The time had come for us to explore an amazing but intimidating destination we had seen through documentaries over the years... Africa!
What better way to travel there for the first time than with 2 other experienced couples who had been before, so we consciously took a passive role in the planning for this trip, comfortably relying on their experience to recommend an itinerary.
First thing you learn very quickly is how big Africa actually is when just contemplating visiting even just the southern countries.
Part of the goal was to experience as much as possible whilst limiting time spent in airports waiting for flights.
It was decided 4 of us would fly into Johannesburg in South Africa, join Mike, our guide/driver and commence our trip there, including driving down the coast as shown below before flying from Durban to Port Elizabeth where the other couple would join us for the rest of the journey, also shown below.
 |
| Road Travel ______ Flights ______ |
During this trip we covered almost 9,000 kms by road, much of it on very dusty ones, the fine dust joining us at times inside our trusty 'troopy', also used in some locations to do our own wildlife safaris.
 |
| Our trusty but at times dusty 'steed' for 9,000kms |
South Africa
After an overnight recovery from the flight, we were straight into wildlife spotting, leaving Johannesburg for a 420km drive to a private game reserve called Makalali and what a stunning place to kick off in.
The four of us, driver and guide were soon out on one of what would be multiple game drives in open vehicles like the one below, searching for the 'big five' of African wildlife - lion, leopard, cape buffalo, elephant & rhino.
 |
| Game drive vehicles in Makalali |
Within a few hours on the first day of our game drives in southern Africa we had seen 4 of the big 5, most of them within 10m of our vehicle, a very strange experience the first time it happens whilst you sit there with nothing to protect you apart from the experience of your guide.
 |
| Alert leopard 2m from our front bumper |
 |
| White rhino making its presence felt |
 |
| Bull elephant in musk heading our way |
 |
| Lion keeping a close eye on us |
 |
| We also found and followed a cheetah the following day |
Makalali's accomodation was beautiful as was the open air shower after long hot and dusty days, our southern cross keeping watch over us. We certainly were off to a fabulous start.
Next destination was the famous and huge Kruger National Park with bitumen roads going all over the place that you must stay on. Using our own vehicle with the side windows dropped down, it was quite easy to spot wildlife by keeping an eye open for lots of cars stopped together.
Just after entering the park, we saw the first of what would be very numerous species of antelopes...
 |
| Large male Kudu at sunrise |
...and simply huge varieties and numbers of birds, something we didn't expect and a first time for us to try photographing them.
 |
| Barbet |
A large congregation of vehicles caught our attention and Mike stealthily crept forward, other drivers excitedly pointing off to the side. It took us awhile to spot a proud looking leopard basking in the rising sun scanning for breakfast.
 |
| Leopards really are magnificent |
After many hours spotting much wildlife we departed Kruger to start our drive down the coast, and at the first bridge over a river more cars were stopped. Below... two hippos were fighting, causing all the interest.
 |
| The are grumpy and very aggressive hippos |
Driving south along the coastline is not all about wildlife as we soon began to discover, because South Africa is also blessed with some amazing scenery like...
 |
| Beautiful scenery not far from the coast |
 |
| along with a spectacular coastline |
The four of us had heard of the famous Zulu nation which took on the British in Africa, so we enjoyed a brief detour to visit 'Shakaland' where the film Zulu was made and tourists can learn more about their culture.
How their villages are designed and the dancing demonstration were quite a sight.
 |
| Strong necks |
Swaziland
Located within South Africa is the very small landlocked country of Swaziland known for not only its Swazi culture but also its wilderness reserves.
We overnighted in some traditional domed huts with tiny doors to enter through... yep it was down on our knees to get in. The doors are small to help reduce large predators entering the huts.
 |
| The domes huts in Swaziland |
Early next morning, we went for a game drive in Ubizane Reserve where we were in awe when a large 40-50 herd of elephants came charging through the trees and scrub, deciding to cross the road around us, some of them not liking our presence.
 |
| Younger elephant paying us some attention as they cross the road |
 |
| Vultures watching the action
|
Before taking our brief flight from Durban to Port Elizabeth where we would meet the other couple, we overnighted in St Lucia and visited the iSimangaliso Wetland Park for a boat ride and close up views of many very dangerous and grumpy hippos.
To cap off our visit in St Lucia, that night we did something quite bizarre... we went spotlighting for hippos roaming the residential housing streets of the town! The hippos come into town each night looking for swimming pools to drink from and we heard about one resident who had both legs bitten off by a hippo visiting his backyard.
In the beautiful city of Port Elizabeth, we were joined by our other friends and continued our journey south down the coastline bound for Cape Town but not before a few detours resulting in another odd experience... ostrich riding.
 |
Rob actually took a ride on a running ostrich whilst
being chased by 2 support staff - the video is much better |
Cape Town is a stunningly beautiful city famous for Table Mountain as its backdrop and also infamous because it was here, Nelson Mandela was imprisoned on Robben Island off the coast from the city for all those years.
 |
| Views of and from Table Mountain, Cape Town |
 |
| Nelson Mandela's cell for 27 years |
Our day trip in 'troopy' around the coastline allowed to see not just the beautiful scenery of the coast, but we also visited The Cape of Good Hope and went to see penguins.
 |
| Scenery heading south from Cape Town |
 |
| The Cape of Good Hope |
 |
| African penguins of Cape Town |
After a wonderful time spent in South Africa it was now time to swing west and head towards one of the driest countries in the world... Namibia.
Go well!
