Hi Leony,
We are back home after a breathtaking trip through Namibia. The trip fully met our expectations and we had a very nice group with a fantastic driver and a cook we would have loved to take home with us. It was amazing what this man managed to put on the table under primitive conditions. It ranged from Oryx steak to barracuda and much more. The accommodation in Cape Town was fine, and we ourselves spent an additional 2 days in Gocheganas (Windhoek) after the trip. Not cheap, but definitely recommended.
We'll definitely go back again and visit East Africa.
Thank you very much for your help with our questions and the changes. With your assistance, we really enjoyed ourselves.
Kind regards,
Irma and Reinier Stoltenborg
Best of Namibia Group Camping
Travelogue round trip South Africa and Zimbabwe
After a fantastic tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe, we are back home. The trip was organised with great effort by Afrika Online and went perfectly!
Following a smooth flight, the transfer driver was already waiting for us at Johannesburg airport. He took us to Marben Manor, where a very warm welcome and beautiful rooms awaited us. The next day, the car arrived at 8:15 AM, and after an excellent breakfast, we departed for Pilanesberg National Park.
What a beautiful park, and Bakubung lodges is a wonderful place to leave all the hustle and bustle far behind you! On the game drive that same day, we immediately found ourselves amongst a herd of elephants, and a little later a lion walked alongside the car. Our holiday couldn't have been better! From there we went to Marakele National Park. Also very beautiful, more mountainous.
However, the “luxury” safari tent was mostly basic, and the concrete extension to the tent, which housed the sanitary facilities, was also not what you would imagine. From there, we went to Mapungubwe National Park. Beautiful, what a special landscape! And a fantastic lodge in the middle of the park. In the evening, a kudu walked between the lodges, and it turns out elephants also regularly roam there. The next day, we drove extensively through the park (many baobabs) and the day after that, we did a ‘heritage tour“ to the archaeological excavations in the park, which was very interesting.
From there to the Soutpansberg mountains. Slept in Madi-a Thava, a guesthouse with lodges owned by Dutch people. They are also very involved with the arts and crafts products made in the region, and the lodges are decorated in style. Very enjoyable and a wonderful place to relax for a day. From there to Punta Maria, one of the most northerly entrances to Kruger Park. Stayed four nights in Kruger, in Shingwedzi rest camp, Mopani and Skukuza.
Beautiful weather and so many animals seen. On the fifth day, we reluctantly left Kruger Park and took a short trip to Hazyview, where we stayed at Plumbago Guesthouse. Again, we received a very warm welcome, complete with sherry. The rooms were very luxurious, decorated in an English style, and the owners were very friendly and helpful.
The next day, via part of the Panorama Route to Dullstroom, and the day after that, we handed in the car at Johannesburg airport and flew to Harare in Zimbabwe. There, we had another flawless transfer to the guesthouse Jacana Gardens. An oasis in a busy city! The next day, the four-wheel-drive car was brought to us early. We then explored Harare further and the following day travelled to Great Zimbabwe, the most significant archaeological site in Zimbabwe. Very impressive!
The day after, we went to Nyanga National Park, in the mountains to the east. We stayed in the lodges at the Troutbeck resort. What beautiful nature there! And how fortunate we were to have four-wheel drive... During the day we had reasonably good weather, but at night it was very cold. Fortunately, we had enough blankets, but the fireplace was only just enough to heat the cottage. Finally, one more night back to Jacana Gardens in Harare, and the day after that, via a stopover in Johannesburg, we returned home.
We had a fantastic holiday, perfectly organised by Afrika Online. It was very pleasant that our holiday could be put together “to measure”, and we weren't tied to “building blocks”. We would happily travel with you again!
Kind regards,
The van der Boon family
Dear Leony,
We returned home yesterday from a fantastic trip through South Africa and Zimbabwe. Everything was perfectly organised! The transfers from the airport to the lodges went smoothly, the cars in South Africa and Zimbabwe were both brought without any problems at 8:15 AM, and the lodges were all very nice and comfortable, starting with Marben Manor in Joburg where we received a particularly warm welcome, and ending at Jacana Gardens in Harare, which is a delightful spot! We couldn't have wished for a better holiday!
