HAPPY NEW YEAR, 2011

MY FIRST VISIT TO MY BLOG THIS YEAR! SO, HAVE A VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS 2011!
My new year I spend in the beautiful town of Knysna on the Garden Route, Western Cape. A sundown cruise on the Knysna Lagoon on the last day of 2010, was a good way to say good buy to 2010. What did you do???
Business for this year is slowly picking up, but could be better. Our next summer in South Africa will be good,since I now already are booking visitors for Oct.Nov. 2011.
I intend doing a tour of my own to Europe, UK and Alaska in August.Sept. See you there if you are on any of these routes!
When I talk next to you it will be about my next Garden Route tour that might come up.

LESOTHO TOUR 4th to 10th September 2010 --- A country of which most South Africans know very little about!

With two 4x4's and four people, Annegret and Carl List and Hasso Meyer and me.

Day 1: 3rd Sept.: Himeville, Albizia House, http://www.africaalbizia.co.za/bnb
At about 17h00 Carl, Annegret and Hasso arrived in Himeville. They had a good drive through the Transkei, but had a long hold-up on a Friday afternoon in Umtata. They must have missed the by-pass?!
I was already in Himeville since the day before. From here started our tour together.
We had supper at the Himeville Arms Hotel this evening.

Day 2: 4th Sept.: Senqu Hotel, Mokhotlong
The next morning the real tour started with Sani Pass, conquering this pass and the border. After that we could relax at the Highest Pub in Africa, being at 2,873m.
After lunch we drove passed some high peaks to the right of us of which one must have been the highest peak of Southern Africa, Thabana Ntenyana at 3,482m.
We came to Makhotlong when it was almost dark on a road full of potholes. At Makhotlong we battled to find the Senqu Hotel, but found it eventually. They tried their best to provide us with a good supper, us being their only guests for supper.

Day 3: 5th Sept.: New Oxbow Lodge.
A fantastic sunrise greeted us this morning. We left early and had breakfast along the route. Tables and chairs were put out and it was more of a brunch. Two little boys came to talk to us in a good English. They wanted money, but only got sweets from us. Now we were on the A1 on a tarred road, so easy to travel. We drove again over passes and then the Tlaeeng Pass at 3,255m, the highest pass in Southern Africa.We made a photo stop at the top. Soon after this came a huge sign of AfriSki, Ski + Mountain Resort. Crazy—A white patch of snow on that dry and brown mountain. Snow machines from Europe were standing there and the chalets looked like in the Alps with names of Chamonix, Davos, etc. As we came nearer, yes, there were really people enjoying their skiing in Africa. This evening we stayed in the nearby AfriSki New Oxbow Lodge.

Day 4: 6th Sept.: Maliba Lodge, http://www.maliba-lodge.com/ --in the Ts’ehlanyane National Park .
After breakfast we are heading for more passes up and down. The Mountains in the distance are very hazy dew to fires in various areas, some big ones in the Eastern Freestate. We have to stop for more photos, especially the fantastic, pink peach blossoms everywhere. This looks particularly beautiful together with the grass roof rondavels. We make a stop at the San (bushman) rock paintings in a large overhang, with interesting rock paintings.
At about 15h00 we arrived at the lovely Maliba Lodge---a 5-star lodge with a fantastic lounge, bar, veranda and Restaurant. We, however, stay in their 3-star self-catering house, but like the best 4-star accommodation. A pleasant surprise! After unpacking, we go for a little walk in the park and then off to the nice bar at the Lodge. This evening we had a lovely braai with meat that we bought still at Underberg on the 4th Sept.

Day 5: 7th Sept.: Katze Orion Hotel, near the Katse Dam wall.
Today after about two hours drive, we came to the Dinosaur Footprints. Amazingly interesting since there were three different footprints to see from three different Dinosaurs species, being about 120mil. Years old. After these footprints we drove on up one of the most spectacular mountain passes with signs of “drive slow in snow and ice!” At the top was a wall build out like a dam wall, for the needle curve the road made. An amazing engineering work.

Then came the first sight of the water of the Katze dam and with that the Bokong Nature Reserve. There are now only small animals left like the caracals, ice rats (looks like some smaller cane rats), mongoose and the biggest is perhaps the grey rhebuck. No more leopards in these mountains.
We arrived at about 15h30 at the Katse village and our hotel, the Katse Orion Hotel. Here we went to have a look at the interesting plants in the Alpine Botanical Garden, where there were many of these strange aloes, the emblem flower of Lesotho.
This evening we stayed in the Katse Orion Hotel, with no lights (a power outage at this huge energy project?!). Supper was by candle light and fortunately they did have gas cookers. The rooms had large flat screen TV’s, but the electricity only came back at 10h30 that evening.

