Days 1-2. UK to Johannesburg, then on to Lyttleton
Arrived in Johannesburg after a long flight from Edinburgh via Heathrow and escorted to our hotel for an overnight stay.
Johannesburg was founded in 1886 after gold was discovered nearby. Its geometrical layout and high skyscrapers are reminiscent of Manhattan.
The Hotel was located in the suburb of Lyttleton, between Johannesburg and Pretoria. It forms part of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality and stands on the site of a group of farms settled by the Erasmus family in the 1840s. Built in an Italianate style, it has landscaped grounds with an outdoor swimming pool. A shopping centre was only a short walking distance away.

Day 3. Lyttleton to Hazyview
Leaving Lyttleton this morning, we started off with a tour of Pretoria city and a visit to the Government buildings set on the hill overlooking the city. There were beautiful gardens and spectacular views over Pretoria.
Next stop was a monument to the Dutch Voortrekkers, these were the Europeans who left their homeland to set up a new life in South Africa. The monument was very impressive and told the story of the difficulties experienced by the people and their relationship with the people and tribes of the areas.
Lunch was at a farm called "Corn on the Cob". It was a 17,500 hectare estate of which 8,500 hectares were in grazing with the remainder in crops. As with many large farms it employed mainly Africans and provided housing, schooling and health care for the workers and their families.
We spent the next two nights at the Hippo Hollow Country Estate. This property was situated two kilometers from Hazyview, on the Sabi River between the Eastern Escarpment to the west and the low-lying bushveld to the east.
The bedrooms are in thatched-roof chalets and have a wooden deck and a swimming pool in the gardens.

Day 4. 4WD Game Drive in Kruger National Park.
This excursion took us to see some of Africa’s magnificent wild animals in their native habitat. It was a full-day’s game viewing, in Kruger National Park - justifiably one of the most famous game parks in the world. It is also one of the biggest, almost the size of Switzerland and one of the oldest, established in 1898.
We had hoped be lucky enough to see some of the ‘Big Five’ - lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino - as well as glimpses of cheetah, giraffe and hippopotamus.
Our driver "Meshack" helped us spot the wildlife and we were not disappointed, with elephant, impala, buffalo, giraffe, hippo, crocodile, kudu, water buck, zebra, warthog, baboon and a great variety of birds being spotted.
Although you may have seen African animals in zoos, nothing can prepare you for seeing the animals in the wild, their natural environment. Travelling as we did, we were seated higher up than on other vehicles, and can enjoy views over a wider area of the grassland.

Day 5. Hazyview to Ezulwini
Leaving South Africa this morning we drove into the independent kingdom of Swaziland. Orange groves, sugar cane and misty mountain peaks colour the journey through what is considered one of Africa’s most beautiful countries. This small, mountainous state is entirely landlocked and has an area of 17,000 square kilometers, with a population of 700,000. The entire country is smaller than Kruger National Park.
People have lived in Swaziland for a very long time - archaeologists have discovered human remains dating back 110,000 years - although the Swazi people themselves arrived relatively recently. Their traditional culture remains strong, particularly in the forms of religious music, dance, poetry and craftsmanship. Handicrafts to look out for included jewellery, pottery and wooden bowls.
Mbabane, the capital of this exotic kingdom, is the largest town in Swaziland, with a population of 50,000, many of whom were probably attracted by its pleasantly cool setting in the Elangeni Hills.
Stayed overnight in the picturesque Ezulwini Valley.
We spent the remainder of the day at leisure, and were able to visit a local craft market.

Day 6. Ezulwini to Hluhluwe
Leaving Ezulwini this morning we enjoyed scenic drive through Swaziland, passing the sugar-producing town of Big Bend.
Leaving Swaziland, we entered South Africa via the border village of Golela, and continued to Dumazulu Kraal.
This is an educational village where we met the Zulu people of Kwa-Zulu Natal in their traditional surroundings. We learned about the culture and traditions of this warm and friendly people. Spear and basket making and beer brewing are among the traditional crafts demonstrated. The village also has a shop selling Zulu artifacts and a crocodile park.
Dumazulu is the only cultural kraal in Zululand to have been personally opened by a Zulu king, thus placing the Royal Zulu seal of approval on the kraal’s authenticity and objectives. Designed to capture the customs and traditions practised during the reign of famous Zulu King Shaka, its residents form an integral part of this ‘living museum’.
We then continued to Hluhluwe, where we stayed for two nights at the Hluhluwe Hotel and Safaris.
This Hotel is set in the heart of the Zulu Kingdom and the beautiful untamed Elephant Coast in the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal.
It is ideally placed between the world-renowned Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve and the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. According to the former South African president, Nelson Mandela, "this must be the only place on the globe where the world’s oldest land mammal (the rhinoceros) and the world’s biggest terrestrial mammal (the elephant) share an eco-system with the world’s oldest fish (the coelacanth) and the world's biggest marine mammal (the whale)."