Thanks again for all the organising, and if you'd like, we'd be happy to write a comprehensive review!
Kind regards,
Monique van der Boon
We're home again ;-( but thankfully the sun is shining here too (a little). We've had a super trip, everything was wonderful. The nature, the animals, the locations, the people, the food and especially that everything was so well and nicely organised. Thanks again, and if I ever want to come back (or take another beautiful trip to a country you visit), I know where to find you.
Kindest regards,
Jiska (and probably Babette too)
15-day West Coast, Namaqualand and Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park
5-week self-drive tour of South Africa, followed by a safari in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe and Chobe National Park, Botswana. Concluding in Victoria Falls.
Leonie,
We have, of course, been in touch since our trip, but we didn't want to withhold a complete summary of our journey, our “bucket-list trip,” from you.
On Sunday 16 October 2016, after a night at the nearby Van der Valk hotel, we were at Schiphol Airport at 5:00 AM, ready for the start of our 5-week trip to Africa. The KLM flight to Paris departed at 8:00 AM, and we were immediately very pleased that we had booked Premium Comfort seats. There was an extra thorough security check at Charles de Gaulle, and we only had just over an hour to catch our connecting flight… Several people looked bewildered in a very long queue, but we were allowed to bypass this queue and then also had priority boarding and wonderfully spacious seats.
Arrival in Cape Town was on time and our transfer was neatly waiting to take us quickly to Camps Bay. An excellent place, Campsbay Resort, with all sorts of eateries for breakfast and dinner nearby, as well as a supermarket. An excellent base for what we wanted to do and did do in the Western Cape: Robben Island, Table Mountain, Cape of Good Hope, and of course Chapman's Peak Drive.
After that, to Kagga Kamma in the Cederberg Mountains, what special energy there! A magnificent place where we would have liked to stay longer. The hike through the mountains with the rock paintings was also fantastic. Unfortunately, the stargazing was cancelled due to the strong wind. The accommodation, those “rock dwellings,” was also amusing, and the service was excellent otherwise.
De Leeuwenhof in Paarl was as our next stop, also great. Dutch owners who made us feel very welcome, we thoroughly enjoyed various delicious wines from this area.
Gansbaai was fantastic! The Crayfish Lodge is highly recommended, the panorama suites offer a fantastic view and the owners do everything to make your stay enjoyable, giving excellent tips, arranging reservations, truly a place to return to.
Mossel Bay is nice to see but we don't need to go back a second time, Linkside was fine for an overnight stay. The weather in St Francis Bay wasn't great and as a result we quickly saw everything there was to see in the area. Sandal Guesthouse, however, was excellent!
After flying from Port Elizabeth to Durban, we stayed overnight in Salt Rock at Petit Provence. Even though it was only for one night, we found it a disappointment in terms of accommodation. The room (Lavender) felt a bit like we were in a cellar. The staff did their best, but when we asked for a restaurant reservation and a taxi, the owner's son brushed us off, saying they didn't do that but that there were phone numbers in the folder in the room. Not exactly hospitable.
Isandlwana Lodge was again very special, even though the atmosphere was different due to sad events earlier that year concerning their “house historian.” The care and excursions were superb, as were the unique rooms. After this, we had a problem with our rental car; thank you again for your help. It all worked out and a large part of the extra costs incurred was reimbursed by Hertz.
De Maqueda Lodge in Marloth Park was wonderful, the care, the delicious food, the safaris, truly a place to return to. We understood from Francois that they might be building a new lodge on the river with rooms whose “decks” overlook the river. That sounds promising!!
Naledi was a huge treat, what luxury and what attention you receive there! They were also very attentive to the two-year-olds during our stay: singing and dancing staff during dinner, cakes with names and gifts in the room. Time went by so quickly here!!
Abangane Lodge in Hazyview has a magnificent location in a fantastic area; close to Kruger, right in the middle of the Panorama Route. Ideal for longer stays. What was nice was that the (new) owners had taken over the lodge from acquaintances of our South African friends. What a coincidence.
