preparing the last bits and pieces for our Namibian tour starting end of next week, I really looking forward to that, Nicos cousin is a guide in Damaraland and he is setting up a camp for us in the area where desert elephants walk...exciting! We will take lots ot pictures. This tour is to be able to plan bigger tours in future, see what works well etc. As In Nambia , 3 times bigger than Finland, lives only a bit over 2 miljon people! Imagine the distances between places, it might not be so easy to find a toilet when you need it..heheheee, besides the "behind the bus" toilet. We are traveling in a 4x4 vehicle tailormade by my friend Craig, windows can be taken off and it becomes a game vehicle...all in one car. And we will see the beautiful dunes at Sossusvlei!
The weather here has been quite good, a bit more rainfall and thunderstorms every other evening, but mostly good and around 30degrees.
Oh, and Liina & Viivi got to ride elephants last weekend, will put a few pictures from that. They loved it, Liina was more careful with feeding the elephant than Viivi.
I must admit that it will be nice to come back to Finland again, to our house and family and friends, our routines there, but I also know, when next fall is slowly moving in,it starts to get dark and cold, I will be so happy to come back a show this part of the world to many new guests. Once a traveller , always a traveller. Next year our plan is also to go to Vic Falls and go and check out Mauritius.
To all of you, have a wonderful weekend. We will go to the Rhino& Lion park tomorrow and have a braai afterwards, sounds good?:)
Jannika
We have been far over half the time here already, in a way it seems like we just arrived, but when I really think I see many memories flashing by and I realize how much we have done. Last 4 weeks has been busy busy for me, but I LOVE my job!
It is almost a week since I came back to Johannesburg, no stolen handbags at the airport this time, I had my handbag glued to me:)
Im very happy with this seasons tours, and it is with new energy and enthusiasm Im looking forward planning next season.
Our good friends Lena& Simon, thank you! Without you I had not been able to take part in the MATKA show in Helsinki this year.
The girls are doing fine, yesterday Viivi had a bit fever, but seems like she is ok today, running around as her usual self:)
We are preparing the last bits and pieces for our Namibian tour starting end of next week, I really looking forward to that, Nicos cousin is a guide in Damaraland and he is setting up a camp for us in the area where desert elephants walk...exciting! We will take lots ot pictures. This tour is to be able to plan bigger tours in future, see what works well etc. As In Nambia , 3 times bigger than Finland, lives only a bit over 2 miljon people! Imagine the distances between places, it might not be so easy to find a toilet when you need it..heheheee, besides the "behind the bus" toilet. We are traveling in a 4x4 vehicle tailormade by my friend Craig, windows can be taken off and it becomes a game vehicle...all in one car. And we will see the beautiful dunes at Sossusvlei!
The weather here has been quite good, a bit more rainfall and thunderstorms every other evening, but mostly good and around 30degrees.
Oh, and Liina & Viivi got to ride elephants last weekend, will put a few pictures from that. They loved it, Liina was more careful with feeding the elephant than Viivi.
I must admit that it will be nice to come back to Finland again, to our house and family and friends, our routines there, but I also know, when next fall is slowly moving in,it starts to get dark and cold, I will be so happy to come back a show this part of the world to many new guests. Once a traveller , always a traveller. Next year our plan is also to go to Vic Falls and go and check out Mauritius.
To all of you, have a wonderful weekend. We will go to the Rhino& Lion park tomorrow and have a braai afterwards, sounds good?:)
Jannika
Monday, January 18, 2010
Cape Town
Hi,
Firstly, it is nice to know so many people are folowing my blog and find it interesting, thanks:)
yesterday we had a long day, we did Cape point. It is a long tour as there is many stops on the way, in Hout Bay many guests went to Seal island, I stayed ashore and visited Piettie, a seal that comes up on land often and wants fish from the fishermen. I have taken a picture of him, once the tour is over I will download pictures, as this time I try to take some pictures while on the road. The weather was perfect yesterday, a nice breeze. We also saw Chacma Baboons next to the road and we visited the African Penguines at Boulders. Everyone always fall in love with the penguines, they are so small and sweet, but watch out..they can bit!
