Around the world in NZ/LH/LX/SA J (and LA/UX/BA/TP/U2/KL Y) - including Chornobyl

[Milboo]

There is something a little scary about being out there in the open and on foot. The lodge we stayed at did the walk by dropping us off on the way back to the lodge after our morning safari and we walked back with our guide.

He did tell us a story where he was doing a walk with a honeymooning couple and encountered a cranky rhino. They were in sight of the lodge so he told them to run and he distracted the rhino and ended up jumping in a large bush to hide from it and waiting for the lodge Jeep to retrieve him. He had a rifle with him would said he would never have used it.

 

[HeavyElectricity]

There is something a little scary about being out there in the open and on foot. The lodge we stayed at did the walk by dropping us off on the way back to the lodge after our morning safari and we walked back with our guide.

He did tell us a story where he was doing a walk with a honeymooning couple and encountered a cranky rhino. They were in sight of the lodge so he told them to run and he distracted the rhino and ended up jumping in a large bush to hide from it and waiting for the lodge Jeep to retrieve him. He had a rifle with him would said he would never have used it.

That sounds a bit scary! Yes our guide also said he'd never used the gun and didn't think he ever would, but it was a requirement to take it and be prepared. And agree about the unsettled feeling about being out there in the open!

 

[HeavyElectricity]

Kruger National Park Day 4 - Afternoon safari

Elephants - including some young ones:

The little elephants appeared quite joyful, at one point swirling patterns with its trunk keeping itself amused as it crossed the road.

Zebra:


Rhino:


Sundowner drinks whilst watching the sunset:


An owl:


And a very curious hyena:

When we returned to the lodge, a braei had been prepared for our dinner outside under the stars:

 

[HeavyElectricity]

Kruger National Park Day 5 - Morning safari

There was time for one last safari before having to head off to the airport.

Rhino:


We then chanced upon a great sight - a lion carrying here very young cub in her mouth - she walked towards us and then across the road:

A troop of baboons:


And one final check-in on the lion and her cubs in the dry river bed:

 

[HeavyElectricity]

Kruger National Park Day 5

And then it was off to the airport - but as with the trip to Imbali Safari Lodge, this was more like another mini safari!

Elephant:


Giraffe having a drink:

 

[HeavyElectricity]

HDS-JNB

Flight: SA1228
Aircraft: Bombardier Dash 8 Q400
Seat: 12B (Y)
Departed: HDS 07/12/2016 ~13:55 SAST
Arrived: JNB 07/12/2016 ~14:55 SAST
Duration: ~50m

I got to see some more of the interesting Hoedspruit airport, it's mostly outside but there is an inside departure lounge after going through the metal detector. Easy check-in, but very hot weather. It was a full flight (maybe just 2 seats available). The Q400 we boarded appeared to have no markings/branding.



The captain announced possible turbulence and an expected flight time of 50m. There was poor visibility for first half of the flight due to haze on this hot and humid day.

Plenty of leg room. Light snacks service immediately after cruising altitude, followed by drinks service including free alcoholic beverages.



A little turbulence during descent. Bus gate. Luggage came out quite quickly!

 

[HeavyElectricity]

JNB-PER

The final flight of this trip!

Flight: SA128
Aircraft: A340-300
Seat: 2G (J)
Departed: JNB 07/12/2016 21:11 SAST (11mins late)
Arrived: PER 08/12/2016 12:30 AWST (10mins late)
Duration: 9h 19m


On arrival at JNB, I fetched my stored luggage without issue.

Security and departure checks were a slow mess. The lounge was very nice. I used the showers which were quite busy (although there were a lot of them), and the attendant kindly came over and fetched me as soon as one became available. The shower was very welcome after waiting in the heat and humidity of Hoedspruit airport before the previous flight.



The lounge had a nice food selection, and good bar service, including spirits. Lounge did become quite busy however.

Additional hand-luggage checks were completed at the boarding gate.

9 people in wheelchairs were waiting at the gate, and had an appropriately large number of staff to help them which was good to see.

My boarding pass stated a boarding time of 20:15, but it actually commenced at ~20:45 with priority boarding to lining up on the right and economy on left, but because of an issue with the check-in agent/passenger/computer on the right, they just started processing/boarding the economy passengers whilst we waited.

Yet another plane with no air vents (boo!).