The stay in Krugersdorp with our (now) South African friends was fantastic, childhood memories were recalled and we visited several well-known places there. Time went by far too quickly.
To top it all off: Zimbabwe and Botswana! As soon as we arrived in Zimbabwe, it felt like coming home, what a pleasant and friendly people. The drive to Hwange was quite long, but we had a very nice and open conversation with our driver, covering all aspects of daily life in Zimbabwe. The stay at Ivory Khulu Lodge was magnificent, with our own outdoor shower and bath. Delicious breakfast and dinner, and lunch and sundowners on safari; two nights was far too short!
The same can be said for Elephant Camp in Chobe, Botswana. After another very pleasant transfer (there were actually two, as we had to change at the border), the welcome was very friendly and we went on safari almost immediately. What fantastic nature they have there and how much we saw. You lack for nothing there and also here: what friendly and helpful people.
To conclude after a long journey with three transfers from Botswana to Victoria Falls, finally the Gorges Lodge… Wow, what a magnificent place! Two hundred metres above the river on your own terrace, but also the food with the same view and staff who were always at your service.
And then suddenly the five weeks are over and you have to acclimatise again in the Netherlands where the temperature is 35 degrees lower. Thank you again for organising this fantastic trip with us. This was already the fourth time since 2004 that we went to Southern Africa with AfrikaOnline! I think that says something about how satisfied we are!!
Greetings.,
Annamarie and Han A.
Bovensmilde
20th July 2016, the day had finally arrived! At 9.00 pm, our plane departed from Brussels for Munich, where we could connect to our flight to Johannesburg. We arrived in Johannesburg at 7.30 am and had our connection to Cape Town at 10.00 am. We were met there and taken by taxi to our first guesthouse, Sweet Lemon. We had the entire first floor, like an apartment, at our disposal.
After a warm shower, we took a taxi to Table Mountain and then went up by cable car. Beautiful views over Cape Town! We returned with the “hop on hop off bus” and bought pizza on the way, which we ate in our apartment. The weather was clear and around 15/16 degrees all day. We went to sleep around 9:30 PM, tired but content.
On 22 July, we'll get up around 8:30 AM and our hire car will be delivered around 9:00 AM (after a lovely breakfast). We'll set off in this car for Cape of Good Hope, via Scarborough and the beach, have coffee in the garden at Hub (article from de Volkskrant), and then drive on to the southernmost point. At the Cape of Good Hope, our daughter's apple will be snatched by a lightning-fast monkey. A bit of a scare! Beautiful views over the sea, and we also visited the penguins at Cape Point. A bit touristy, but nice to see penguins waddling so close in the sea and on the beach. We'll return via Muizenberg and have dinner at Bardelli's in Cape Town (Kloof Street). We'll have a glass of wine at home and happily go to sleep at 11 PM.
On July 23rd, after breakfast (partly cloudy with some rain), we went to Woodstock to “The Old Biscuit Mill’, where there are all sorts of market stalls and little shops. Now and then there was a heavy downpour, but luckily we were able to take plenty of shelter. When we got back to the car, we saw that the rear window had been smashed with a stone. It was stupid of us to have left a bag (with some light clothing and flip-flops for everyone) in the back of the car... We spent the afternoon visiting the police station and swapping the rental car at the airport. At 5 PM we were back in Cape Town and had a delicious sushi dinner at ‘Beluga’ (recommended by Steyntje).
On July 24th, we leave around 10:30 am via Swellendam (a beautiful route) and Calitzdorp (tea and scones) to Oudtshoorn. The temperature will drop to about 14/15 degrees and it will be cloudy. Around 6 pm, we arrive at Baron de Reede in Oudtshoorn where we are warmly welcomed by Zoë and Huw with coffee by the fireplace. At the Black Swan, we eat ostrich, which takes a bit of getting used to, but is very tasty!
July 25th, after a cold night (7 degrees and snow on the highest mountain) we enjoyed a delicious breakfast at this hospitable accommodation! We walked through Oudtshoorn and had coffee at ‘Coffee and Beans’, a nice place. We drove to the waterfall around midday, but it turned out to be closed. The wine tasting was also closed due to the bad weather, 10 degrees and rain. We did see a lot of ostriches along the way. We decided to read by the fireplace at the end of the afternoon. In the evening, we had authentic Bobotie at ‘Nostalgie’, delicious! After a game of cards in our daughters' room, we went to sleep.