Day 7. Hluhluwe Game Reserve
The third largest game park in South Africa awaits on a full-day game drive. We were on the look out for the ‘big five’ from the safari vehicle as we drove through the bushveld, learning about the wildlife and flora from our experienced guide.
Binoculars were poised and we saw spotted hyena, white rhino, antelope, buffalo and the timid nyala, giraffe, elephant, crocodile and hippo. Saw a brief glimpse of lion and heard a pack of wild dogs.

Back at the hotel there was a local shopping centre close by which gave an insight to the way of life.

Day 8. Hluhluwe to the Drakensbergs
After breakfast, we started a long but rewarding drive across the countryside of Kwa-Zulu Natal.
A stop for lunch was made during the course of today’s drive, before rejoining the coach for the last leg of the journey to the Drakensberg Mountains.
Literally meaning ‘dragon mountains’, the Drakensbergs form a long basalt escarpment of numerous sheer, jagged peaks, in stark contrast to the valleys to the east, which are refreshingly green and verdant.
The Drakensberg Mountains are the highest range in southern Africa and possess some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. The blue-tinted mountains seem to stain the landscape. The mountains have names such as Giant Castle, Cathedral Peak, the Sentinel and Thabana Ntleyana, (meaning ‘Beautiful Mountain’), which gives the area a special atmosphere. It is no surprise that South African born J R R Tolkien, author of the cult classic Lord of the Rings, was inspired by the fantastic shapes of the Drakensbergs.
Many of the peaks, some of which top 3,000 metres, are the source of sparkling streams and mighty rivers which have carved out myriad valleys and dramatic gorges. The Drakensberg is not a typical mountain range, but is actually an escarpment separating a high interior plateau from the coastal lowlands of Natal. A continuation of the escarpment divides the Transvaal highveld from the lowveld.
We spent the next two nights in the foothills of the scenic Drakensberg Mountains at the Drakensberg Gardens Resort Hotel. The hotel has tennis and squash courts and facilities for hiking, canoeing and horse riding.

Day 9. Sani Pass tour
Today we took a trip by four-wheel drive vehicle to the Sani Pass.
The Sani Passs is one of the most spectacular mountain passes in these parts, climbing to an altitude of 2847 metres through towering cliffs and dramatic waterfalls. We visited the Basuto mountain village and ascended the Kotisephola Pass, which at 3200 metres above sea level offers amazing panoramic views.
The road over the Pass was most definitely the worst I have ever seen, the skill of our driver, Grant was all that saved us from hitting large rocks or taking the short but fatal way down.
Life in this village was very hard, we had been wearing T shirts and now the wind and rain made it more like Scotland mountains.
After all this exertion, it was good to visit to the highest pub in Africa, where gluwein was served, piping hot, in front of a blazing log fire.

Day 10. Drakensberg Mountains to Durban
This morning we travelled through pleasant farming country to Durban where we stayed overnight.
Durban offers a subtropical atmosphere, endless summers, and an effervescent ocean lined with golden beaches.
Ships cruise in and out of the harbour mouth and yachts bob at anchor in the bay.
Before arriving at the Riverside Hotel we had an orientation tour of the city and visited the Botanical Gardens.
This property is just to the west of the city centre, set high on the west bank of the estuary of the Umgeni River. From the hotel grounds there were stunning views of the river, where we saw numerous native birds.

Day 11. Durban to Wilderness
A very early start today for the 18-kilometre journey to the airport for our flight to Port Elizabeth. On arrival at Port Elizabeth, the journey took us along the coast to Wilderness via the celebrated Garden Route.
The Garden Route offers some of South Africa’s most beautiful scenery, its vibrant combination of green forests, rolling hills and fertile meadows tumbling down to a flower-fringed coast. Nature is in abundance - baboon, monkey and small antelope. Birdlife is also plentiful. Today’s journey also offered spectacular views over verdant forest and unspoilt coast, especially at Plettenberg Bay, where the mountains meet the sea. The National Park protects 100 kilometers of coastline between Plettenberg Bay and Humansdorp.
We continued via the Tsitsikamma Forest, which is renowned for its stinkwood trees that are used to make high-quality furniture. A stop was made at Kynsna Park on the Indian Ocean where some of our more easily lead members became very enthusiastic over a large rock out at sea which they were convinced was a whale - I didn't let them forget that one!
Our destination was the small seaside resort of Wilderness, where we stayed for two nights.
Wilderness is one of the prettiest towns on the Garden Route, tucked behind high dunes along the estuary of the River Touws. Opportunities abound for canoeing, angling and windsurfing on the lakes. It is the only village in South Africa with a National Park within its boundaries: the 2,500-hectare Wilderness National Park.
The hotel was set in magnificent scenery, making it the perfect base from which to explore this part of the Garden Route. Sports facilities include tennis, squash, mini-golf and bowls.

