Departing from Christchurch on 24 Feb 2024, this is Jenny’s once in a lifetime experience update about her adventure.
Destination: Franschhoek
After 19 hours of flying from Christchurch New Zealand, we headed an hour from Cape Town to Franschhoek, a wine region that is very relaxed & scenic.
Our accommodation at Franschhoek Country House was a very welcome experience after such a long trip. The rooms are the size of a small house and the property is amazing and includes lovely breakfasts . The restaurant “Monneaux” has a great reputation in a region renowned for food as wellas wine, but sadly we didn’t have time to eat dinner here. Another time perhaps! The staff were great, and we received impeccable service. A high-end property, but the feeling is relaxed and comfortable. The Franschhoek village is just 1 km away and Franschhoek Country House offer a free shuttle. The town itself is filled with boutiques, galleries, wine cellars, markets and cafes. Lovely architecture, nice to stroll around and of course to eat & drink. We were lucky enough to be there on a weekend, so the market was on, with live music playing and lots of locals having jugs of Pims, or Mimosa breakfasts. It has a really cool atmosphere suited for all.
Destination: The Cape Winelands
A wine tour by tram is a must! This also includes buses that look like a trams where they don’t have the tram lines to connect. Wine tasting, winemaking tours, excellent cuisine and magnificent scenery collectively create an irresistible attraction for international and local travellers alike. South Africa's winelands stretch from the Cape Overberg in the south-western Cape, through the Little Karoo and the West Coast into the adjacent province of the Northern Cape. Most Cape wine estates are characterised by classic Cape Dutch-style buildings and massive vineyards with picturesque mountains as a backdrop. There is also a distinct European influence in number of regions, thanks to the arrival of French Huguenot, Dutch and German settlers during the 18th century. Our venture was on mini buses and we did a couple of wineries. The tastings are a normal-sized glass of wine, not a tasting like we do here in NZ. Tasting = drinking in South Africa, don’t self drive!
We visited Bochendal and Delaire Graf wine farms. These were filled with stunning scenery and some very fine tastings!
Destination: Cape Town waterfront area
We spent a day and night in cape town. Going up Table Mountain by gondola was an incredible experience, with lovely views on the way and at the summit and cute “dassies” (A dassie is the local name for a Rock Hyrax, a new animal for me!) . By taking a walking tour through the Green Market the city’s oldest market and Dutch East Indian Markets, Nelson Mandela etc. we learnt about the adversity individuals went through. The Slave Lodge, where the Dutch East India company kept their slaves who worked to grow food etc. They had to work about 35 years to earn their freedom. Hotels located near the waterfront are priced well in this area of Cape Town. We wouldn’t recommend walking around central cape town, but the waterfront area is very safe, with 24 hour security. Full of restaurants, shops, buskers, great seafood places.
Destination: Phinda. This is when things got really exciting!
As we flew into Phinda airstrip the pilots pointed out 3 lionesses not too far from the runway. After we disembarked the Phinda rangers said to quickly jump in the safari vehicles and we'll take a closer look at them. So we did that, and the male lion then strolled out of the bushes to check up on his girls! What a welcome! We arrived at the andBeyond Phinda Forest Lodge to a warm welcome and we were absolutely buzzing. After settling in to our beautiful accommodation, we headed out on a game drive about 5pm. We saw nyala, impala, a herd of buffalo, and then the incredible sighting of a mother cheetah with 3 cubs. In the distance a white rhino. A stork, an eagle and other birdlife as well. After stopping for our "sundowner" G & T's we drove back in the dark with a spotlight out. 5 hyena paid us a visit, they were amazingly graceful, more like cats than dogs. An owl and a chameleon were also spotted after dark. I was just in awe of everything, so excited and such a privileged to be there!
From andBeyond Phinda Forest Lodge it is a 2 hour drive to the beach, where you can see nesting sea turtles. The Lodge itself is amazing, non intrusive staff, full mini bar, full bottles of wine + spirits plus bento box of treats/food/snacks on offer in your room. The rooms are isolated so you feel like you are completely on your own, but they aren’t actually far apart. They have a family room also to suit different travellers and it is set out extremely well. There are 6 different lodges within in the Phinda reserve. Another is the Phinda Mountain Lodge to experience a different lodge and region of the reserve. Sadly we just stayed one night at Mountain Lodge, but what a setting, it's just insanely good! The location is very different to the Forest Lodge, the scenery is really different, With wraparound views of the spectacular Ubombo mountain range and the surrounding Zululand bush which shows how vast the reserve is . Both lodges are special in their own way.
