Garden Route, Addo, Schotia und Klein Karoo – 1.bis 7. Januar 2009 mit Ute, Dirk und Inge.

Gleich am 1.Januar 2009 fing diese Tour an. Es ging diesmal am ersten Tag bis nach Knysna. Hier eine Bootfahrt, die Elephanten Kinder und der Holzschnitzer wurde besucht. Ute hat vorallem das schöne Holz gefallen und hat sie sich vom wilden Oliven Holz 6 Stück mitgenommen, wovon sie dann ein tolles Kunststück zum aufhängen daraus machte. Am dritten Tag machten wir eine schöne Tour bei Monkeyland mit und besuchten dann die herrliche Bucht, Nature’s Valley und danach den tollen Pass über den Grootrivier wieder zurück zur N2.
Am 4. Tag besuchten wir den wunderschönen Stormsriver und Tsitsikamma Park, wo man die tollen Wellen die sich auf der felsigen Küste zerschlagen lange beobachten konnte. Hier machten wir auch wieder den Spaziergang am Fluss entlang zu der Hängebrücke über den stürmischen Fluss. Wunderschöne Landschaft. Danach ging es dann weiter nach Addo in der Nähe vom bekannten Addo National Park. Diesen besuchten wir dann am 5. Tag unserer Reise. Hier gab es wieder viele Elephanten, Kudus, Zebras, Gnus usw. zu sehen. Am nächsten Tag machten wir die “Tooth and Claw Safari” bei Schotia mit, die auch immer ganz toll ist und man ganz bestimmt hier Löwen sieht. Am Abend gibt es dann ein ganz feines Essen um ein grosses Lagerfeuer.
Die letzten zwei Tage waren wir in der Klein Karoo mit Vogelstrauss Farm, Cango Grotten und eine schöne zurückfahrt durch die Klein Karoo was zwischen zwei schönen Bergketten liegt.

Garden Route, Dolphin Trail, Game Lodge and Klein Karoo - 30th August to 9th Sept.2008

Eva, Christa and Ramona Tour – Garden Route, Dolphin Trail, Game Lodge and Klein Karoo – 30. August until 10. September 2008

Day 1. First stop the whales at Hermanus. Very windy, but we saw quite a few whales. Next stop Agulhas with almighty storm, almost blowing us over. Evening we spend at Cypresscottage Guest House, Swellendam, http://www.cypresscottage.info/ where it was storming all night and the rain was pouring down in buckets.

Day 2. As we drove off from Swellendam the skies opened up and we could see most beautiful views of the Langeberg Mountains halfway down covered with snow. As we reached Knysna and drove along the lagoon, we could see that the storms and high sees were not over, since the water was up to the road driving next to the lagoon.
At Plettenberg Bay were my guests stayed for two nights in a small Guest House we arrived just before dark. As we drove down from Plettenberg Bay to look at the large lagoon there, the police has just closed off two roads, as the water was so high and had taken away one Restaurant near the edge of the lagoon.

Day 3. This day we spend visiting the Elephant Park near Knysna, http://www.knysnaelephantpark.co.za/ , to feed, feel and hug an elephant. All my guests love this close encounter of elephants. We went for a walk amongst some of the old yellowwoods in the forest and in the afternoon on a lovely boat trip on the lagoon.

Day 4. This was the 2nd of September. Two days ago our coast was hammered by most severe storms with a swell of the sea 9 metres high and being new moon, caused a special high and low tied.
The morning we spend at Monkey land and then we were monkeys ourselves in the Treetops Canopy Adventure Tour, http://www.treetoptour.com/ Well, I had to do it again, after doing it last year, but if they take the Guide for free, why not. It is a very exciting experience.
We then were told that our Dolphin Trail that had to start at the Storms river Mouth was not possible the normal way, since the huts we were meant to stay in for the night, down at the sea, were washed away two days ago. What a start of the spring and our tour. We were taken down to the storms river mouth to look at the devastation caused by the massive swell of the sea two days ago. Two of the huts were totally broken and 6 others also damaged.

Day 5. The first day of the Dolphin Trail, we mainly walked in the Tsitsikamma forest. Our guide, Marius, very educationally did this.
At the bridge of the old Storms river road we had our lunch with sandwiches. They took us then onto a path were we ended on top of the mountain, overlooking the storms river mouth. Magnificent views over the sea, with whales playing in the far distance.
Late afternoon we arrived at the luxury accommodation, The Mountain View Lodge. We were greeted very friendly by our hosts and shown to our lovely wooden chalets. We met again with our hosts for some drinks at their bar and then we had a fantastic three-course meal.

Day 6. Today we were able to walk on the real Dolphin Trail. It was along the coastline, through lovely forests and with fantastic views over the blue ocean, with splashing water over the rocks below, but no dolphins in sight. At one place the wooden stairs where we were meant to climb over rocks, were also washed away. At this point we were suddenly splashed wet by a big wave and then had to climb up a steel ladder, that was brought in for us and hold up by some 4 men. I must say I was glad when my guests and I were all safely up the ladder and on steadier ground again.
Walking into the forest near lunchtime, we suddenly were surprised by a lovely table with lots of special food for lunch. Not something one expects on a Trail, but then this is a luxury Trail. Well worth doing http://www.dolphintrail.co.za/ We enjoyed it thoroughly, specially ending up at some real luxury the second day, the Fenery Lodge, with beautiful wooden chalets for us and a special meal in their 5-star Lodge. Being able to use a Jacuzzi after an all day walk was also a luxury.

