Back in Cape Town

Hello to everyone,
A 10 day trip behind with a very nice group, thank you to all my guest:)
We had very good weather all trough the trip starting in Cape Town. We saw the sunset from Table Mountain on the first evening, visited Cape Point and saw the penguines at Boulders Beach near Simostown on our second day, it was almsot a windless day, vary rare in Cape Town.
We also did a visit to the winelands, there is so many wine estates to choose from, over 300 estates. We started the morning with sparkling wine,then moved over to wine and ended the day with brandy/liquere& chocolate:) We also had time with a township tour, we visited Langa township,did a walk trough an area, children gathering around us, especially when someone had pens to hand out, we also visited a little flat where 12 families lived, very basic and hard to understand how so many people fit into such a small space , and there was only 5 rooms and maybe 3 beds in each room, 15 beds and over 40 people...
When it was time to leave Cape Town, we left eeeeeaaarly in the morning, flight at 6h45...and what happens...the flight was cancelled, but luckily I managed to arrange a flight soon after, so at 7h30 we took off, and was almost back on schedule:) One never knows what can happen on tour, so I have learnt to take one step at a time, that is all one can do:)
We started the second part of our tour up north, in Mpumalanga province, stayed first night at Hannah Lodge, very clean and pleasant place for a stop over, and during dinner that night we listended to christmas music. From there we moved on towards Kruger Park, but before that we visited Blyde River Canyon, said to be the worlds third largest canyon, and the only green one, beautiful. Unfortunatalt I have no good pictures from the tour as at 4h30 in the morning when we left Cape Town I forgot my camera battery:( I had the whole camerabag with me to carry around, and no use of it! At the canyon we visited the Three Rondavels and Bourke Lock Potholes, very impressive to see, and a nice hot day, at this stage about +35. We stopped at Graskop, had lunch at the well known Harries Pancake, and then carried on the Shangaan Village to meet the chief and see the village,sangoma and enjoy a dance performance..and the heat carries on building up. Our guide for Kruger Park ,Andy ,joined us,and we entered Kruger Park from Kruger Gate, drove to Skukuza, the first and biggest camp in Kruger Park. I think guest where a bit tired after the hot day and where more than ready to relax a bit, but as the schedule on the tour is quite hectic, there is not much time for that:) It was time for dinner just a few hours after that, and a very very early wake up the following morning, game drive starting at 4am when still dark! It was the first game drive and we did see many hyenas, and some antilopes, 2 rhinoes in the distance, and an elephant. After 3 hours driving around, it was breakfast, packing up and in the bus again and off to the next camp, and the temperature just raising, a record for this tour, +45! We saw a heard of elephants crossing the road on our way to Satara( our camp for the next night). Once we where in Satara and everyone was settled in there was a few hours time to relax before the evening game drive, again 3 hours driving around. We saw some elephants close by,impala, giraffe, zebra,and a leopard next to the road in the dark. We did see some buffalo somewhere also but I cant rememeber where anymore. After that we had dinner,and I can tell you that when the manager is gone the staff switch off and has all the time in the world!! The service between the two camps Skukuza and Satara was like night and day, when it comes to the restaurant staff, a bit more dedication at Satara thank you!
The the last part of the tour was starting,a visit to Moholoholo Animal Rehab center and 2 nights at Honeyguide Tented Camp. I think this was the highlight of the tour for all guest:) At Moholoholo we had the greatest guide, Ardes, he has such a wonderfula relationship to the animals you seldom see, and the way he explained made everyone understand. A big thank you to Ardes! We got a chance to meet and touch a cheetah,and see so many other animals and birds that are looked after at Moholoholo Rehab Center , I will defenitely recommend a visit to anyone travelling trough the area.
After a 2 hours tour it was time to go to Honeyguide and fulfill our safari experience..and I can tell you we saw a lot of animals, from lions, leopards to elephants, hippos,buffalo...Honeyguide is a great place for safari, and the staff makes sure everyone is looked after, you wakeup in the morning to drums, telling you coffe/tea is on its way and you have to get ready for you morning safari. During the days you can relax by the pool,or on the veranda of your tent reading a book listening to the sound of the nature/bush.
With the group we ate lunches and dinners together,even if we had 2 camps in our use, I think everyone enjoyed the christmas eve in the bush:) We had a lovely dinner, sparkling wine, wine...and the weather was lovely.
One incident on my last game drive, we where stopping for sundowners, our safari guide Faniel, walked a bit further to check, he came back and asked us to get into the vehicle, there was a leopard 50m away, we got in, drove to see the leopard and followed its move the next 20min, it almost went to eat our snacks on the table that was still standing out there.
Overall we had a very good animal experience, not often one sees so many animals in a few days.
The tour ended yesterday and I flew back to Cape Town to be with my family again, until my next tour starts in a few days.
Last night christmas father brought some presents under the tree, Liina missed him,she would have liked to give him a hug..:)and Viivi fell asleep in the car from the airport, so she could only open her presents today.
Take care and some pictures will follow soon.

Sunny Greetings,

Jannika