Our 4 month stay in South Africa is ending tomorrow evening, its time to fly back to our home in Finland, to the snow and coldness....after the warm months here it will take some adjustments:) But we are looking forward to it.
I have been busy packing today ,and somehow I think we will get everything with us...with a few extra kg of course.
I tried to download a few pictures but the internet is very slow, so I think I will have to wait until we are in Finland.
Until up north again...keep warm:)
Jannika
Räätälöityjä matkoja eteläiseen-ja itä afrikkaan / Tailor-made Tours to southern and eastern Africa
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
End of tour
Last night I said goodbye to my wonderful group I spent the last 10 days with , travelling around South Africa. Since I last wrote we have travelled along the coast up to St Lucia, trough Swaziland to the southern border of Kruger Park and to Johannesburg where the tour ended last night and guest flew back home to Finland .
We had a relaxing stay at Salt Rock, walking along the beach, listening, and watching the waves, and getting a bit of a tan:)
When we left Salt Rock on tuesday morning we started the day with a glas of sparkling as we had a birthday ´boy´ among us, Congratulation one more time Jorma on you 60th birthday! ...and we all thought you where 50:)
We arrived in St Lucia, a small village named by a portugise explorer, Manuel Perestrello, in 1575 ,after a saint. In St Lucia we stayed 1 night and did a hippo tour in the afternoon, we saw quite a few hippos close by. Amazulu Lodge, where we stayed, is owned by Ingrid, a lady from Belgium, and it is really a nice place where to stay. From there our journey went on towards Swaziland, along the way we stopped at the Dumazulu Cultural Village to take part in some zulu traditions and dancing/singing, and enjoying local food( and a taste of zulu beer) before we got to Swaziand. Swaziland is a kingdom ruled by Mswati III, it has been a kingdom since 1968. It is a poor country and they are fighting for democracy, but it is a beautiful country, especially the western part of the country. We stayed 1 night in Ezulwini Valley in Swaziland, at Mwubu Falls, and the following morning we visited the Swazi Candles, and I think a few of my guest managed to add some more weight to their suitcases:) Beautiful candles in different shapes, and to a affordable price, well worth a visit if driving trough the area.
From Swaziland we headed back to the south african side, and as we where at the border post we heard some beautiful singing from one of the buildings , so we went closer to hear better. As a man walked out of the building I asked him what they are practising and we where invited to come and listen. They where practising for a funeral, one of the police officers had pasted away. The voices where amazing, one of my guest got tears in here eyes, and I think all of us where moved by the singing.
We arrived at Bongani Mountain Logde in the afternoon, our stop for the next 2 nights. To get up to the lodge one needs a 4x4 vehicle, and our safariguides where waiting for us down at the parking. We changed the bus to landrovers and drove the last 7km to a scenic place up the mountain, overlooking the bush and Kruger Park. During our days up there we went on safaris ,3 hours in morning and 3hours in afternoon and I think all my guest managed to see giraff,zebra,impala,kudu, elephants, rhino,and also lion on the last day, even if only the men went on the early safari in the morning, luckily our safariguides where kind and took us after lunch for a quick drive to the spot where they had seen lions and all of us could enjoy them:)
Today my plan is to start packing, as all our things is spread around everywhere.
Take care everyone!
Love,
Jannika
We had a relaxing stay at Salt Rock, walking along the beach, listening, and watching the waves, and getting a bit of a tan:)
When we left Salt Rock on tuesday morning we started the day with a glas of sparkling as we had a birthday ´boy´ among us, Congratulation one more time Jorma on you 60th birthday! ...and we all thought you where 50:)
We arrived in St Lucia, a small village named by a portugise explorer, Manuel Perestrello, in 1575 ,after a saint. In St Lucia we stayed 1 night and did a hippo tour in the afternoon, we saw quite a few hippos close by. Amazulu Lodge, where we stayed, is owned by Ingrid, a lady from Belgium, and it is really a nice place where to stay. From there our journey went on towards Swaziland, along the way we stopped at the Dumazulu Cultural Village to take part in some zulu traditions and dancing/singing, and enjoying local food( and a taste of zulu beer) before we got to Swaziand. Swaziland is a kingdom ruled by Mswati III, it has been a kingdom since 1968. It is a poor country and they are fighting for democracy, but it is a beautiful country, especially the western part of the country. We stayed 1 night in Ezulwini Valley in Swaziland, at Mwubu Falls, and the following morning we visited the Swazi Candles, and I think a few of my guest managed to add some more weight to their suitcases:) Beautiful candles in different shapes, and to a affordable price, well worth a visit if driving trough the area.