On 26th July, we wake up to the sun! After breakfast, we set off and drive through the beautiful Outeniqua Mountains to Knysna, where we arrive at Amanzi Lodge. It's a very luxurious guesthouse, and we can explore the area by bike. The weather is lovely! We take a load of laundry to the launderette and go to see Knysna and eat at ‘34 Degrees South’, a delicious and cosy fish restaurant by the water. Truly enjoyable, and the associated shop is also worth a look. We eat oysters and fish. After returning, we read by the fireplace and looked at the itinerary for the next day.
On the 27th of July, after a delicious breakfast, we drive to Brenton on Sea and Lake, a beautiful coastline, and then on to Plettenberg. Also a very beautiful coast, unfortunately we couldn't spot any whales due to the strong wind. In the afternoon it's cloudy, we have coffee in a nice bookshop and drive back to Knysna. On the beach in a wonderful spot, we have dinner at ‘Senza’, an Italian restaurant.
28th July starts with cloud cover. We'll inform if sandboarding is possible, unfortunately not due to too much and too wet sand. Bungy jumping is possible! In Bloukrans, Emma (daughter, 16) will take the 216-metre jump, terrifying! But very brave and a special experience that was recorded on video. Afterwards, we drive to the magnificent Tsitsikamma mountains where a type of suspension bridge crosses the Storms River. After a long journey, we arrive at the Addo Elephant House where coffee awaits us. We are staying in two large ‘colonial’ houses.
On 29 July, after yet another lovely breakfast, we head to Addo Park to spot elephants. We are successful and also see zebras and a large tortoise. It's quiet in the park, lightly cloudy, and a pleasant temperature. Midday, we drive to Port Elizabeth airport, return the car, and fly to Durban. Around 6 PM, we arrive in Salt Rock at the guesthouse ‘Petit Provence’. This looks very different from our previous accommodation, but it’s also fine. At ‘Ziggi’s’, a German restaurant, we eat schnitzel, what else...
On July 30th, it's sunny and after breakfast, we drive to Durban, where Hannah and Emma will go surfing on the beautiful coast. We have a great time on the beach. We take a detour back to Salt Rock and eat at ‘Mo-zam-bik’, a really nice African restaurant. The African food is delicious!
On 31 July, we leave early for St Lucia, do some shopping, and then arrive at Banghazi Lodge early in the afternoon. The weather is lovely, and we decide to relax and read by the pool. Later in the afternoon, we go to the beach and have something to eat there. In the evening, we played a board game together, all four of us. The communal living area of this house is like a museum of animals, skins, and all the items are themed around Africa, right down to the egg cups.
On August 1st, we get up early for breakfast, and at 8 am, we're picked up for a game drive to and through Cape Vidal. The weather's lovely, and with a French couple, we let John drive us through the beautiful nature. We stopped for coffee and spotted zebras, wildebeest, deer, buffalo, a rhinoceros, and many monkeys. The temperature is around 20 degrees, and by lunchtime, a delicious braai awaits us on the beach. Our guide, John, prepared it for us over a fire he made himself. As we tidy up, it starts to rain, after which we begin our journey back, dry in the jeep. It was a wonderful trip with lots of explanations about the nature and the animals we saw. In the evening, we eat at Barraca, enjoying a delicious soup, focaccia, and salad. We can sit outside with a glass of wine until late.
On August 2nd, we were surprised by the sun and a lovely temperature (23 degrees), and we decided to go to the beach. Swimming in the sea was impossible due to the huge surf; we had to hold onto each other to avoid being knocked over. In the afternoon, we took a boat trip where we saw hippos and a crocodile. On the way back, we had a flat tyre, which we had changed at a petrol station. We ate at John Dorry's and read a bit before going to sleep.