Day 7 to 11.
For the rest of this trip we did the usual things, like half day in Addo National Park, afternoon and evening a Safari at Schotia. We saw a lot of animals, also some lions feeding on a warthog. After a long day drive to Oudtshoorn, we could do the Ostrich Safari Farm, where you can learn everything about the Ostrich. The next day the Cango Caves and up the Swartberg Pass and our last night we spend at the lovely Groenfontein Retreat “A Farm in Africa”, http://www.groenfontein.com/ with a fantastic african farm meal in the evening. On our tour back to Somerset West we could still enjoy some winetasting near Robertson.

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NAMAQUALAND FLOWER TOUR --- 17th to 21st August 2008

This Namaqualand Tour, with two ladies from the UK, was very enjoyable and we saw some fantastic

flower fields. We spend the first day in the West Coast Nature Reserve and Postberg. The flower fields just started there. Lovely Helliophilias as seen on this photo.

We travelled from Clan William to the Namaquland National Park with its millions of Namaqualand daisies, but also with very scenic mountains around.

From Springbok we travelled to Nieuwoudtville, the bulb capital of the westcoast. Here were also stunning fields of flowers. So much beauty and variety in flowers, more than anywhere in the world.

We then spend one day at the Bushmans Kloof Nature Reserve. The animals and flowers were breath taking. Such a big variety of different species of flowers is amazing. Also the rockpaintings we could gaze at, made this a very special trip.

Daytours around Cape Town!

26th - 30th April 2008:
One couple from Germany came on my daytours. One around Peninsula, one up Table Mountain and City Tour,
and one along our lovely coastline of False Bay, Betties Bay and Kleinmond to Hermanus.
Mr and Mrs Kaitna wrote afterwards to me:
"Wir wollen uns nochmals bei dir für die schönen und interessanten Stunden bedanken, in denen Du uns das schöne Südafrika gezeigt hast. Mit lieben Grüßen aus Purbach, am Neusiedlersee, Renate und Klaus."

SKIING IN AUSTRIA, FRANCE AND SWITZERLAND February/March 2008

It was my biggest wish to go ones more on a real skiing trip to Europe. The last time I skied was about 7 years ago. With a “free” voyager flight (not so free, since the airport taxes accumulated to R2,000) I could fly from Jo’burg to Munich and onto Vienna. Three days in Vienna and then my skiing started with my very good Austrian friends. I had the fortunate experience to be able to ski for three weeks in three different countries, Austria, France and Switzerland.

I spend 6 weeks in Europe, which improved again my german language and the economic and political knowledge of Europe. This can help when one is touring around South Africa with tourists from Europe.

The above photo shows me with Mont Blanc on right.

First week of skiing:
The first day of arrival in our accommodation, the Pension (GH) Reiterbauer, near the Reiteralm, (also see http://www.ski-reiteralm.at/ ) we checked in just after lunch and then straight away off to get skies and boots for skiing at the Reiteralm.
I spend two hours skiing with a ski teacher. This was very good, since she showed me all the special ways to hold my body and ski sticks to have the right balance and get around the turns down hill, without falling. With this lesson I quickly had my confidence back. If not quite as fast, I could follow my friends down the hills.
At the Reiterbauer we had a three-course evening meal, which was very good every evening. .

If you are looking for a more luxury accommodation you could go and stay in the Pehab Hotel and Wellness-Oase, look at http://www.pehab.at/ It is in Ramsau in a very beautiful setting.
With this absolutely super weather on Thrsday, we went up the Dachstein, at 3,000M. Fantastic views over the Alps and just the right level of skiing for me up there. 3,000M Freiheit --- look at http://www.planai.at/ . Interesting was also the Ice-Palace, which is inside the glacier. Yes, despite the global warming, there are still a few glaciers around.

Our extra day this year, 366 days, we skied only until lunch. Then the bad weather started, but I also had to leave and be taken to Salzburg to catch the train to Munich. Next morning I went by train to visit family in Dresden, Magdeburg and Leipzig. It was lovely to spend some time in my city of birth, Dresden, and to visit the barock Church, Frauenkirche, that was now rebuilt into a magnificent Honour to God. The last night my relatives, Cordula and Gerhard, took me to the Restaurant at the Dom in Meissen, the well-known town with the beautiful hand-made crockery. For more on this lovely crockery look at http://www.meissen.com/

Second week of skiing:
On 7th March my cousins and I left Leipzig on our long journey to a skiing area in France, near Mont Blanc. We stayed over in Freiburg and arrived then in Les Arces 1800 on the Saturday, 8th March at 19h00, after having been stuck for hours in big traffic jams, all wanting to reach their skiing accommodation before dark.