From Swaziland we headed back to the south african side, and as we where at the border post we heard some beautiful singing from one of the buildings , so we went closer to hear better. As a man walked out of the building I asked him what they are practising and we where invited to come and listen. They where practising for a funeral, one of the police officers had pasted away. The voices where amazing, one of my guest got tears in here eyes, and I think all of us where moved by the singing.
We arrived at Bongani Mountain Logde in the afternoon, our stop for the next 2 nights. To get up to the lodge one needs a 4x4 vehicle, and our safariguides where waiting for us down at the parking. We changed the bus to landrovers and drove the last 7km to a scenic place up the mountain, overlooking the bush and Kruger Park. During our days up there we went on safaris ,3 hours in morning and 3hours in afternoon and I think all my guest managed to see giraff,zebra,impala,kudu, elephants, rhino,and also lion on the last day, even if only the men went on the early safari in the morning, luckily our safariguides where kind and took us after lunch for a quick drive to the spot where they had seen lions and all of us could enjoy them:)
Today my plan is to start packing, as all our things is spread around everywhere.
Take care everyone!
Love,
Jannika
Monday, February 21, 2011
Indian Ocean
I´m at the Indian Ocean, Salt Rock. Guest have free time so Im making sure to relax also:) I have been on long walks along the beach, and I like to walk close to the water edge, and sometimes the waves come by surprise and I get all wet, but that is just fun, as the water is quite warm this time of the year. Guest like it here, we arranged so that everyone got a room with balcony, and seaview of course, that is a must here, as it is so nice to open the balcony doors and let the sound of the waves roll into the room. We have been very lucky with the weather, just a light wind and sunshine, and the busy season is over, so we dont need to fight over poolspace by the swimmingpool:)
I planned to go jogging this morning, but as I only got up after 8am, it was already too hot outside, so I took a long walk along the beach instead, barefoot. Yesterday I also swam in the tidal pool, and as the hightide was coming in , it threw big waves over the edge of the pool, nice!
Tomorrow we are moving on to St Lucia, there we will see some hippos &crocs, and then we will visit a zulu village the following day. I do take pictures and will put up some after the tour when I can download them again.
In a weeks time we are flying back to Finland...brrr.. I do miss home and looking forward to it, but now while Im sitting here in the sun watching out over the Indian Ocean it feels like years away, and I wonder, how will I survive the cold again? Lots and lots of warm clothing I suppose:)
Have a wonderful week all of you.
Love,
Jannika
I planned to go jogging this morning, but as I only got up after 8am, it was already too hot outside, so I took a long walk along the beach instead, barefoot. Yesterday I also swam in the tidal pool, and as the hightide was coming in , it threw big waves over the edge of the pool, nice!
Tomorrow we are moving on to St Lucia, there we will see some hippos &crocs, and then we will visit a zulu village the following day. I do take pictures and will put up some after the tour when I can download them again.
In a weeks time we are flying back to Finland...brrr.. I do miss home and looking forward to it, but now while Im sitting here in the sun watching out over the Indian Ocean it feels like years away, and I wonder, how will I survive the cold again? Lots and lots of warm clothing I suppose:)
Have a wonderful week all of you.