Today we have been to the township Langa, 72000 xhosa people living there,our guide lives there, and we visited a center where they give children a chance to be busy with singing, dancing, making things, just a way to keep them away from trouble and get them a skill that can be useful in future . And we also visited a childrens daycare, the small children sang in a loud voice for us and some even got up and danced...probably some traditional childrens dance:) But rythm they had!
It is hot outside today, I have been working a while ,but also went for a walk, as Im off until tomorrow morning, when the next part of the tour is starting, up north. It will be the goldtimes,Blyde River Canyon, animals in the bush part.
Keep well all of you.
Jannika
Firstly, it is nice to know so many people are folowing my blog and find it interesting, thanks:)
yesterday we had a long day, we did Cape point. It is a long tour as there is many stops on the way, in Hout Bay many guests went to Seal island, I stayed ashore and visited Piettie, a seal that comes up on land often and wants fish from the fishermen. I have taken a picture of him, once the tour is over I will download pictures, as this time I try to take some pictures while on the road. The weather was perfect yesterday, a nice breeze. We also saw Chacma Baboons next to the road and we visited the African Penguines at Boulders. Everyone always fall in love with the penguines, they are so small and sweet, but watch out..they can bit!
Today we have been to the township Langa, 72000 xhosa people living there,our guide lives there, and we visited a center where they give children a chance to be busy with singing, dancing, making things, just a way to keep them away from trouble and get them a skill that can be useful in future . And we also visited a childrens daycare, the small children sang in a loud voice for us and some even got up and danced...probably some traditional childrens dance:) But rythm they had!
It is hot outside today, I have been working a while ,but also went for a walk, as Im off until tomorrow morning, when the next part of the tour is starting, up north. It will be the goldtimes,Blyde River Canyon, animals in the bush part.
Keep well all of you.
Jannika
Friday, January 15, 2010
Cape Town
Goodmorning
Let the day begin. I have had a good, deep 8 hour sleep. Im in Cape town with a new group of 31 guests. We are staying at Dale Court, a lovely guesthouse in Cape Town, Sofia and Giovanni always welcomes me with a smile, and I feel at home...I think they miss Liina & Viivi, who also feels right at home when they stay here:)
The flight yesterday went good, we got a later flight as our original flight was cancelled, but good so as the flight guests came with also was late. A busy 24hours for the guests traveling, but they still where eager to go see the views, Table Mountian was too windy so it was closed ,but we went to Signal Hill and saw the sunset and drove by Camps Bay back, the waves where crashing into the beach, beautiful.
Dave, my guide I use here in Cape, says a few days ago a man was taken by a Shark where he stays in Fish Hoek, only 50m from land! Scary waters!
Today we are going to the winelands, a full day tour trough some wine estates and brandytasting+chocolate at the KWV estate.Lets see how staright guests can walk afterwards:)
My family, Nico and the girls are not here this time and it is feeling empty without them , I wont see them in 8 days! Miss them , luckily the tour keeps me busy and occupied!
I update soon again. Have a wonderful weekend everyone. A few pictures will come up
Jannika
Let the day begin. I have had a good, deep 8 hour sleep. Im in Cape town with a new group of 31 guests. We are staying at Dale Court, a lovely guesthouse in Cape Town, Sofia and Giovanni always welcomes me with a smile, and I feel at home...I think they miss Liina & Viivi, who also feels right at home when they stay here:)
The flight yesterday went good, we got a later flight as our original flight was cancelled, but good so as the flight guests came with also was late. A busy 24hours for the guests traveling, but they still where eager to go see the views, Table Mountian was too windy so it was closed ,but we went to Signal Hill and saw the sunset and drove by Camps Bay back, the waves where crashing into the beach, beautiful.
