Tag: south-africa-national-parks-board

South Africa Safari -2025 Day 3 & 4

Published on by 2jsworldofadventure1 Comment

Tuesday 16th September we got up and breakfasted fairly early with Gill and off we went to get a SA SIM card for our roamer ….we went to Wendywood shopping Centre and called at Vodacom. We’ve used them a lot of times before…but the very unhelpful lady said no we couldn’t buy data sim from her it would have to go in my phone…more fool her…she missed out on a good sale…We walked out and across the walkway to MTN wow what a difference. They couldn’t be more helpfull…we bought 600 gb for just over £60 she set it all up for me assured me it would work all over Kruger and gained much praise and thanks from us…

We then progressed to “pick and pay” for essentials.. 2x braii briquettes, 2 x fire lighters, matches, water, Diet Coke, loo rolls ( I never like the ones provided🤣) kitchen roll, cheese crackers, marmite, eat some more biscuits, crisps, tinned veg, smash, rice and noodles…. That was it, all the nonperishable consumables we needed for 3 weeks in the bush. We are going to pick up the perishables meat, cheese, butter, fresh veg and fruit, yogurts, bread at Malalane on day 5.

The rest of the day we spent back at our friends, playing with the grandchildren.

For supper we went out to Ocean Basket and had the Mega platter between us…it had 3 peices of line fish, calamari rings and tentacles, mussels and 30 Prince Prawns…we had it all grilled. Gill had lashings of chilli on hers and I was very anti-social and smothered mine in garlic…John had his straight..all for the cost of £ 30 with our drinks it was just under £40. I forgot to get a picture until we had nearly finished it 🤣

Wednesday morning we were up bright and early and the car was packed by 8,30. We left Jo’burg at 8.50. Just 30 minutes after leaving the city, we were out in open countryside with significantly less traffic. Our route took us along the N12 which seamlessly becomes the N4 all the way through to Malalane. We travelled past EMalahleni previously called Witbank (10.15 am 145km). Shortly afterwards we paid in cash the toll of R81 at Middelburg Plaza. The next landmark reached is Millys at 11.15- 254 km from Jo’burg- a good place for petrol, toilets or just a leg stretch…they sell super freshly made trout pate. The next toll is a little further on from Millys and cost R122. At this point the N4 splits and you can go either the left or right route they both rejoin some 80 kilometres later…we usually take the lower, right route. This takes you through Water Boven and past the paper mill at Ngodwana ( 11.50am, 314 kms from our start). Nelspruit, now known as Mbombela is the next main town after the N4 becomes one again. We arrived there at 12.25, -355km into our journey….so far so good…it was a great quick trip with a much improved N4. However they haven’t finished the improvements yet and the following 48 km to the next toll at Nkomazi Plaza took us nearly an hour and a half due to road works and the rock blasting required for widening this section of the N4 (R 92 – 13.59) From here to Kruger gate is just over 20 Km….we arrived at 14.05. We quickly purchased our Wild Card and found out we could get on the sunset drive from the gate. We booked into Pestana Lodge, which is about 200 m from the gate. Just had time for a quick wash and brush up before returning to the gate for the National Parks Sunset Drive.

Patrick our ranger, driver and guide picked us up with 7 others. Off we went….wow what a drive….we couldn’t believe on our first drive we saw….wild dog

Quickly followed by a big male leopard who had just finished his impala supper.

As if that wasn’t enough excitement we came across two male lions at the edge of the road, settling down for the night.

We had to laugh when the wild dogs ran along the tarmac, the leader didn’t see the lion until it stood up and the Wild dogs beat a hasty retreat…it was the second sighting we had of them in the one evening

We had several other sightings including a genet and a spitting cobra

What a superb start to our Safari…we returned to our hotel ecstatic, which was just as well because our supper was only mediocre…but we didn’t care….we retired to bed happy and tired….more tomorrow please.

Travels in 2025 are just commencing

Published on by 2jsworldofadventure2 Comments

We have had a shaky start to the year with many trips being postponed, cancelled or just not booked….Why?? John has had to have 2 eye operations which had to be spaced a month apart and then another month awaiting his all clear and new glasses…… But Thank goodness we are about to hit the road again.

So whats booked ???…….

PORTUGAL – We are off to Portugal and Spain in May. We have only booked a skeleton trip, because we want the versatility and flexibility to do what we want when we want…. SO… we have booked flights with EasyJet from Luton to Faro – £398.22 for us both with hold luggage and seats. In Faro we pick up a Ford Kuga from Avis booked through Holiday Autos for 18 days £680.47 including Premium Cover. We drive to Baia Da Luz Resort where we have rented a one bedroom apartment for a week for £642…… after that who knows?…… We may extend for a week or we may go straight along to Donana National Park in Spain…this park is home to the Iberian Linx. We are, however, not delusional, as we are aware that a sighting of this critically endangered species is about as rare as seeing a tiger in India or a Pangolin in Africa….. But we can live in hope and the park is also well known for its storks and flamingo.. Near the park is a quirky town which looks like something out of the wild west…but more about this if and when we get there. Moving on from here we could spend a few days exploring Seville and Cordoba…..but we will see… if you’re interested follow our blog starting mid May.

SOUTH AFRICA – We are off to South Africa mid September for a month. As usual I have started this planning by booking our time in Kruger National Park. I book directly with the Park at http://www.sanparks.org … its very easy to navigate and you can put the accommodation in your basket and work your days around what is available. There is no point booking your flights first, because if you can’t get the accommodation there’s very little alternative. I’ve booked ensuite Chalets/rondavels for 21 nights at a cost of £1649.08. We are, as usual, starting at Malalane Gate in Berg-en-Dal rest camp, then Lower Sabie, Satara, Letaba, Shingwedzi, Olifants, Satara, Pretoriuskop and finally Berg-en-Dal. I have not paid the conservation Fees because if you’re in the Park longer that 10 days its much cheaper to buy a Wild Card, which gives you a years free access to all National Parks in SA. Having secured our accommodation I then booked the flights. As usual I got quotes from 4 different companies….. and again as usual DialAFlight gave me by far the best deal…. a big shout out to Rosie Price and her team (tel. no. +44 1618418179), in particular to Maisie Morton…what a girl…gave me the sort of price which keeps me going back…lots of our family and friends as well as our Blog followers have booked with them and everyone has been given an excellent price. We have booked direct flights from London Heathrow to Johannesburg for a total of £1375 that’s £685 per person including hold baggage……wow… The trick to getting deals like this with Rosie’s team is to give them some flexibility with flight dates so they can select the cheapest days for you to fly…..We are once again truly grateful for the service they give us. I also know that the dozens of our readers who did a Sri Lankan trip similar to ours with them were all delighted. Well!! that’s as far as I’ve got with the booking. I haven’t booked a car in RSA yet because I want to see how Holiday Autos works out for us in Portugal, they are offering a great deal in RSA…

I will post both these two trips individually as blogs and with planning sheets when I have done a bit more planing… For now its cheerio and thanks for continuing to follow us. Your support is very appreciated.