Love,
Jannika
Saturday, February 19, 2011
U2 in Cape Town
My group arrived on thursday night,just after 23h00, they were tired, so we took them straight to the hotel. The hotel is just opposite the Cape Town stadium, and last night the U2 concert was held there. When we came back from our daytrip to Cape Point yesterday, the main street was packed with people, there was stands where to buy hotdogs, burgers,drinks etc...the atmosphere was cheerful,high and loud, it was nice to just walk into the crowed and soak it in for a while:) Me & Nico went to the concert in Helsinki in August, so for me it was the second time to be at a pace where the concert is held. The concert was sold out, over 70 000 people! Once U2 started playing the streets outside where almost empty again, I went outside the hotel to listen for a while, as one could hear the songs so clearly, and kept my window open in my room:) And this morning there was no sign of a concert , all the streets where cleaned up and fences taken away. Many people said the feeling the night before reminded them of the soccer world cup, then also the streets had been full with people.
This morning we did a 3 hour walking citytour, and as the weather is close to +30, we had a nice, hot walk to the most important building in Cape Town, the castle of good hope, the parlament buildings, slave lodge, stopped for a coffe in company Gardens, a beautiful park in the middle of the city, and stopped at the green market square, and on our way back we drove trough Bo Kaap. If anyone is staying in Cape Town and want to see the city, to do a walking tour is recommended, you get to feel the atmosphere, take in the surroundings in a much different way than trough a bus window, and the main sites of interest is close to each other.
Tomorrow we are flying to Durban. at 6h10 in the morning...earlyyy, but then we have a full day on the otherside, by the Indian Ocean.
Have a great weekend!
Love,
Jannika
This morning we did a 3 hour walking citytour, and as the weather is close to +30, we had a nice, hot walk to the most important building in Cape Town, the castle of good hope, the parlament buildings, slave lodge, stopped for a coffe in company Gardens, a beautiful park in the middle of the city, and stopped at the green market square, and on our way back we drove trough Bo Kaap. If anyone is staying in Cape Town and want to see the city, to do a walking tour is recommended, you get to feel the atmosphere, take in the surroundings in a much different way than trough a bus window, and the main sites of interest is close to each other.
Tomorrow we are flying to Durban. at 6h10 in the morning...earlyyy, but then we have a full day on the otherside, by the Indian Ocean.
Have a great weekend!
Love,
Jannika
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Cape town
One day behind in Cape Town. It was not so easy to leave rest of the family behind yesterday morning, have to be away from them 12 days:(
The flight went smooth and the sun was shining in Cape Town, and just after noon I took a taxi to Home Affairs and did not know what to was ahead...I got the there, waited 10min and our passports where collected,I told I really need the stamps before friday, another 10 min and I was called up, and got the answer....still pending, which means no stamps in the passports, but the the nice man behind the desk took my application form and put a stamp there and wrote a few lines and said;´there you go, with this you can fly out of the country.´I looked a bit suspicous and asked if that was all I needed, if I dont need to come back again, and simple answer, no need! So, lets hope the stamp is as valuable as it seems to be:) First test will be at the Swaziland border next week!
I also went to gym yesterday, rest of the day I just relaxed and planned a few details for the tour.
This morning I met with Jesse, a finnish girl living in Cape Town, and she will do a few tours for me next season:) I will get a white christmas this year, it is a while since I spent a christmas in snow, and also being with family means a lot.
Tonight at 11pm Im picking up my group from the airport
Have a wonderful day all of you.
Sunny smiles,
Jannika
The flight went smooth and the sun was shining in Cape Town, and just after noon I took a taxi to Home Affairs and did not know what to was ahead...I got the there, waited 10min and our passports where collected,I told I really need the stamps before friday, another 10 min and I was called up, and got the answer....still pending, which means no stamps in the passports, but the the nice man behind the desk took my application form and put a stamp there and wrote a few lines and said;´there you go, with this you can fly out of the country.´I looked a bit suspicous and asked if that was all I needed, if I dont need to come back again, and simple answer, no need! So, lets hope the stamp is as valuable as it seems to be:) First test will be at the Swaziland border next week!
I also went to gym yesterday, rest of the day I just relaxed and planned a few details for the tour.
This morning I met with Jesse, a finnish girl living in Cape Town, and she will do a few tours for me next season:) I will get a white christmas this year, it is a while since I spent a christmas in snow, and also being with family means a lot.