Day 6: 8th Sept.: Semonkong Lodge. http://www.placeofsmoke.co.ls/

Today we had to leave early. A long trip of about 250km was ahead. First it was a tar road, but soon came gravel to Thaba-Tseka. Suddenly there was a cloud of dust, coming towards us. I thought it might be a whirl wind, BUT no they were blasting the road and our cars were only about 200m away from this blast. So we were just lucky that no rock splitters hit our cars. The construction people then had to clear the road of the rubble to let us through.
Then came more passes, police stop, asking for drivers licences, and a petrol stop at Roma. In Roma is The University of Lesotho and also some old missionary schools and churches.
Soon came the worst 65km of the whole day. Gravel with stones and large potholes and three patches that were tarred, maybe 10 years ago and left as is! Very deep potholes and peaces of left-over tar in between, one could hardly call this a road.!! Getting to Semonkong and then to the Semonkong Lodge, was well worth it. Not as luxury as Maliba, but a very good place to stay, friendly people and good food.

Day 7: 9th Sept.: Semonkong Lodge.
With two nights in Semonkong we could have a late breakfast. At about 11h00 we drove to Southern Africa’s Highest Waterfall, Maletsunyane falls, being 192m high. This also being known as “Place of Smoke” (Unfortunately now there was not enough water coming down to make “smoke”. Very dry everywhere.) After many photos we drove back on a dirt road with many cows and sheep on and next to the road also a donkey, at first it looked like an Ostrich. He had a huge pack of wood on his back and an old lady was looking after him.
Back in the Semonkong village we came across a lady, who was walking to the Semonkong lodge. She was all the way from Hongkong and came now with the bus from Maseru to Semonkong. She had lunch with us, so we heard some more about her world travels. She was staying at the Backpackers at the Semonkong Lodge. In the afternoon late she and I went for a walk up the mountain behind us for an interesting sunset view. We also saw three ground hornbills, very unusual birds to see.
This was our last evening together on this Lesotho tour. It was far too short, we all thought. After a drink at the bar, we met some Germans, had Carl’s birthday, two days earlier, and that was our last day celebrations.

Day 8: 10th Sept.: Ash River Lodge.
After breakfast leaving Semonkong on the long bad dirt road (65km) back again. As the owner of Semonkong Lodge said it was better going back, than coming, since one knew what to expect. At about 11h30 we reached close to Maseru (the capital of Lesotho) where the roads split and here we said good bye to Annegret and Carl who were now travelling south. We took the by-pass of Maseru to Bate-Bridge, the border to South Africa. We had to wait more than an hour to get through the border. After this the road on the R26 to Clarens was very good.

Our Lesotho tour was very interesting and enjoyable, but we would have needed two more days for all that and more to see. I could easily go back with more time and to learn a bid more about these, usually very friendly people. We did learn a few words of Sotho, namely Dumela = Good Day and Kaliboa = Thankyou. So let me know if you want to take a trip up to the Roof of Africa, as it is also known. Write to gudrunholidays@gmail.com or phone Gudrun on +27218511475 or Cell: +27837542493.

2010 --- Very busy until Easter!

No time to write up on my tours. Had to plan many tours for people doing
their own driving, but had always very nice guests who were very happy with
all the Lodges, Guest Houses or B&B's I had booked for them. I also always
give them some infos of what they can do and see along their journey.

Will soon publish more on some of the tours and the great soccer games we have had, all in South Africa,the lovely, beautiful and exciting country at the tip of Africa. You must come and see it yourself. Send an email to Gudrun on:
gudrunholidays@gmail.com and I can tell you more about where to
travel and what places to see in our fantastic country.

2010 ---

Garden Route, Botlierskop and Klein Karoo – Helga Ferg and Gisela Siebert -- 16th - 22nd Nov. 2009

This Tour was very similar than the Tour with Ute and Dirk Haspel.
The main difference was it had to be shorter, so we stayed for one
night at the Private Game Lodge, Botlierskop,
near Mosselbaai and came
back via Agulhus, the most southern Tip of Africa! At Botlierskop we
stayed in some lovely luxury tents and could hear the night sounds of
animals, very exciting. We saw only two elephants, three Rhino, many
Giraffe, Zebra and some of our many antelope species, eg. Eland,
Waterbuck, Impala, Springbuck.
So, if you do not need to see the BIG FIVE and need to make a shorter
trip, then I can take you on a similar trip over 5 days.

ROVOS RAIL --- AUGUST 2009

Rovos Rail through SOUTH AFRICA --- What a Fantastic Trip!

ROVOS RAIL --- It is known as
"THE MOST LUXURIOUS TRAIN IN THE WORLD"!

For seven weeks I travelled through South Africa visiting family and friends and then the cherry on top was the Rovos Rail train trip back to Cape Town. If you ever have the money, book it through me it is worth all of it and I can give you some deduction on the price.
We left Pretoria with a steam engine in the afternoon on Friday and traveled very slowly through the cities of Pretoria, Germiston, Johannesburg and Krugersdorp. The steam engine was changed to electricity somewhere on route, but it still was traveling slowly
through our lovely country. The city houses seem not to end too quickly, but if you find nice people on the train and start drinking and chatting to them, time flies. Before dark we got into the lovely Savanna fields (grass and thorntrees) of the Old Transvaal! Until dark we were all sitting in the lounge, wagon at the end of the train with tea, coffee and cakes or later anything from the bar.

