Austria Trekking

During the rest of 2014 I was extremely busy, since I also spend two months myself in Europe, climbing the Alps in Austria and visiting Sweden. In Sweden we took a trip right up to the North of Sweden on the boarder of Norway in the Albisko National Park. We experienced here the amazing Northern Lights. It is something one has to experience yourself to really appreciate this fantastic phenomenon of Nature.

Northern Lights at Abisko in Sweden.

Maria Sobotka on a Garden Route Tour with GRF-Tours, Jan.2014!

Es hatte sehr viel Regen gegeben unterwegs. Dies ist im Trudouw Pass in der Naehe von Swellendam.

Maria auf der Bank am Meer bei Keurboomstrand

Buffel auf der Schotia Safari.

Ein Loewe aber leider immer nur von hinten.

Abends dann ein Glass Wein am Lagerfeuer mit allen auf der Safari, ganz toll!

Now already halfway through 2014! Was extremely busy in 2013, so many tourist!

This year 2014 started with Mandela celebrations as he passed away in December 2013. Thinking of this great world hero, I visited together with a Swedish tourist this new statue that was just erected at our Union buildings, where the government is sitting for half the year. For the other half they are sitting in the Parlement in Cape Town as we have one capital, Pretoria, but two cities for the government to have their sittings.

We then also visited the Cradle of Human Kind near Krugersdorp, north of Pretoria. You can listen here to why the poor Dodo, Quagga, Mountain Zebra and many more animals had to die and are now Gone For Ever, becoming Extinct, all since humans started inhabiting this world.

To end off this visit we attended a lovely South African wedding in a beautiful setting with lovely music in the gardens of a guest farm near Krugersdorp. This beautiful bride is one of my many nieces.

We flew back to the Fairest Cape with our well known, inland flight company, Mango!

It is the year 2013, my lucky number!

This year started with a bang. Lots of work in the Tourism business. My first guests Anne and Doro from Germany arrived on the 12th Jan. 2013. After 4 days of Day Tours in and around Cape Town, we took off on a lovely Garden Route Tour over 9 days, with Safaris in private game parks and also a visit to the Addo National Park.

The Year 2012!

Had a wonderful year of many tourists taking them around Cape Town and the Fairest Cape, Flower Tours and Garden Route Tours. Wishing you all a peaceful and happy Christmas and a prosperous and healthy new year 2013. Look at my very special package, a wonderful experience in Africa on web: www.travelhealthier.com/id24.html

My trip to Alaska, August 2011

It was one of those world travel experiences that one has to go to. I found this a fascinating country. Almost 600,000miles2, more than half of it is mountains, the Alaska Range and the population in only 650,000 inhabitants. 250,000 of those live in Anchorage. Juno,the capital of Alaska one can only get to it via boat or air. No road to it. The many glaciers is absolutely a fantastic experience if you never have seen a still clean, turcoise colour, glacier. And in the cute little town of Hope, I could even do some Gold sifting with a Gold-digger character!!!:):):)

Garden Route Tour with Andrea, Moira and Aaron, 7th to 11th Feb.2011.

After travelling from Cape Town towards the Garden Route, our first stop was in Riviersonderend. Travelling further was extremely slow, since we had to wait at some 6 road works and sometimes up to 30minutes. When are we finishing all these road works?
But then arriving late afternoon at Botlierskop Private Game Reserve was rewarding, since her ones cases and goods were taken to the luxury tents, whilst we could have a rest with a drink in the lovely entrance room with verandah and view over the Reserve.
We could then relax in the lovely luxury tents and the buffet supper was also excellent. The next morning at 6h00 we all went for the three hour game drive, where we could see Rhino, Elephant, Giraffe, Buffalo, Lions, Eland, Zebra and many other buck.
After a fantastic brunch our journey went further along the Garden Route to Knysna. The Knysna Hollow and Fisch Eagle Lodge was our stay for the night here at the Knysna Lagoon.
The next morning after breakfast we visited the Timber Village, a walk in the Garden of Eden Forest and then an exciting time spend at the Knysna Elephant Park, where we all could experience the FEEL, FEED and HUG an Elephant. All my guests, if young or old always enjoy this.
At lunchtime, we checked into our guest house, The Swallow Nest, and soon after this I dropped my guests off at the lovely beach at Plettenberg Bay. When I later came to join them, they were all so happy, since it was just a perfect afternoon, with no wind. Specially Aaron (5 years) enjoyed this the most after spending much time sitting in his little chair in the car. I did a swim with the dolphins, group of about 8, that came passed very close to the beach. A fantastic experience.
On day four we left after a good breakfast, for Monkeyland, just 15km outside Plett. This was another experience they all enjoyed, walking around in a forest with many different monkeys from all over the world.
Now we had to start our long trip back towards Cape Town. We had a stop at The Heads in Knysna to enjoy a last lovely view over this very large Lagoon.
From Knysna the drive went passed Wilderness, George, Albertina, Riversdale, Heidelberg in Africa and our nights stay was then at the Cypress Cottages in Swellendam. This evening only Andrea and I went for a glass of wine and some salads in town, whilest Moira and Aaron warmed up some food in the kitchen of the Guest house.
On our last morning Andrea and I went for a two hour walk in the well-known Maloth Nature Reserve at the foot of the Langeberge. We climbed up a waterfall, but there was not too much water coming down, since it was still very dry in this area.
After 11h00 we continued our last drive to Cape Town which we reached just after 14h00.

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.

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.

-----oooOooo-----

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