Wild South Africa: The Trip of a Lifetime

In 1997 I had the god fortune to win a prize in a Travel Industry Golf Tournament -- a trip for two to South Africa. I rounded up my older brother Brian to accompany me. 

In March of 1998, after flying non-stop to New York (Cathay Pacific), we boarded a luxurious South African Airways 747 to Johannesburg and connected to Capetown where we spent a few days exploring this beautiful city on foot and via rental car. We visited Table Top Mountain, the beach at Mossell Bay and went to Groot Constantia, a beautiful old vineyard and winery.

On day three we headed out to the wine region of Stellenbosch and Paarl, staying for two nights a L'Aviner Farm, a small guest house and working wine farm.

Then we took the "Garden Route", one of South Africa's most scenic routes, which winds eastward along the south coast. Brian was itching to see some wildlife and we hoped to see some baboons at Cape Point, where the Indian Ocean meets the Atlantic. We were in luck -- close to the Point we noticed a large ale baboon who was eyeing a picnic lunch that a women a had just spread on a blanket. I am sure who moved faster; the baboon, the park ranger, or my brother who leaped out of the care in pursuit of the hungry primate. Brian returned to the car with a smile and a small gash on his shin. South Africa had him hooked.

Later that day we reached Cape L'Agulhas, the most southerly point of the African continent, then headed up into the mountains to overnight at the Eight Bells Hotel, a lovely place with 400 acres of grounds. After a hearty breakfast we were off again, this time to Knysna, a quaint seaside resort town where we booked into another warm and friendly guest house. One day we travelled to Oosthorn where we visited the Cango Caves and ostrich farm. More wildlife for Brian!

From Knysna we continued our journey eastward to the Addo Elephant National Park. Around the first bend we spotted two warthogs and followed them around the second bend where, to our glee, we spotted a bull elephant scratching his shoulder on a tree. Brian brought the car to a stop and we gazed through the windshield at this magnificent creature. Initially the elephant didn't take much notice of us. After scratching he walked out onto the dirt road and promptly relieved himself causing us to close our windows. Then the elephant decided he didn't really like being watched and made a threatening lunge towards us. We backed up a bit and that seemed to placate the huge beast. Then he had a change of heart and started running towards us, his trunk waving  back and forth and his ears pushed forward. Back up, Back up!!! didn't really have to be said as Brian was already in reverse ad putting pedal to metal.

All I could think of was, "I hope this car is insured against being trashed by an angry elephant"! Realizing that he'd frightened us enough, the elephant backed off. With adrenaline pumping we headed back to the park centre and our accommodations. What an exciting day!

We spent a good part of the next day driving around the park viewing more elephants and other wildlife. 

Our next stop was Port Elizabeth which is situated on a beautiful stretch of golden sand beach. There we played a round of golf at the oldest golf course in South Africa an dropped off our rental car, then flew back to the Krueger Park area. There, Notten's Bush camp put the icing on the cake of our trip. A charming, rustic bush camp in the heart of the Sabi-Sand Game Reserve, only 10 guests can be accommodated at a time. There's no electricity; paraffin lamps are sued for lighting in the comfortable chalets.

At Notten's we were up before dawn to head out in Landrovers in search of the "big five"; lions, leopards, elephant, buffalo, and rhinoceros. We had been warned not to expect see all of them in the same day, yet we did! During our dinner we were entertained with stories of the veld by Mr. Bambi Notten, and later we headed out for nocturnal game viewing by spotlight.

A trip to South Africa is a trip of a lifetime. 

If you want to know more or if we can help you get there, contact your personal travel agent with Viision 2000 Travel Group Victoria