A thing to note was that we only ever saw 2 trucks on our game drives, so you really feel the exclusivity and immersed in nature. There is also a tracker and a driver on each game drive. We were fortunate to view the Phinda Rock Lodge (think Fred Flintstone!) Phinda Homestead, for private small groups, Phinda Vlei Lodge and Phinda Zuka Lodge. . I can’t imagine any client being disappointed in any of the lodges.
Destination: Johannesburg
Johannesburg, or ‘Joburg’ as South Africans invariably refer to it, is the capital of South Africa’s smallest (and richest) province, called Gauteng, a Sesotho name meaning “Place of Gold”. The discovery of the world’s richest gold fields here in 1886 led to its foundation, and money – and action – is still what Johannesburg is about today. Gauteng makes up just over 1% of South Africa’s land area, but it is home to more than a fifth of the population and produces a third of the country’s wealth Although not traditionally known as a tourist destination in itself, Johannesburg hosts a significant number of travellers in transit to other African destinations, which has led to the development of more attractions for tourists. Recent additions have centred around history museums, such as the Apartheid Museum and the Hector Pieterson Museum. The city also has several art museums, such as the Johannesburg Art Gallery, which features South African and European landscape and figurative paintings. The Museum Africa covers the history of the city of Johannesburg, as well as housing a large collection of rock art. There is also a large industry around visiting former townships, such as Soweto and Alexandra. Most visitors to Soweto go to see the Mandela Museum, located in the former home of Nelson Mandela. Our group stayed at the Maslow Hotel, which was a very good standard. There was a free shuttle to the restaurants and bars if you want to head to Sandton City Mall or Gautrain Sandton Station. The hotel restaurant was very good and well priced. A nice swimming pool too. We felt very safe with the transfers, and used these to and from the shopping mall. Had a quick look at Nelson Mandela Square, a vibrant precinct with lots of eating and drinking places.
Destination: Pilanesberg National Park
Just three hours’ drive from Johannesburg, Pilanesberg National Park is possibly the most accessible National Park in South Africa. Situated in the ecologically rich transition zone between the dryness of the Kalahari and the wet Lowveld vegetation this vast area promises thrilling big game viewing in a malaria-free environment. Virtually all of the animal species native to southern Africa can be found here, including the Big 5 (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, rhinoceros), as well as Roan, Tsessebe, Sable antelope and more than 360 species of birds. The National park is open for anyone to drive around. But be aware there are heaps of the pot holes. Wild dogs are now gone due to lion numbers not being kept in check during Covid. With advice from staff at the park, I wouldn’t recommend taking a VW polo as an elephant keeps flipping them, we aren’t sure why the elephant has issues with VW, but it does! The good part about the park is it is pretty accessible for people to get to.
Destination: Sun City – Pilanesberg National Park Continued
Stretching along the border of Pilanesberg National Park, in the North West Province, Sun City is internationally renowned as South Africa's premier holiday resort and offers a multitude of attractions and activities. With its combination of golfing, gaming and gambling, as well as world-class hotels, this destination is often referred to as a 'mini Las Vegas in the African bush'. Families can enjoy the impressive waterpark and maze, while nature lovers can explore the incredible Pilanesberg National Park, where they can see all of the Big Five. We stayed at The Palace of the Lost City, which is perfect for those who want to be seen out and about in the best of the best. There was a lot of bling on display! I do feel the service standards don’t match the 5 star rating. The accommodation itself is themed on the legend of a lost African tribe, and is one of four hotels in South Africa’s fun-packed Sun City resort. Regal architecture surrounded by botanical gardens, dotted with sculptures, streams and waterfalls really makes this hotel feel palatial – and elegant dining options, an Olympic size pool and an indulgent spa enhance the vibe. Quite an experience, but I’m not sure it’s a first choice for many kiwi travellers.
