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PROBUS CLUB of MANDURAH PEEL Inc Reg No - A1019730Z
**TRAVEL GROUP**
Leader: Annie Clark
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Trip to South Africa
On the 20th March 2026, nine of us met up at the airport to begin our flight to Cape Town. Immigration into South Africa was very quick and a van was waiting to take us to the hotel. Our guide Gareth was waiting in reception but as our rooms wouldn’t be ready until later, we met up with a few more Aussies in the bar also travelling on our tour and all seemed to be very friendly.
Unfortunately, on day 2, it was raining so our planned walking tour was changed to a City bus tour. No views on Signal Hill as we were in the clouds! Some of us were dropped off at the Waterfront and the rest went back to the hotel. Our group had fish and chips at Quay 4 and a glass of wine. At 2.30pm, we were picked up for a drive to a winery for a drumming show and then a BBQ dinner and some African style entertainment.
Day 3 was a free day. John organised a van for the 9 of us to do a tour of the Cape. It started off foggy but soon lifted and turned into a nice sunny day. We stopped at some lookouts and at Hout Bay where we had coffee. We saw the Cape of Good Hope and visited the penguin colony at Boulders Beach. Lunch was taken at the Foresters Arms, after which some went back to the hotel and others went to the Waterfront which was very busy with African dancers and singers. Table Mountain could be seen in the bright sunshine.
Day 4 The Garden Route from Cape Town to Oudtshoorn. The scenery is stunning, with beautiful mountains, rolling hills and plains, all green after early winter rains. Our lunch stop was a winery where we had a wine tasting with local cheeses and then a light lunch. It was a long day on the bus, so our hotel was a welcome sight. The accommodation was African hut style which was very spacious and full of character.
Breakfast was early and we were on the bus before 8.00 am. Our first stop was a gorgeous olive farm with views to die for. We had tastings of olives and spreads that were yummy and a few people bought the jams.
Another short drive and we arrived at the ostrich farm. We all piled on to tractor trains for a whizz around the farm and a chance to feed a few of the ostriches. We learnt quite a bit it about the life of an ostrich and then had a chance to look at the ostrich leather goods and eggs in the gift shop. Next came lunch where most of the group had ostrich steak. The ostrich meat was very nice.
The next stop was at our hotel for 2 nights in a town called Knysna. Some of the group did an optional Eco resort tour in the morning with some doing the Eco beach walk in the afternoon, learning about the danger of plastic micro beads. Either way we had time to relax a bit. The next day was an optional visit to Monkey land and Birds of Eden. The monkeys were rescued animals from people that had kept them as pets. The forest seemed to be full of monkeys, and the lemurs were so friendly and inquisitive. We really enjoyed the guided tour. The Bird Park was a huge enclosure where the birds were free to fly around. Lots of different species and they were used to people wandering along the paths.
Back to the hotel to pick up the rest of the group and then a short stop for lunch before arriving at the Botlierskop Game Reserve. We split into four groups and hopped into large open jeeps for our safari. Rough ride but very exciting to see the animals roaming freely. We saw wildebeest, impala, buffalo, elephants, rhinos and cheetahs, not forgetting a hippopotamus whose head peeked up from the lake.
We were late getting to our hotel; our rooms looked out on the beach but it was dark so we couldn’t appreciate it until the morning.
Next morning our first stop was at an Aloe Vera shop where we sampled the toiletries and had a coffee. On to Swellendam for lunch and a quick look around the old town. Our destination this evening was Hermanus.
We had a leisurely start to the next day as we didn’t have to leave until 10.00 am. Our drive took us to the town of Stellenbosch, a university town and quite busy. Our group went to the Botanical Gardens for a leisurely lunch in the sunshine and peace and quiet. Next stop was the Stellenbosch winery area where we had wine tasting at a winery called Plaisir. It was paired with nougat which we all enjoyed. We had a smooth run into Cape Town and our hotel for the night.
Today we fly to Kruger. Our flight was very smooth and comfortable. Just 2 hours but they served drinks and snacks for our lunch. The airport was so pretty - thatched rooves on the airport buildings.
It was quite a drive to Kruger. Our accommodation was in safari tents, basic but fun for a change. We had A/C which we needed for the cold nights. First dinner was really lovely with a huge selection and wine at only $5 a glass.
Next morning saw a 5.30 am start with jeeps leaving at 6.00 am for the safari park. What a wonderful morning we had. We saw elephants, zebras, giraffes, buffalo, wart hogs, hyenas, impala, water buck, a lion and the highlight was seeing a leopard with its prey, an impala, up in a tree. In the evening, there was an outdoor BBQ with great food but rather chilly.
Another early start the next day for a half day safari to a different part of the park where the sightings were few and far between. Glad to be coming back to our camp at lunchtime to enjoy a warm sunny afternoon on our veranda. We could see quite a few elephants from our veranda as we were close to the park boundary fence.
An early start the next morning for our long drive to Johannesburg. Our lunch stop was at a roadside fuel and eatery place which backed on to savanna with many animals including buffalo, rhino, eland, zebras and ostriches. We had arrived at feeding time so enjoyed the animals up close.
A local guide, Mama Queen, joined us in Soweto for a tour of the town. So much poverty and rubbish everywhere. It’s sad to see how the black people are still treated as second class citizens. They earn only $3 an hour if they are lucky enough to get a job. We visited Nelson Mandela’s house and Desmond Tutu lived in the same street.
The next day, it was only a short flight to Victoria Falls and our beautiful hotel, Waterfall Lodge, for the next 3 nights. After a few hours of relaxation, we went out for a Boma dinner which is a BBQ buffet in a round enclosure. With African singing and dancing, and we each had a bongo drum to play - great fun.
Most of the group took a helicopter ride over the Falls the next morning and then we all went on a walking tour of the Falls. Magnificent. In the afternoon, we went down to the Zambezi River for a sunset cruise. It had an open bar, which is a bit risky for Aussies. We saw hippos, an elephant and crocodiles, plus a beautiful sunset.
Today we drive into Botswana. Border crossing took a while. Passports were stamped to exit Zimbabwe, then a 100 metre walk to get another stamp to enter Botswana. Formalities done, we drove to Chobe National Park and transferred to jeeps. Lovely drive around the park, and it was warm. Saw elephants, impala, wart hogs, buffalo, crocodiles, kudu, giraffe and more. We drove close to the Chobe River which was so beautiful. After lunch, we cruised on the river and saw many hippos and elephants in the water. Back to our lodge for a quiet evening.
Our last breakfast in Zimbabwe was at a beautiful restaurant with views of the water flow from the Falls. The buffet was really good. Then it was time to go back to the airport for our short flight down to Johannesburg. Dreadful queues at both airports; they are not very efficient with security or immigration.
Our last dinner together was at the Irish pub in our hotel. Everyone said their farewells and thanked our tour leader Gareth for a wonderful tour.
Annie Clark