Tonight at 11pm Im picking up my group from the airport
Have a wonderful day all of you.
Sunny smiles,
Jannika
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
2 more weeks
Happy Valentines day to all of you, just one day late:) I just did not get time to write yesterday!
I have been a bit lazy with writing lately, but it is mainly because not so much has happened. Last week we spent with Nicos brother& his family in Thabazimbi, and Elizma of course:). Liina& Viivi enjoyed playing with their cousins Selkirk ( 8 year) and Luan ( 6 year), jumping up and down the trampoline trough the day and catching spiders...Selkirks passion I think. We had a relaxed time, it was really nice spending time with them all, doing nothing, I bought two James Patterson books from the bookstore and polished the books in 2 days, a real book worm these days, the week before I read 2 books also, one book written by James Patterson together with swedish writer Lisa Marklund, a very good book, it was partly placed in sweden,and then a book from a norwegian writer...sorry, cant remember the name, but a good book too:)
Yesterday we went to the gym in the morning, shopping and then suddenly it was already 5pm, and time to go meet my wonderful friend Annie, I havent seen her for a year and we had so much to catch up on :) I lived with her& her husband for quite some time before I met Nico, so we got very close.
Today I have been finalizing the last bits and pieces for my upcoming tour starting on thursday evening. Before the tour starts I have to sort out our visa extensions at Home affairs in Cape Town, Nico tried to call them yesterday to ask if the extensions have arrived, simple quetsion... but do you think he got an answer...no, he was put on hold and then nobody picked up, he called again and a third, fourth time and getting more and more furious, but always they put him on hold and then it just cut off, this just shows how a simple thing like checking facts from the computer can become very complicated, when people are not trained to do what they do! So the first thing tomorrow when I land in Cape Town is to get some answers from Home Affars, wish me good luck!
This will be my last tour of the season, and next season we wont be travelling here for 5 months, I will only come and do a few tours,and if Im lucky I find a finnish speaking person to do my christmas and new year tours and a few other tours , so I can have a white christmas in Finland:) I have one already in mind and it seems like it will work, will meet her on thursday. But I wont leave the guiding completely, I need to come a touch base every now and then, but also, it will be nice to have a chance to travel to other parts of the world too, New York, take the girls to Disney World, explore Europe...som much to see in a travellers world:)
In two weeks it is time for us to fly home again, home sweet home!
Have a great eveng everyone and take care.
Hugs,
Jannika
I have been a bit lazy with writing lately, but it is mainly because not so much has happened. Last week we spent with Nicos brother& his family in Thabazimbi, and Elizma of course:). Liina& Viivi enjoyed playing with their cousins Selkirk ( 8 year) and Luan ( 6 year), jumping up and down the trampoline trough the day and catching spiders...Selkirks passion I think. We had a relaxed time, it was really nice spending time with them all, doing nothing, I bought two James Patterson books from the bookstore and polished the books in 2 days, a real book worm these days, the week before I read 2 books also, one book written by James Patterson together with swedish writer Lisa Marklund, a very good book, it was partly placed in sweden,and then a book from a norwegian writer...sorry, cant remember the name, but a good book too:)
Yesterday we went to the gym in the morning, shopping and then suddenly it was already 5pm, and time to go meet my wonderful friend Annie, I havent seen her for a year and we had so much to catch up on :) I lived with her& her husband for quite some time before I met Nico, so we got very close.
Today I have been finalizing the last bits and pieces for my upcoming tour starting on thursday evening. Before the tour starts I have to sort out our visa extensions at Home affairs in Cape Town, Nico tried to call them yesterday to ask if the extensions have arrived, simple quetsion... but do you think he got an answer...no, he was put on hold and then nobody picked up, he called again and a third, fourth time and getting more and more furious, but always they put him on hold and then it just cut off, this just shows how a simple thing like checking facts from the computer can become very complicated, when people are not trained to do what they do! So the first thing tomorrow when I land in Cape Town is to get some answers from Home Affars, wish me good luck!