On 3rd August, after breakfast (first, getting a puncture repaired), we set off for Swaziland. After an extensive passport check, we arrived at the ‘Hlane Royal National Park’ in the early afternoon. It's a beautiful park with huts that have no electricity and lots of oil lamps. We can still take hot showers, though, as the huts are supplied with gas. After a lovely sunset by the lake, we saw hippos and heard many birds singing. We had dinner on the premises, and it was well catered for. Later in the evening, we had a glass of wine by the ‘woodfire’ and went to sleep. We noticed that people in Swaziland seem less friendly/content than in South Africa.
On August 4th, we get up early (5:15) for a game drive with a few other people. It's cold in the early morning, and we see lions, elephants, and rhinos. Fantastic! After breakfast at 9 am, we sit in the sun for a bit and then head to the border, where we are back in South Africa! We arrive back in Nelspruit in the early afternoon at ‘Loerie's Call Guesthouse’ and relax in the sun by the pool. We have dinner at the posh ‘Orange’ restaurant (near our guesthouse) and eat trout.
On August 5th, after a delightful breakfast, we depart and drive part of the Panorama Route via Whiteriver and Hazyview. We arrive at ‘Thornhill Safari Lodge’ after a long and bumpy road. It's another sunny day, and after checking in, we have lunch with some other Dutch people. Later in the afternoon, we are taken for a game drive and see lions, giraffes, buffalo, and monkeys. Around 8 pm, we are sitting with 28 other Dutch people... in a large circle and are served a 3-course dinner. In the centre is a large fire around which we sit in a small group and have another glass of wine.
On August 6th, we get up at 4:30 AM and are taken to a park where we once again enjoy the beautiful nature and the many animals we have seen. In the early morning, it's incredibly cold in the open jeep, but as the drive progresses, we can gradually start shedding layers of clothing and enjoy coffee halfway through the journey. After breakfast, we spend the rest of the day around the swimming pool (very cold water) and play card games. Around 8 PM, the whole group has dinner together again.
On 7 August, we continue the Panorama Route and pass three ‘Rondavels and Potholes’, which are beautiful, time-worn rock formations.... Via ‘God's Window’ with a splendid view, we arrive in Sabie at the end of the afternoon and are welcomed by the English owners of ‘Porcupine Ridge Guesthouse’ with a drink. This house has a lovely garden full of blooming shrubs and (fruit) trees. In the evening, we eat the real African Bobotie at ‘The Wild Fig Tree’.
On 8 August, after breakfast, we set off for Johannesburg, a journey of 435 kilometres. On the way, we do some shopping and have lunch in the sunshine. We arrive at ‘Melrose Guesthouse’ in the early afternoon. We go for a stroll around the neighbourhood in search of some nice shops, which, unfortunately, aren’t there. Early in the evening, we’re picked up by Pieter (a distant relative) and on the way he shows us the company where he works. We then drive to the heavily secured ‘estate’ where he lives with his family and are treated to a delicious African meal.
9 August is ‘Women's Day’, and we'll walk to Gautrain to catch the ‘hop-on-hop-off’ bus for a tour of Johannesburg. The weather is lovely, and we can sit at the top of the bus to get a good view of the (business) city. We'll get off at Carlton Centre and visit the Apartheid Museum. Very worthwhile and impressive! Via Braamfontein (and a terrace) we'll take a taxi back to our house. Unfortunately, almost all the shops were closed today. We'll eat at Nuno's on 7th Street and have a delicious meal there!
10 August: we have our last breakfast in South Africa in glorious weather. We walked to Rosebank Mall to do some last-minute shopping and, in the early afternoon, drove through Soweto in Thomas's van (a tip from relatives). It was a special journey, during which we saw everything from very poor to reasonably well-off families and ‘homes’. We also visited a church and a crèche, right in the middle of the township. We were given a tour by a Soweto resident about life in this part of Johannesburg, which is home to 2 million people. Unbelievable!
At 6 PM we were dropped off at the airport where it turned out we could start our flight via Munich with a 2-hour delay. Because of this, we missed our connection to Brussels and could be picked up from Rotterdam on 11 August at 1:30 PM. Tired, but very satisfied! All in all, it was a wonderful experience for the four of us to be able to make this very varied trip!
E. van der Toorn
Dutch 
English