2jsworldofadventure

New Forest – UK – 2025 – Day 2

Published on November 19, 2025November 22, 2025 by 2jsworldofadventureLeave a comment

On our way to breakfast we stopped at reception and I spoke to the receptionist to ask if Dads bed could be made up with sheets and blanket because he hates sleeping under a duvet…..we’d brought a sheet with us because usually there’s a blanket in the wardrobe but evidently not in these parts….and I also requested that our TV had a reboot as we could only get BBC 1&2…. We were greeted by a wonderfully cheerful receptionist, who said she’d sort it out. The 2 receptionists we’ve met at this hotel are definitely “The Face” of The Beaulieu Hotel. Their greetings are so welcoming and friendly they are such an asset to the establishment and they set the scene for a high class stay….”thank you lovely ladies”.

We went across to The Drift for a continental breakfast. It was beautifully laid out with a nice range including yogurt, fruits, cereals, pastries, ham and cheese, toast and preserves…..all anyone could possibly want. We were asked if we wanted to upgrade to a full-English but we were perfectly happy with the continental. Our only problem was the coffee….we had to laugh because above Johns head was a sign saying “ All you need is Love and a good cup of coffee” …ummm. Well we all had the former but none of us got the later… We did our usual coffee scoring…John and Dad gave the coffee 4/10 which I thought was overly generous scoring it 2/10 – 1 for being wet and the other for being warm!!! An extra two spoons of coffee in each cafetière would have allowed it to taste like coffee instead of dirty dish water ……

After breakfast our lovely reception ladies told us they had achieved both of our requests and sure enough they had. We headed out on the moors. We had a lovely drive and saw a few ponies. We love the signs slowing cars down…

The rain stopped and the sun came out just as we arrived at Mums carpark-

“Horseshoe Bottom”- as if by magic there were loads of ponies we counted 26…a hive of activity….it always is, they love my mum and she loved them….even though that “Grey Stallion” had obviously been around 🤣🤣

I got out to make the coffee only to discover we hadn’t refreshed the flask and had no hot water…what a trio of nutters we are….never mind we still sat and enjoyed the view for a while.

I asked John to navigate us down the “ Ornamental Drive” . This takes you through the most magnificent arboretum and at this time of year the trees and undergrowth are nothing short of magnificent in colour.

The route takes you past Rhinefield House, a top class hotel which is a member of the “hand picked” collection.

We turned in to their drive, we usually drive up to the house and out again because you can often see deer on their drive. As soon as we turned in I suggested we stopped and had a coffee – “my plan B”!!…

It was agreed…we parked up and walked through the trees to the lovely house.

Down some stairs to the lounge…this overlooked some ornamental gardens, ponds and fountains.

And guess what?? We had a magnificent cup of coffee…

We walked back to the car and found a tree for me to hang out on ! …John said I was “ the branch manager” …. ( Johns background is in Banking) 🤣🤣

Feeling refreshed from a great coffee and a loo break we drove on through the forest, stopping at a carpark for our picnic lunch…we had bought sandwiches in Sway…

We slowly wound our way back to the hotel for an afternoon rest prior to going out for supper. We passed plenty more ponies.

Our friendly receptionists greeted us on our return, showing genuine interest in what we’d been doing and where we’d been…we thanked them profusely for their warmth. When we got back to our room Dads key card wouldn’t work, but the friendly cleaner let him in and took the key card to reception for us then returned and checked it worked…what a lovely lady…all the staff in the hotel really are genuinely kind and helpful, a rarity in hotels these days..they couldn’t do more for you and nothing is too much trouble…..it makes it all the more sad that their restaurant lets them down….tonight I’ve booked a table at The Royal Oak the other side of Beaulieu. …….i’ll let you know how we find it in tomorrows blog…for now I need a cat-nap or 40 winks….

New Forest – UK…2025…A few days in one of our favourite places in the UK

Published on November 18, 2025November 22, 2025 by 2jsworldofadventureLeave a comment

Every year we come to the New Forest, Hampshire, UK ….my mum loved it here and we enjoy sitting in her favourite carpark on the forest moorland. New Forest ponies ( never call them horses) are naturally bay in colour…but over the years they have become chestnut, black and grey….mum used to laugh and say “That Grey Stallion has been on the rampage again”…

So! We set off from home and picked Dad up before heading through Bicester down to Eastleigh, just outside Southampton. We stopped for a sandwich, while John watched a variety of trains.

We progressed on to Chandlers Ford for coffee with my mums second cousins Simon and Sheila. It was good to catch up.

Finally we arrived at The Beaulieu Hotel, next to Beaulieu Road Station, in the New Forest. We had a lovely welcome from the receptionist. We had booked deluxe rooms. The Ambassador lift took us up to our rooms. They were spacious, uncluttered and extremely pleasant. Just inside the door was something I’d only ever seen on over night trains….a pull down set of bunk beds….what a clever idea for families……

The reception areas had big “flop down” sofas, chairs and a roaring log fire…the whole ambience was most congenial, relaxing and very nice…The wifi seems good !!!!