Then we had to go and dress up smartly for the evening supper. The dining room was really special with all the lovely woodwork of the days gone by, the old colonial times.
We met new people and the food was absolutely exquisite. In French style and a four course meal was something special. At night one could sleep well with the rocking of the train through the country-side. If you do not sleep well like that the train also stands still for 4 to 5 hours (I could not sleep again once it was standing). The rocking train puts one to sleep, I found.

The next morning, (Saturday) after a too large breakfast, we stopped in Kimberley and spend about three hours with a good guide at The Big Hole of the Kimberley diamond mines. Very interesting Video of 20 minutes showed us also more of times gone by a long time ago. Back on the train we could sit down for a lovely lunch and perhaps a little sleep afterwards in our cabins or rather suites. Each suite has a specific name. We were in the Umkomaas suite, just next to Tutu. Some others had animal names like Kudu, Impala and Springbok. Now we were traveling through the Groot Karoo. A lovely way to see the Karoo. Right at the back of the train was an open area to sit and take photos. The Karoo had so much rain that it is very green at the moment. At sunset there were thunder clouds coming up and some heavy rain came down for a while and we had to go back inside to rather have a drink and a chat at the bar.

For supper it was dressing up again. I do not know if it was for woman's day or always done, but when we arrived in the dining room, a red rose for the men and a pink rose for the ladies where put onto our dress to beautify the occasion of the last night on the train. There were people from the UK, US, Singapore, New Zealand, Ireland and of course many from South Africa (mainly Jo'burg, one lady from Rustenburg) on this train.

The Sunday morning the train stopped at 8h00 at about 5km before Matjiesfontein. It was fantastic sunshine weather after the rain in the previous night. Those that wanted to walk could take a walk of 5km into Matjiesfontein, while'st the train carried on. We were about 20, (half of the tourists) getting out to do that walk. After all that eating for two days it was really good to do such a walk. I really enjoyed that. We took about one hour to do this walk.
In Mastjiesfontein there is the Museum at the station and also a car and train museum to look at and the whole village is really a museum of bygone colonial times. The train started moving again towards Cape Town at 11h00.

Now we started entering one of the most beautiful areas of the Cape. The high mountains started to appear in the distance. The Hexriver Mountains, then the highest peak of the Boland, Matroosberg, full of snow, the Drakenstein Mountains and then the Bainskloof Mountains as we were traveling passed Worcester, Ceres, Thulbach and Wellington. As it was getting dark we also came passed Paarl with the Paarlberg and soon after this the icon of Cape Town, Table Mountain, became visible. We arrived on the Sunday at 18h00 at the Cape Town Station and were kind of sad that this lovely train trip came to and end.

-----ooo000ooo-----

Garden Route, Addo and Klein Karoo Tour with Köditz from 23rd February to 2nd March 2009

A very pleasant couple from Germany, Mr and Mrs Köditz, came with me on this tour. The first two nights we stayed at the Gästehaus Pinkepank in Plettenberg Bay. http://www.gaestehaus-pinkepank.de
When we left Somerset West driving over the Sir Louriespass there were terrific strong winds and a terrible fire on the Hottentot Holland Mountains. We were glad to leave these terrible fires in February at the Cape behind us and leave for the healthier air on the Garden Route.
My guests enjoyed very much the boat trip to the Knysna Heads, the Elephant Park, where one can FEED,FEEL and HUG an Elephant and we all really had fun with the Elephant orphan babies. We also enjoyed a beachwalk at Plettenberg Bay.
The next day we went to learn more about the different monkeys at the Monkey Sanctuary and Stormsriver Mouth with its scenic walk to the hanging bridge over the river. We had fabulous weather to enjoy this scenic area of our coast.
We then spend a full day and night at Leeuwenbosch Private Game Lodge for Game viewing in a malaria free area. The Game drive on this private Game Park is always very special, since we see most of the well-known african animals, eg. Giraffe, Rhino, Elephant, Buffalo and many antilope species.
We then stayed one night in the fabulous,five-star, Woodall Lodge in the Addo village. There is always some special food in their restaurant. From here we spend the next day in the Addo National Park for more lovely Game-viewing.
From Addo our tour goes into the Klein Karoo and we stayed at the lovely Groenfontein Retreat at the foot of the Swartbergpass which is situated in a very rural farming district between Oudtshoorn and Kalitzdorp.
The next day we went up the most famous Swartbergpass, now rated as the second most scenic pass in the world. This tour over the pass is something one must not miss, if you spend some time in this area. My guests were also enspired about these scenic pictures as seen above.
We then still spend some time during the next two days in the Cango Caves and Ostrich farm and driving back to Cape Town through the lovely Klein Karoo, one night in Montagu and then wine tasting through Robertson. My guetst really enjoyed the whole trip as they told me and thanked me so much at the end of our tour.