I look back and cant understand a whole year has gone since I started my travel company in Finland, Africa Experts. Somehow the year felt so short but at the same time the year has been filled with so many new experiences, I cant understand it has all happened in a year!
If I look back Im very happy I took the step to dedicate all my working time to my company, I would not have had time for any other work actually. It is a good balance now. I have more free time when it is summer in Finland, to spend time with the girls and family, as not many finnish people travel very far during summer time. My most busy time is from october- march, when Im really working hard planning tours and being out guiding tours to South Africa, Botswana, Namibia. During this period there is weeks when Im away from home, so in that way it is important I have time in summer to spend time with the girls and relax and charge my batteries for the upcoming season. So in that sense Im happy that the busy travelling period is seasonal, even if I do all preplanning in spring and summer for grouptours.
Last December I spent most of my time in South Africa touring, therefore we had a bit of a different christmas celebration in our home. Santa Claus visited us already on 21.12 and the girls made sure I `called ´ Santa Claus ahead of time to remind him we are celebrating christmas before everyone else, just so he would not forget to come with all gifts:)
On actual christmas Eve I celebrated with my finnish group in Cape town at Gold restaurant, as we arrived that morning in Cape Town, to the sunshine, away from the miserable grey weather in Finland. Also New year I spent in South Africa, on safari at Honeyguide and not one single person in the group of 27 people made it to midnight.... we had to get up following morning at 05.00 to go on safari.
After coming home I was busy planning tours and preparing for the travel convention that was held in Helsinki 17-19.01.2014. It was a few busy days, we are so happy over the huge interest for tours to southern africa. I was quite tired after the 4 days and had talked so much that I almost lost my voice:)
After that I had a few weeks at home before the next tour, and beginning of February it was time to fly over to south africa again with a small group. We had a wonderful 10 days in SA, the weather was perfect wherever we went, we missed the huge rainstorm sin Jburg. We visited all the main spots in Cape town and what made a huge impact on this group was myguide Laura and her work for the children in the township Gugulethu. Laura has started on her own a school for the poor families in her area and today she has 250 children in the school, parents pay R2 for every day and with this fee the child gets 3meals a day and also a chance to learn and socialise with kids in same age, in a safe environment,here a link to Lauras homepage
We also visited Soweto and Nelson Mandelas house on our last day on our way Johannesburg airport.
South Africa is an interesting country to visit and for me to experience it over and over again trough the eyes of my guest, makes me also see new things everytime I travel. It is a country so beatiful and so full of contrast, both good and bad, it makes you appreciate life if you can take in what you see and experience in a thoughtful way.So, yesterday I arrived home and tomorrow Im off again with another group , so you can all see it is becoming very popular to travel to South Africa:) And after this tour I have one more tour in beginning of March, then Nico and the girls are joining me and we will have some family time and do a roadtrip, encluding highlights like Rovos Rail and safari lodges along the way in Botswana and Namibia, and of course quality time with friends and family:)
That means the winter is almost over for me this season, we only come back to Finland in the middle of April when we ( hopefully) have nice and sunny springweather in Finland.
This is now a short update of what I have been busy with the last few months.
Please have a look what groustours I have planned for Lomalinja for next season: www.lomalinja.com
Also,if you have suggestion of a groutour that you really woudl like to go on, let me know as I can then use the ideas when planning upcoming grouptours.
I wish you all an enjoyable February month!
Love Jannika