We had booked our evening meal for 6.30pm. We were told it was in “The Drift”- a pub and restaurant in a different building on the same site, we presume it’s part of the hotel…However!!!! It was very different…although not unpleasant it certainly didn’t have the same welcoming ambience that the hotel had. We waited too long to be seated and even then I eventually went to the bar and asked if we just sat anywhere – even though a sign said “please wait to be seated”. The lady behind the bar asked if the chap was there “No” !!! That’s why we were stood there like lost souls….I am never very good with people who don’t use what I call “ with-itness” or more commonly called common sense…..from the bar it was a clear view to where we were stood…ummmm any way she did seat us…The menu was very limited…John had gammon and chips, Dad and I had Chicken and Ham pie and chunky chips…..Dad compared the pie to a “Pukka pie”… just full of stodge, not a piece of chicken to be found… and everything swimming in a thick gravy resulting in soggy pastry and chips…..oh dear….. the plate says it all…..

The service didn’t really improve…and the dessert menu was all a sugar loaded over kill….the saving grace was that Dad enjoyed his wine and I had a nice glass of cider. The drinks and meal came to £71. I think we’ll eat somewhere else tomorrow.

2026 Wildlife Photo Calendar

Published on October 26, 2025November 22, 2025 by 2jsworldofadventure2 Comments

Hi, everyone…we have put in an order for our 2026 Wildlife Calendar. Many of you know we do one every year. They are a Classic Double A4 with middle binding. The price of these will be £14.95 + £1.95 postage and packing a total of £16.90…UK postage only

There is plenty of room on the lower colander half to write in your busy schedules and those of your family………electronic diaries are all very well when there are only 1 or 2 of you trying to coordinate your diary but after that it gets complicated and sometimes the old fashioned way is far more affective, especially if it adds a lovely picture to brighten your month….

The pictures are those which you, the readers and followers, have selected…we tallied your votes up…a couple of pictures we replaced with a better version of the ones we originally posted….we are still going through the thousands of pictures we took!!!

The pictures on the calendar are….

We really liked your selection. If you’d like to reserve a calendar, please email me at

2jsworldofadventure@gmail.com

no later than Monday 3rd November 2025, so that we can give you the payment details.

These calendars make ideal stocking fillers and gifts for friends and loved ones.

After our South Africa Safari 2025 – Our recommendations of places to stay on the way to, in and around Kruger.

Published on October 24, 2025November 22, 2025 by 2jsworldofadventureLeave a comment

Masodini Private Game Lodge – (now called Zazu)

Several years ago we came across this absolute gem of a Game Lodge…….it was Johns first time on Safari and I really wanted him to fall in love with the bush. I couldn’t have chosen better….

Masodini Private Game Lodge is ideally located in the 40 000-hectare Balule Nature Reserve. It is situated in the Greater Kruger National Park, and offers visitors a true feeling of Africa. It is in a Big 5 Conservation area. It is a bush lover’s paradise and the lodge is surrounded by fever trees and evergreen African date palms which create a perfect oasis. Guests of the lodge can immerse themselves in the untamed beauty of the African landscape while enjoying superb amenities and fantastic service.

The camp overlooks the waterhole it is safe and fenced-in, providing protection against unwanted animal intruders. This was the view from our chalet veranda.

We could have opted for game walks but we preferred to enjoy game drives with an experienced ranger…..there were wonderful birding opportunities as well as getting up close and personal to a range of wildlife…..

Our evenings were spent enjoying the company of the other guests, eating superb food and watching the semi tame, shy bush babies come and go…all of which took place in the boma.

We had dinner bed and breakfast, now their package is Full board + 2 game drives a day….during the day we sat on the viewing platform watching wildlife come and go at the water hole or we went out and visited a local attraction.

There are so many places to visit using Masodini/ Zazu as your base, such as the Kruger National Park, Khamai Reptile Park, Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre, the Cheetah Project, the Panorama Route and local villages to name a few. We visited the Cheetah Project and on another day we went to the Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre….and we still managed to fit in the morning and sunset drives at Masodini.

All accommodation is in private, secluded and elegantly furnished chalets. Since our visit all the chalets/suites and communal areas have been upgraded and the Safari vehicle has also been replaced, its name has changed to Zazu. However …when we stayed it was all very nice indeed…we can only imagine that the upgrades will have made it even more magical… Masodini is both private and intimate, the staff provide guests with a very warm welcome all guests can use the camp facilities. They only have a maximum of 14 guests at a time, which makes it feel very exclusive.The accommodation was really nice with a traditional African theme ….