Our first day of skiing in Les Arces, really only half a day, after getting up late and then spending quite some time to fit the right shoes and skis again for the week at the sports shop, look at http://www.sport2000lesarces.com/ . The biggest challenge of the day was always getting those horrible ski boots on and off again, but they do protect ones enkels.
On 10th March we went for a whole days skiing, since the weather was good, almost too warm and very wet snow at the bottom of the mountains. The next two days it was snowing most of the day. We played cards and the youngsters, cousins son and Spanish girlfriend, had fun in the snow.

13th March My lucky day! The sun was shining again. So beautiful to be able to ski on new snow and in sunshine, but the wind was rather cold.
14th March, our last day skiing in France and an even better day, since the weather was super, blue skies and no wind. We skied all day and also went right up to the top of Les Arces to look over all the Alps and specially enjoying the view over Mont Blanc, the highest peak of the Alps.

Look at http://www.guidesdesarcs.com/ for summer walks up Mont Blanc.

Third week of skiing:
15th March Now my third and last week of skiing started in Switzerland. It was rather difficult to get on a Saturday down from Les Arces to Bourg St. Maurice and then onto Les Cretes, Switzerland. Look at http://www.lescretes.ch/
The weather was not great the next day and we just took one skiing up, but decided we cannot see, there is some ice-cold wind up there and we rather stay inside. The next day was not much better, so we went to look at a very lovely little Swiss town called, Aigle. Here we had a look at Chateau Aigle and stayed for lunch at this little castle. Look at http://www.chateauaigle.ch/

17th March a sunny day and we decided to drive to Verbier, which was only about one hours drive from our side of the mountain and up the other side. We had a morning of super weather, but afternoon the clouds came over again. Verbier is a beautiful little town with lots of Restaurants. Look at http://www.verbier.com/
20th March was another nice day, although still quite cold. This day we decided to spend at Leysin, also a quite well-known skiing area, but not so overcrowded like Verbier. There were places of ice on narrow slopes, not my favorite, but partly it was still good. At lunch I decided this is it and we decided to have lunch up at the top in the turning Restaurant, quite a lovely idea. Sitting there having lunch, one could see all the lovely mountains going passed. Always another interesting view. If you want to stay in Leysin there is a lovely little, affordable Hotel, called Au Bel Air, look at http://www.aubelair.ch/
Next day we were driving through snowstorms to Zürich where I was going to spend Easter with my very good Swiss friends, the Islers. More snow storms over Easter and also during my last few days in Munich with Prof Kraft and Family, but I still had a super time with all these old friends.

Not seeing snow often in Africa, I found even the snowstorms interesting and really had a most memorable

6 weeks in old Europe.

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January/February 2008-- Day Tours and Karoo Tours

Since October 2007, I had many day tours around Cape Town.
In February 2008, just before my overseas trip, I took three people to the Observatory at Sutherland, the coldest place in South Africa. This is also where you will find the Southern African Largest Telescope, SALT, with the biggest "EYE" into the clearest skies of Africa. If you want to find out more, go to www.saao.ac.za

Tours with Klaus und Erika - October 2007

1) KRUGER PARK and Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cradle of Humankind-Maropeng!

Not a tour I usually do, but friends of mine wanted me to take their friends on such a tour.

We flew up to Jo'burg and stayed two nights in the Guinea Lodge in Joies. The owner of Guinea Lodge took my guests on a Jo'burg Tour to the mines etc. I took them the next day to Pretoria, Voortrekker Monument and then out to Maropeng (Cradle of Humankind). Very interesting and my guests enjoyed also the Sterkfontein Caves, but a little too narrow at places.

The next day we took off to Mpumalanga and the Longtom Pass. There had been huge fires through the area, but fortunately it started to become green again, but the black, dead trees still looked sad.

The next day we drove from Sabie to Grasskop, to Pelgrim's Rest and then to the Macmac and Berlin Falls and from there to the spectacular Potholes and Blyderiver Canyon. We had a fantastic day in this beautiful area.
We had to take a long dirt road at the end of the day to Nsele Lodge. This road started getting narrower and narrower as it also got darker, BUT we made it after a long day to these very friendly people, Stephanie and Olaf, who run Nsele in this Game Reserve conservensy. Very interesting cottages are arranged around a small pool in a lovely garden setting. This conservancy is very close to the Orpan entrance into the Kruger Park.
Here we stayed for 4 days and saw from buffalo, beautiful giraffes to lions, large elephant families, lots of antelope, zebra and also one beautiful leopard. Much more than we saw during the one day in Kruger. It was a lovely time and we were really sad to leave this tranquil, remote area on the last day, having to fly back to Jo'burg and then on to Cape Town.

2) GARDEN ROUTE TOUR:
After the Kruger Park Tour I also did a short Garden Route tour with Klaus and Erika. This was very pleasant.
They enjoyed our beautiful Garden Route and we as usually came back via the interesting and scenic Klein Karoo, which is so different, but has its own beauty for most visitors. The friendly Guest Houses do surprice them mostly. Coming back through Ropertson with its lovely wine farms is greatly appreciated.