Dave, my guide I use here in Cape, says a few days ago a man was taken by a Shark where he stays in Fish Hoek, only 50m from land! Scary waters!
Today we are going to the winelands, a full day tour trough some wine estates and brandytasting+chocolate at the KWV estate.Lets see how staright guests can walk afterwards:)
My family, Nico and the girls are not here this time and it is feeling empty without them , I wont see them in 8 days! Miss them , luckily the tour keeps me busy and occupied!
I update soon again. Have a wonderful weekend everyone. A few pictures will come up
Jannika
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
more pictures...
Liina and Viivi by the beach
Liina the princess
Elephants in Kruger Park
Kruger Park
Viivi and the penguine
This and that and on the road
Goodmorning,
It is just after 7h00 and everyone is up....early mornings in this house! But it is africa and sun gose up 5h00.
Lots has happened since last, last thursday I said goodbye to my lovely group and while I didi that my hand bag was stolen at Jburg airport! I did NOT feel like starting sorting out everything but had no choice, I was tired and just wanted to get to the hisue, but as in my handbag I had my passport, wallet with all my creditcards money + much mor ein my bag, I had to start calling and canceling everything, phones, cards....and then I had to get a new passport quickly as tomorrow Im flying to Cape Town again. So, we had to make a police report at the airport and sort out everything, but until this day I have not heard anything from the police, no passport , no bag.
But ,life goes on and one cant think too much about ot, just have to be even more careful.
Then I had a few days at Elizmas house, my dad has arrived and will stay a few months. Jukka left back to Finland and I think he would have liked to stay a bit longer..:) Heli and Frantz arrived last friday and today we will get together, as I leave tomorrow for my last south african tour.
On sunday we pakced our car again with me, Nico , the girls and my dad and we hit the road towards the bush again, close to kruger Park. We went for a site inspection to Honeyguide tented camp, very nice. The trip there went well until 30km from the camp. What happened was that we had had car problems the day before, Nico, Nicos dad( as Nicos mom&dad visited us over the weeend) and my dad, all where bent over the car the whole day fixing it, and managed to fix it, but the 30km from the camp, the car started overheating and we had to stop, the last part took us 3 hours, luckily from the camp they came to pick me and the girls up while the men stayed behind to fix it., and managed to get teh car to teh camp, and after the morning drive the following day the fixed it all day long again, but got it right!:)
About the camp, we LOVED it, very simple but service top class, and the setting of the lux tents apart from each other in the bush made it very nice. The is no fences so all animals can walk trough the camp and at occasions they have elehants and lions passing by, mostly though antilopes zebras and other not dangerous animals, but in the evening one is not allowed to walk alone to the tent or around the camp. A very nice atmosphere in the camp. The girls where also allowed on the game drives and the girls loves it, they have seen so far lots of antilopes, zebras, giraffes, buffalos, lions, elephants....I will make an album for the girls with them interactin with animals. In a weeks time they will get to ride on elephants too:) More about that in a weeks time.
We came back yesterday as after Honeyguide we decided to drive trough Kruger Park and it took over 4 hours so we decided to not drive the 400km to Jburg , and we stayed over at a family lodge close to Nelspruit.
Now we are back in Jburg and today we are picking up Heli,Kalle and little Elsa, they will spend the day with us.
And pictures...I will try now to add some:)
Until later again,
Jannika
It is just after 7h00 and everyone is up....early mornings in this house! But it is africa and sun gose up 5h00.
Lots has happened since last, last thursday I said goodbye to my lovely group and while I didi that my hand bag was stolen at Jburg airport! I did NOT feel like starting sorting out everything but had no choice, I was tired and just wanted to get to the hisue, but as in my handbag I had my passport, wallet with all my creditcards money + much mor ein my bag, I had to start calling and canceling everything, phones, cards....and then I had to get a new passport quickly as tomorrow Im flying to Cape Town again. So, we had to make a police report at the airport and sort out everything, but until this day I have not heard anything from the police, no passport , no bag.