Pre-departure drinks were served. The cabin crew seemed to be absolutely frantic in organising things for take off, they were still at it for a good 10 minutes reorganising trolleys and glasses after the pilot announced 'cabin crew be seated for take off'!

Product (seat, IFE) was very dated and not very comfy as a bed. IFE had to be restarted before I could watch a movie.



Great cabin service once Airborne. I went with the seafood starter/main:






On landing in Perth, the e-gates rejected me for some reason. We had quite a long wait for luggage. Home time!


Embarrassing incident:

My checked baggage was wrapped in plastic (apparently highly advised at JNB to prevent items going missing after bag drop). On arrival at Perth, I found my wrapped baggage with the same colour highlights, it had the correct velocity level bag tag attached under the wrapping. Turned out it wasn't mine . Only realised on my way home (after having cleared customs with it etc.). Luckily for me I didn't mess up someone else's trip too much - apparently this person was connecting in Perth to a domestic flight and their flight wouldn't depart for a few hours. So it was all sorted in time! I'm now militant at checking bag tags when picking up from the carousel!

 

[HeavyElectricity]

FIN

And with that, I'm finally done! Only ~1.5 years late in catching up! Thanks to those who've stuck with it reading through my ramblings!


Flights
PER-AKL, NZ Business, 787-9, September 2016
AKL-EZE, NZ Business, 777-200ER, September 2016
AEP-BRC, LA (4M) Economy, A320-200, September 2016
BRC-AEP, LA (4M) Economy, A320-200, September 2016
EZE-FRA, LH Business, 747-8i, September 2016
FRA-MAD, LH Business, A321-200, September 2016
MAD-LGW, UX Economy, E190, September 2016
LHR-KBP, BA Economy, A320, October 2016
KBP-LHR, BA Economy, A320, October 2016
LHR-LIS, TP Economy, A320, October 2016
OPO-LGW, U2 Economy, A320, October 2016
SOU-AMS, KL (WA) Economy, F70, November 2016
AMS-SOU, KL (WA) Economy, F70, November 2016
LHR-LIS, TP Economy, A320, November 2016
LIS-ZRH, LX Business, A320, November 2016
ZRH-JNB, LX Business, A340-300, November 2016
JNB-CPT, SA Economy, 737-800, November 2016
CPT-HDS, SA (XZ) Economy, CRJ-200, December 2016
HDS-JNB, SA (XZ) Economy, Dash 8-Q400, December 2016
JNB-PER, SA Business, A340-300, December 2016


Destinations
Auckland, New Zealand, September 2016
Buenos Aires (Part 1), Argentina, September 2016
Bariloche, Argentina, September 2016
Buenos Aires (Part 2), Argentina, September 2016
Madrid, Spain, September 2016
New Forest, United Kingdom, September/October 2016
Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine, October 2016
Kyiv, Ukraine, October 2016
Tomar, Portugal, October 2016
Aveiro / Porto, Portugal, October 2016
Amsterdam, Netherlands, November 2016
London, United Kingdom, November 2016
Lisbon, Portugal, November 2016
Zürich, Switzerland, November 2016
Cape Town, South Africa, November 2016
Kruger National Park, South Africa, December 2016

 

[bPeteb]

Fantastic report Sludge. I've loved and lived every word.

 

[RooFlyer]

Just gone through this to index it. It was a lot of work (lots of flights!)! but enjoyable

 

[Boca68]

Great TR Sludge, at times I've almost forgotten to check in, but some remarkable places

Oh! and the picking up the wrong bag thing....I've done it, so you're not alone. But, I only got to the car park, not half way home... In fairness, I've never seen that bag before or since...Anywhere, anytime So, don't use it anymore. Think I gave it to St Vinnies

 

[HeavyElectricity]

Just gone through this to index it. It was a lot of work (lots of flights!)! but enjoyable

Thanks for that! I actually attempted to edit the wiki myself at one point to add the links I listed above, but wasn't able to do it correctly without breaking everything when i 'previewed' my changes!

Great TR Sludge, at times I've almost forgotten to check in, but some remarkable places

Oh! and the picking up the wrong bag thing....I've done it, so you're not alone. But, I only got to the car park, not half way home... In fairness, I've never seen that bag before or since...Anywhere, anytime So, don't use it anymore. Think I gave it to St Vinnies

Thanks for the kind words, and for the wrong-bag sympathy!