Africa.Jungle and veldt by Caravan and Sedan chair.

[love_the_life]

drron, great photos. I'm interested to hear which of the big cats you came across on your drives. Lions obviously but what others? We had a similar experience with a large bull elephant who didn't like us being on the road he wanted, sort of chased us off into the bush and around.

 

[drron]

Well you don't have to wait long LTL.We had been called in.Emerged from behind a few bushes and this is what we saw-

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Ok not a leopard but at least a spotted cat.A pair of cheetahs.There are only 4 cheetahs in the whole of the Madiwe game reserve so this is not an everyday sighting.Unfortunately all 4 are males.There were females but they decided to leave.

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They then decided to stretch their legs.

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[love_the_life]

Thanks for the cheetahs drron. They are beautiful animals and I can watch the cats for ages. They are magnificent.

 

[zig]

Is that a tracking device around the neck drron?

 

[drron]

You're in luck LTL there are a few more pics to come of the cheetahs.
Zig yes there is a tracking device attached to the collar but it is for park authorities.Cheetahs can go walkabout and if they end up in neighbouring farms they are likely to be shot.These two are brothers.

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Only 3 vehicles are allowed at a time for such viewings.Here are the other 2.

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[drron]

So some more pics of cheetahs-

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[love_the_life]

They are so photogenic. Love them but then I am a sucker for cats

 

[drron]

Everyone was given an extended time with the cheetahs.It was much appreciated.

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[drron]

Finally told our time is nearly at an end.when we see the other Makanyane car leave the road it is time for us to go.luckily it took nearly 5 minutes for that to happen.

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So it was now after 0900 and we had an 1110 flight back to JNB.So we returned to the lodge by the main road so this was basically our last sighting before leaving Makanyane.We both enjoyed the experience.I thought Botswana was better for the number and variety of animals seen but Madikwe Game Reserve wasn't far behind and if you just want to stay just in South Africa it certainly deserves thinking about.
36 hours later we would be touching down in Sydney.Still a few posts to go until the finish of our trip though.

 

[drron]

Back at the lodge and only time for a quick shower.Fortunately mrsdrron had done the packing.A few quick goodbyes and we are off to the Madikwe East strip-this one is sealed.Soon a plane appears-

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But it is not ours but a private charter-

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A couple of minutes later our Caravan arrives-

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It turns out it was rush hour when another caravan arrives just after ours.We are the first off as we are the only passengers.The pilots are much more professional than in Uganda.Our driver waits until we are gone-

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The folks from the charter flight are getting their first experience by the look of it-

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[drron]

We had to pick up more passengers at the Madikwe west strip.it was a dirt strip and quite rough.As you went west the vegetation got less-

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Four Brits got on.However they didn't want to speak to people from the Colonies.They were flying Turkish to IST by their conversation.Might be interesting as it was the day the electronics ban was announced.
So off we go again-

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My last elephant-

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[drron]

We passed over Sun city-

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And a lot of mines-

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[drron]

They keep coming-

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But there are rehabilitated mine sites-

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Then close to JNB-

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We landed on time but then taxied past the domestic terminal,past the international terminal,past the freight terminals and kept going right to the far side of the airport.A nice little terminal and lounge for federal airlines,even a shop.But a long way to the terminal but fortunately they provide a shuttle so not too long before we are at the international terminal.
We find a seat for mrsdrron and I go over to the IC and pick up our other 2 bags.We still have a fair wait before QF checkin opens.

 

[love_the_life]

We visited Sun City about 12 years ago - definitely over the top! But interesting to see. Yes, the Federal Air terminal is well set up and we availed ourselves of the shuttle as well. I remember a young couple had hard shell luggage and so FedAir provided loan soft bags that they had to repack into. Suspect they didn't read their documents carefully enough.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Not wanting to hijack your thread Drron, but for folks following along that you may have stimulated to think of a gorilla trek in Rwanda or Uganda here is a news flash I just received:

[TABLE="width: 100%"][TR][TD]
[/TD][TD]Rwanda Doubles the Cost of Gorilla Permits
[TABLE="width: 100%"][TR][TD]
[/TD][/TR][/TABLE]Gorilla Tracking Fees have doubled in Rwanda with immediate effect, from USD $750 to USD $1,500.
[TABLE="width: 100%"][TR][TD]
[/TD][/TR][/TABLE]If you have already purchased a permit however, this will be honoured.

Ms. Clare Akamanzi, the Chief Executive Officer at Rwanda Development Board said:

“Gorilla trekking is a highly unique experience. We have raised the price of permits in order to ensure sustainability of conservation initiatives and enhance visitors’ experience. We also want to make sure that the communities living near the park area receive a bigger share of tourism revenues to fund development projects and empower them economically.”