But ,life goes on and one cant think too much about ot, just have to be even more careful.
Then I had a few days at Elizmas house, my dad has arrived and will stay a few months. Jukka left back to Finland and I think he would have liked to stay a bit longer..:) Heli and Frantz arrived last friday and today we will get together, as I leave tomorrow for my last south african tour.
On sunday we pakced our car again with me, Nico , the girls and my dad and we hit the road towards the bush again, close to kruger Park. We went for a site inspection to Honeyguide tented camp, very nice. The trip there went well until 30km from the camp. What happened was that we had had car problems the day before, Nico, Nicos dad( as Nicos mom&dad visited us over the weeend) and my dad, all where bent over the car the whole day fixing it, and managed to fix it, but the 30km from the camp, the car started overheating and we had to stop, the last part took us 3 hours, luckily from the camp they came to pick me and the girls up while the men stayed behind to fix it., and managed to get teh car to teh camp, and after the morning drive the following day the fixed it all day long again, but got it right!:)
About the camp, we LOVED it, very simple but service top class, and the setting of the lux tents apart from each other in the bush made it very nice. The is no fences so all animals can walk trough the camp and at occasions they have elehants and lions passing by, mostly though antilopes zebras and other not dangerous animals, but in the evening one is not allowed to walk alone to the tent or around the camp. A very nice atmosphere in the camp. The girls where also allowed on the game drives and the girls loves it, they have seen so far lots of antilopes, zebras, giraffes, buffalos, lions, elephants....I will make an album for the girls with them interactin with animals. In a weeks time they will get to ride on elephants too:) More about that in a weeks time.
We came back yesterday as after Honeyguide we decided to drive trough Kruger Park and it took over 4 hours so we decided to not drive the 400km to Jburg , and we stayed over at a family lodge close to Nelspruit.
Now we are back in Jburg and today we are picking up Heli,Kalle and little Elsa, they will spend the day with us.
And pictures...I will try now to add some:)
Until later again,
Jannika
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Safari...early mornings
Hello,
Just sent my guests off on afternoon safari and Im taking some time off....we got all up 3.30 this morning for a morning drive that started 4am in Kruger Park , Skukuza. It was windy and a bit rainy, but after all we saw some animals and it was good. We saw elephants, hyenas next to our car, plenty of antilopes, giraff....but the best drive we had when driving from Skukuza( our camp) to the Malelan gate, on our way out from the park. We saw more hyenas, wild dogs in the middle of the field with warthogs, zebras, gnu...and the zebras where chasing away the wild dogs, it was interesting to follow. And we saw a heard of elephants and one of the baby once , must have been under a years of age, mock charged us and kept on running around like a little wild boy having fun, it was funny to wacth:)
Now we are a Kwamadwala, the rain has stopped, it has only drizzled today, but for tomorrow it is said to be sunny...I really hope so!
Im going to rest a few hours and meet my guests again for dinner. Everyone loves it here:)
Until soon again,
byebye
Just sent my guests off on afternoon safari and Im taking some time off....we got all up 3.30 this morning for a morning drive that started 4am in Kruger Park , Skukuza. It was windy and a bit rainy, but after all we saw some animals and it was good. We saw elephants, hyenas next to our car, plenty of antilopes, giraff....but the best drive we had when driving from Skukuza( our camp) to the Malelan gate, on our way out from the park. We saw more hyenas, wild dogs in the middle of the field with warthogs, zebras, gnu...and the zebras where chasing away the wild dogs, it was interesting to follow. And we saw a heard of elephants and one of the baby once , must have been under a years of age, mock charged us and kept on running around like a little wild boy having fun, it was funny to wacth:)
Now we are a Kwamadwala, the rain has stopped, it has only drizzled today, but for tomorrow it is said to be sunny...I really hope so!