Day 12. Outeniqua steam train ride Although South African railways are built to a gauge of only 1,065mm (equivalent to three feet six inches), their steam locomotives were heavier and more powerful than many British ones, and large numbers have been preserved. Services are normally operated by steam engines.
George station incorporates a fascinating transport museum with steam locomotives, rolling stock and vintage motor vehicles. George is the sixth-oldest town in South Africa, and was named after King George III, who was on the throne when the town was founded in 1811.
The route passed through a lot of farmland before joining the coastline, and we saw at least 3 whales (real ones this time). After the train journey, we returned by road to Wilderness, and enjoyed the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 13. Wilderness to Cape Town
Today we set off west towards Cape Town, travelling over the Outeniqua Mountains and through the Langeberg region.
During the journey, a stop was made near Oudtshoorn to visit an ostrich farm.
At the Safari Ostrich Farm, we found out many interesting facts about these huge birds, the largest alive, which stand two metres high at adulthood and can reach speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour. Sometimes, you can watch an ostrich race and see young chicks and ostrich eggs, which are equivalent in size to 24 chicken eggs.
We continued west past the magnificent scenery of the Small Karoo to Cape Town, where the final four nights of our holiday was spent at the Cape Manor Hotel.
Only a few metres from Sea Point’s promenade, this hotel enjoys views of the Atlantic Ocean. All rooms have either a mountain view or a side sea view.

Day 14. Full-day excursion to the Cape Winelands
Today’s excursion took us into the Cape Winelands, a region that has a beauty all of its own with its ragged mountains and fertile valleys. The Winelands encapsulates the best of the Cape with its natural beauty and its cultural heritage, with gabled Cape Dutch homesteads which are steeped in history. The lush vineyards produce hundreds of different wines, each winery being known for its own specialities. Many of the farms we passed were growing apricots, apples as well as the necessary grapes.
On this excursion we passed Paarl, home to some of South Africa’s greatest wine estates, and Stellenbosch, an attractive old town founded by Simon van der Stel in 1679. Its old Georgian houses stand in wide streets lined with oak trees.
A stop is made in the delightful little town of Franschoek, settled in the late 17th century by Protestant refugees from France. Many of the nearby wine estates still have French names, and a monument to the Huguenot settlers stands at the end of the town.
On arrival in Cape Town we were treated to a wonderful view of Table Mountain in bright sunshine.

Day 15. Excursion to the Cape of Good Hope and Kirstenbosch
We took this excursion to the Cape of Good Hope, which included a stop at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
This trip to the south-western Cape started with a visit to the famous Cape of Good Hope. The cape was described by Francis Drake’s chronicler as The fairest Cape we saw in the whole circumference of the Earth. On the excursion we stopped at Cape Point, saw the lighthouse and the famous baboons, and continued to Simon’s Town, with its attractive harbour. A stop was be made at Boulders Beach to see the African Penguin colony.
Afterwards, a visit the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, renowned as amongst the most beautiful in the world. They have an incomparable site on the eastern side of Table Mountain, overlooking False Bay and the Cape Flats. The 26-hectare landscaped section blends beautifully with the 492 hectares of native flora that cloak the mountain slopes. Here you will find portions of the hedge that Jan van Riebeeck planted in 1660.

Day 16. Cape Town sightseeing
With its majestic Table Mountain backdrop, Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. An eclectic mix of architectural styles reflects the tastes of the past and the more functional demands of the 20th century.
The city’s Edwardian and Victorian buildings have been meticulously preserved, and many outstanding examples of Cape Dutch architecture are found in the city and its environs.
In 1652 Jan van Riebeeck sailed into Table Bay and laid the foundations of South Africa’s oldest city. His first undertaking was to establish a vegetable garden for the purpose of providing passing merchant ships with fresh food. Before long, weary sailors from around the world were dropping anchor in the bay to replenish supplies. The settlement soon earned the title Tavern of the Seas, and to this day, Cape Town has maintained a reputation for friendly hospitality.
Cobbled streets, mosques and the flat-roofed pastel homes of the Bo Kaap area, formerly known as the Malay Quarter, help to give it a cosmopolitan appearance. In a recent development, the restoration of the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront has brought back images of the seafaring activities of the 19th century.
We took the amazing revolving cable car for the 1,000-metre ride up the sheer-sided Table Mountain. The views from the top are phenomenal, as the city of Cape Town is spread out before you in all its glory, buffeted by the seas that swirl around the tip of Africa.