Uganda remains unaffected by this price increase and stands to benefit due to the fact that the cost of a gorilla permit in Uganda ranges from just USD $450 to USD $600.
[/TD][/TR][/TABLE]

ouch - however I am in favour of price increases if it goes to the community. The community used to poach the gorillas - by giving the gorillas economic value, which the community shares in, they have a vested interest in protecting them. Same reason we were planning to hire porters etc. just started planning our gorilla trip for next year

 

[drron]

As we still had 3 hours before checkin we decided to have some lunch.tried to get rid of our ZAR.Decided on Spur.We shared a 600 Gm seving of ribs and a glass of SB and a beer.With a 20% tip got rid of 250 zar.Still had 50 left.

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It was actually quite good and just enough to keep hunger at bay.Then walked the shops before going to the checkin area-only allowed in when checkin area.We thought we would have an hour to wait.but after 30 minutes went to check the board and noticed staff at the QF checkin so we headed to the entrance.The woman wasn't going to let us in but we pointed out the QF staff so in we went.No one in the J line but a whole lot of young kids came into the PE line.Turned out to be the start of the South African School holidays.A bit of a queue at Immigration but no delay.On the way to the BA F lounge mrsdrron played games with a jeweller.

Wasn't much in the way of food and I really didn't feel like any.Only had 1 glass of a Stellenbosch shiraz.OK.The QF flight was called so we walked slowly to gate.Another LAGs inspection then to the gate.A small closed off section where you board which was supposed to be for wheelchair and disabled pax-most looked more sprightly than us.
Turned out to be a fair wait-presumably due to the 2 FAs who arrived at the gate a long time after the rest.In the main lounge there was a toddler who didn't look well.Sniffling and crying.She would play a big part towards the end of the flight.
Then families with small children were called.Exactly where is the cut off age.Some were well and truly past the small stage.Finally J is called.Told over 70 pre boarders so quite a crush in the airbridge but finally boarded.

Now this was an unrefurbed 747 so we had chosen 2K,3K.However QF in their wisdom changed that to 1K,2K.I went to 1K as it was obvious TKWIW.

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These seats are really showing their age and quite frankly now a rather poor J seat.Row 1 is fairly cramped.Still I accepted the offer of a champagne.

QF 64. JNB-SYD. ETD-1910. Push back-1914. Take off-1925.
ETA-1530. Landed-1510. At gate-1514.

So to the menu-

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I just had the conchiglie.I really didn't feel hungry.it was nice and just the right amount.

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No pictures of the wine list as I decided not to have any more wine.So after my dinner I read the Joburg sunday paper then lay down and slept for 5 hours.So should I go alcohol free for all overnight flights from now?Decided that I might in J but obviously in F the bed would be much more comfortable so wine would not be a problem.

Did some more reading-mainly my kindle.Breakfast was the usual QF mish mash and not very appetising.I think they might as well get Fred Perry to be their chef.Would make Tony Hancock happy.
Then got ready for our arrival.

 

[drron]

About 30 minutes out of Sydney the Captain made an announcement that there was an Immigration issue on board and asked passengers to remain in their seats until authorities had come aboard and sorted the issue.Mrsdrron though was waiting in the galley when an FA came up to the CSM and said a woman had asked for a doctor to see her child who had a fever and red spots over her body.We both thought measles.
When we were allowed to get off the CSM made the announcement and said the Quarantine officials had completed their assessment.Might have been a disastrous start to a holiday.

Was good to see Australia again-

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Despite having to go to an official at Immigration because we had been to Uganda and be questioned by Quarantine then picking up our car we were in the Sheraton on The Park just under an hour from first arriving at the gate.
we impressed the quarantine officer having left the clothes and shoes we wore in Africa at the camps and had beaten the heck out of our little cane baskets to make sure there were no bugs.

So our view from the SOTP-

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[drron]

After a deep sleep the next morning we were ready for Grandparent duty.That day we had lunch at Tiger Mottle.A little place on Glenmore road just downhill from the Fiveways Paddington.Great smiling service and nice food and coffee at reasonable prices.Reccomended.
Dinner was takeaway from Eat Thai at Fiveways.Very average apart from prices.
The second night we started off at Charlie Parker's bar in oxford street.trendy so I went with a Portsmouth gin and tonic with a twist-
Meet Charlie Parker's, Merivale's new Paddington bar.
Then to St.peters a seafood restaurant.Change their menu every day and supposedly 3 times on Fridays.Was very good.Mrsdrron started with spanner crab and I with whitebait-

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I had the kingfish and mrsdrron teraglin.-

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Sides of pumpkin and cauliflower with sqids ink.Looked terrible but tasted great.

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And a shared lemon tart for desserts.

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Another that is recommended.
Saint Peter

Then an uneventful flight back to MCY.A dinner flight.I the salmon and prawns,mrsdrron a pasta dish.Both a little overdone-

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And that's all folks.
Next 2 weeks in Thailand in July.Then taking the grandkids to Disneyworld for Christmas.

 

[zig]

Thanks for taking us on another wonderful journey drron. I enjoyed travelling with you, but unlike you, I now don't have to face the unpacking and laundry

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Thanks for taking us on another wonderful journey drron. I enjoyed travelling with you, but unlike you, I now don't have to face the unpacking and laundry

Oh, that is funny !! Ron hasn't unpacked or done laundry in the last 46 years !!!!!!!!!!