This will be my last tour of the season, and next season we wont be travelling here for 5 months, I will only come and do a few tours,and if Im lucky I find a finnish speaking person to do my christmas and new year tours and a few other tours , so I can have a white christmas in Finland:) I have one already in mind and it seems like it will work, will meet her on thursday. But I wont leave the guiding completely, I need to come a touch base every now and then, but also, it will be nice to have a chance to travel to other parts of the world too, New York, take the girls to Disney World, explore Europe...som much to see in a travellers world:)
In two weeks it is time for us to fly home again, home sweet home!
Have a great eveng everyone and take care.
Hugs,
Jannika
Friday, February 4, 2011
We are in Potch
Our journey went well, a long drive though....1500km,over 18 hours on the road, on 2days, we only left Cape Town after noon...and plannned to drive as far as we felt, but after 6 hours it was time to stop and we stayed over at Beaufort West, the guest house was a nice suprise! As we got closer to Beaufort, I started looking for accommodation on internet, everytime I got a signal that will say....and I found a place for R500 for all of us, it sounded ok, so I took it, a bit exciting always to find out what one has booked:) So after 19h00 in the evening we arrived at Nagenoeg Guest House, and it was really nice, big apartment,and situated outside the town, very quite, and the man in the house very talkative, seemed very happy to have us there:)
And after a goodnight sleep, we carried on the long journey, driving by Kimberley, a road I havent driven before, little traffic but good roads, very hot, and no proper towns along the road where to by lunch, we stopped and thought about having lunch at a place called Hope Town, but I think the Hope was lost long time ago in this town, Nico walked into one restaurant to have a look, but walked quickly out again, just to prevent stomach pain we lived on chips, cookies and chocolate and some fruit that day and had a huge dinner when we arrive at Nicos mom&dad after 20h00, hungry,nice and tired. I dont think Im going to do this drive again, at least not if there is other options, but with our packing/luggage we had no other choice.
We have been thinking for ways/options how to do this staying in SA 4-5months a year, and we have realized it doesnt work so well, It is a big decision we have made, but from the year to come, I will travel up and down with tours from Finland, and Nico, Liina& Viivi stays in Finland , and will come here just for holiday a few weeks every now and then, this way our lives in Finland continues and the tours can continue, and we can be based in one place. It will work much better this way.
Have a great day all of you!
Jannika
And after a goodnight sleep, we carried on the long journey, driving by Kimberley, a road I havent driven before, little traffic but good roads, very hot, and no proper towns along the road where to by lunch, we stopped and thought about having lunch at a place called Hope Town, but I think the Hope was lost long time ago in this town, Nico walked into one restaurant to have a look, but walked quickly out again, just to prevent stomach pain we lived on chips, cookies and chocolate and some fruit that day and had a huge dinner when we arrive at Nicos mom&dad after 20h00, hungry,nice and tired. I dont think Im going to do this drive again, at least not if there is other options, but with our packing/luggage we had no other choice.
We have been thinking for ways/options how to do this staying in SA 4-5months a year, and we have realized it doesnt work so well, It is a big decision we have made, but from the year to come, I will travel up and down with tours from Finland, and Nico, Liina& Viivi stays in Finland , and will come here just for holiday a few weeks every now and then, this way our lives in Finland continues and the tours can continue, and we can be based in one place. It will work much better this way.
Have a great day all of you!
Jannika
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
..towards Johannesburg
It is time for us to start our journey up north to Johannesburg,Potch,Thabazimbi, only 1600km:) I think we will sleep 1 night somewhere, we will see how Nico the driver feels:) We have been cleaning and packing the whole morning and it is almost a never ending story.....where is all these things coming from?! Our car is so full that we hardly have space left for us...we do have to sort out a lot before we fly back to Finland,otherwise they wont let us on.
My mom & Markku left last night so they are by now over half way to Finland.
I will write more once we are unpacking again:)
Take care,
Jannika
My mom & Markku left last night so they are by now over half way to Finland.
I will write more once we are unpacking again:)
Take care,
Jannika
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