Our visit was perfect….the price per night for full board including two game drives a day is:

RACK RATES

FEB ’25 TO JAN ‘26

Adult Rate PPS R5 900.00

13 years and under R3 540.00

3 years and under R1 770.00

Single Adult Rate R8 850.00

FEB ’26 TO JAN ‘27

Adult Rate PPS R6 400.00

13 years and under R3 840.00

3 years and under R1 920.00

Single Adult Rate R9 600.00

Prices can of course occasionally fluctuate when circumstances beyond the lodges control occur…..but this is a guideline to help with holiday budgeting.

……for something so private and so personal with a maximum capacity of 14 guests, this is a superb price ….we loved it and sometime in the near future we will be returning ….

What Zazu Private Bush Lodge has to offer…

Chalet-Style Accommodations and Privacy

• Zazu Private Bush Lodge offers 5 Individual Chalets, of which, 2 are Family Chalets (accommodating four guests), and 3 are Double Chalets (ideal for two guests). Each chalet ensures privacy, surrounded by the natural beauty of the African bush.

Family-Friendly Experiences

• At Zazu Private Bush Lodge, they pride themselves on creating a family-friendly environment. They welcome children and offer safaris where children can join Big 5 game drives when accompanied by a parent.

Included Experiences

• Enjoy 2 game drives per day and the freedom to explore the bush in a Big Five reserve, all while guided by expert rangers.

• Venture outside of the fence line on a guided daytime bush walk to track wildlife and discover the hidden wonders of the bush.

• Full-Board Dining: Indulge in an English breakfast, lunch, and a three-course dinner prepared by Chef Bianca, served around the campfire or on our scenic viewing terrace.

• Zazu offers excursions and outings into the surrounding areas allowing guests to experience all that Limpopo has to offer, including the famous Kruger National Park.

Additional Details

• Conservation Fee: A once-off fee of R115 per vehicle and R285 per person applies at the gate. (subject to changes by the reserve)

• Check-In: 2:00 PM | Check-Out: 10:00 AM (flexible by arrangement).

For more information, please contact the bookings team:

Email: bookings@Zazubushlodge.co.za Call or WhatsApp: +27 73 187 0882

This definitely is “A piece of paradise”….a little bit of heaven which has fallen to earth….if this falls within your budget we totally and thoroughly recommend staying here…be spoilt, be pampered and enjoy a real safari experience…thank you Masodini….you hooked my husband on the African bush.

Pestana Lodge Hotel, Malalani Gate KrugerNational Park.- The price of Bed and Breakfast in a deluxe room is about £120.00 for 2. This is far more a hotel than our other two recommendations. It is superbly situated within a 2 minute drive of Krugers Malalane gate. The deluxe rooms all over look the river, bridge and the far banks of the river are in Kruger …

The restaurant is mediocre…in that the buffets are like most places luke warm and unappetising. However the A La carte menu was very reasonably priced and the food was pleasant enough…it’s the deluxe room view and the convenience to Kruger which makes this a good place to stay….we will use it again…just remember not to go for the £30 a night cheaper option of £90 because your room could end up overlooking a construction site…

Another benefit of Pestana Lodge is that you can book a Kruger Parks Sunset drive and it will pick you up and return you to the hotel.

Kruger Park Camp Accommodation- the accommodation throughout Kruger is very basic…not for the faint hearted or even those who have to have 4 star plus facilities …ummmm may be 3 star plus….Kruger camp accommodation is not this sort of standard…having said this some camps are better than others….always go for the huts with a kitchen, utensils, bathroom…for 2 people go for a 3 bedded accommodation then you’ll have somewhere other than the floor to put your bags. Berg-en-dal has good, well maintained chalets. As is Lower Sabi ….. at lower Sabi our chalet had a Kitchenette…..it was a separate room to the bedroom..a kitchen and dinning room with a third bed…great for the cases, it opened out on to the veranda…very comfortable. Shingwedzi Camp has newish chalets which we were told were lovely…our old one was nice enough everything worked and it was well maintained. The accommodation in Kruger is about £80 per night depending on the style you book…get the more expensive ones as they are in better condition.

Well that’s our only recommendations……we’re happy recommending the ones we have…secure in the knowledge that if you pick the one which suits your budget you won’t be disappointed.

Have your say on which photos we use for next years calendar….

Published on October 23, 2025November 22, 2025 by 2jsworldofadventureLeave a comment

Every year John and I produce a calendar for ourselves🤣, family and friends. This year we’d like your help in selecting your favourite photos….hopefully we will also have some for sale. Please send us an email to 2jsworldofadventure@gmail.com with your selection

Or send your selection to us in comments, or on messenger……

I’ve numbered them….we would like you to select your favourite 13 photos. Just tell us the number of the ones you like the most.

Thank you for helping us with our selection…we need just 13 pictures…..please make your choice as soon as possible because we need to get it sent off to the printers.

We are at present compiling our actual itinerary and what it cost us. We are also putting together an accommodation recommendation for the full range of budgets …5 star to budget…..we’ve done them all and our experiences can help you decide on what’s right for you and your bank balance 🤣 so keep an eye on our blog.