On to Jo-Burg
Trip Start
Jan 05, 2008
1
5
18
Trip End
Jun 06, 2008
Johannesburg,
South Africa
Thursday, January 31, 2008
I met up with my much smaller group that was going on to Johannesburg. There was only 7 of us, so things worked differently. 5 of them came off a group that came south from Kenya, one had just arrived the night before from Hong Kong and there was me. It was ok, but didn't really mess with them and then the 5 that were from the same group didn't all get along either so things could have been better. Things weren't that bad at all but i was also needed a break I think and we all kind of just did our own thing. It was only 6 days and I was glad for that. I had been moving with group of people for the last month and needed a break. But while i was with them on the way south to Johannesburg we did do some site seeing and also did have some fun.
We went though Botswana which i had already been to and ended up staying at the same campground. Also went though the same border crossing and it took a bit longer this time. It only took about an hour though, so it's still not bad as what it could be. It was much drier then the time before, and much nicer for that reason. While the others went on a boat cruise i took the time off and wandered around. I had already did the boat thing the week before. The next night we stayed at a place called Elephants sands. Were we were to take a walking tour but the grass was to high. Instead they invited us for a game drive around the area. Oh forgot to mention that the animals sometimes walk right through camp. We were to stay in our tents if we heard thing through the night. They also had a water hole only a few meters away from the pool and had elephants there only a few days earlier. But of course nothing came to it while we were there and as far as i know nothing walked though camp, that would have been cool though... i think.... Back to what i was starting to write about. Oh, the game drive... so a few minutes into the drive we came on elephants and more down the road. This one particular group though had several in and didn't really fancy us being around. We got the ears flapping and the trunk moving and roared at to get away. Apparently the younger males like to show off and try to scare people. The guides weren't to worried but there were keeping their distance somewhat, but some the others in the truck weren't to happy with it at the time. I just wanted pictures, and it was cool to hear them.
These few days with this group was also to cover a fair distance so there was a lot of driving as well and not as much happening. The only other thing that was of interest really was the two nights we stayed outside the Kruger National park. The camp was Bushman Camp and it was really neat, they did a wonderful job with the area. We did a night game drive when we got there and then a day game drive the next day. Saw a lot more animals, i could watch them for along time.
......
I should take a bit of time here and talk about the tours though. So far from Capetown to Johannesburg i was with the Acacia tour company and we tented it every night. And in some other places you can upgrade if you and move out of your tent and into what ever there is at the place we are staying, huts, luxury tents or hotel rooms. We drive around in what they call overland vehicles which then there is a big thing about calling it a truck and not a bus. Could really go either way, We sit up nice and high like a bus, but a couple of the seats have tables and there are lockers on the back wall for all our bags. There is a frig in it and coolers as well so we can have cold drinks from time to time. There is also a tank for water under the truck so we can bring it with us or we buy bottled water, drinkable water is not always available at the places for they bring some. I tend to buy drinks when we stop at places. They split us into groups and we have our duties for the time we are all there. There are several duties. Dishes (only the cooking post, everyone is to do their own meal dishes), Dishes (cooking pots,and getting water ready for dishes), cleaning the truck, cooking, and packing (the tents into the truck and anything going into the truck, tables, chairs etc.) You have to put up and take down your own tents. We only had a few time where we didn't need the tents or we stayed a couple nights in the same place. Not that often. Good thing the tents are easy and well made. We also had a few nights in hostels at a couple of our places, it was a good time to get organized again and not have to put up the tent... I had a really duties good group and we messed well, we were all working with each other and on time and ready for our jobs.