Im going to rest a few hours and meet my guests again for dinner. Everyone loves it here:)
Until soon again,
byebye
Sunday, January 3, 2010
2010
A new year has started!
And Im on tour with a new group, this is my 3rd tour of the season, and all is going very well once again. At the moment we are in Pilgrims rest, an old gold digging vilage from the 1870's, nowdays the village is a museum with accommodation. Guests likes it here, it has a wild western feeling to it:) small wooden shops, saloon and restaurant, only one street to walk on, victorian styled rooms with old fashion bath tubs:) Back in time lots of european men came here in hope to find gold and become rich, nowdays they still arrange gold panning competitions here. It is a lovely place between the mountains, today it has been partly cloudy but still warm, close to+27.
New years eve we where in Cape Town, Nico and the children where with me there, and Elizma joined us. We had a good stay in Cape Town, new year we celebrated at the Gold Restaurant, traditional african dishes, dancing,singing and marimba music. Liina and Viivi where also with, and me and ELizma took teh girls to the hotel before midnight, but Liina was still awake at midnight so I took her outside to see the fireworkd from the V&A watrefront, beautiful!
I have had a problem with my troath the whole tour, probably from speaking all the time,and the air con in bus and rooms and weather changes, otherwise I have been lucky not to be sick at all.Like on all other tours, also on this one, a few people has catched the 'runny tummy' bug, best cure, plenty of water and let it out!:)...and in a days time you are fine again.
Tomorrow we are going to Kruger Park to spot some animals, lets hope luck is our friend and we see plenty. Kruger park will be busy as south africans also have summer holiday this time of the year.
Nico and the girl left behind in johannesburg yesterday and it feels so quite again without them around.I see them again in 4 days.I better use these moments to rest and gather some energy, everytime I have a free time from the guests . Luckily my group is good and I have done this some many times by now that the only obstacle is the weather...and that I cant do much about.So far all good.
A happy new year to everyone and hope it will the best year so far:)
Jannika
And Im on tour with a new group, this is my 3rd tour of the season, and all is going very well once again. At the moment we are in Pilgrims rest, an old gold digging vilage from the 1870's, nowdays the village is a museum with accommodation. Guests likes it here, it has a wild western feeling to it:) small wooden shops, saloon and restaurant, only one street to walk on, victorian styled rooms with old fashion bath tubs:) Back in time lots of european men came here in hope to find gold and become rich, nowdays they still arrange gold panning competitions here. It is a lovely place between the mountains, today it has been partly cloudy but still warm, close to+27.
New years eve we where in Cape Town, Nico and the children where with me there, and Elizma joined us. We had a good stay in Cape Town, new year we celebrated at the Gold Restaurant, traditional african dishes, dancing,singing and marimba music. Liina and Viivi where also with, and me and ELizma took teh girls to the hotel before midnight, but Liina was still awake at midnight so I took her outside to see the fireworkd from the V&A watrefront, beautiful!
I have had a problem with my troath the whole tour, probably from speaking all the time,and the air con in bus and rooms and weather changes, otherwise I have been lucky not to be sick at all.Like on all other tours, also on this one, a few people has catched the 'runny tummy' bug, best cure, plenty of water and let it out!:)...and in a days time you are fine again.
Tomorrow we are going to Kruger Park to spot some animals, lets hope luck is our friend and we see plenty. Kruger park will be busy as south africans also have summer holiday this time of the year.
Nico and the girl left behind in johannesburg yesterday and it feels so quite again without them around.I see them again in 4 days.I better use these moments to rest and gather some energy, everytime I have a free time from the guests . Luckily my group is good and I have done this some many times by now that the only obstacle is the weather...and that I cant do much about.So far all good.
A happy new year to everyone and hope it will the best year so far:)
Jannika
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