Craven Suid Afrika 2022 TR

[craven morehead]

The lounge had an unusual layout, and it was a little difficult to get some photos of the sitting areas without invading people's space.

I managed to grab these photos of the F&B offerings as I was leaving.














All in all, it was perfectly adequate for the 90 minutes I had to spare before boarding.

 

[craven morehead]

Always liked the bidvest lounges. Good selection of food and drink. SLOW lounges are great as well. They’re still running after the Comair tanking. In the VS Clubhouse now which is great. Certainly no shortage of good lounge options at JNB!

Yep, I was a big fan of the SLOW lounges as well.

 

[drron]

Unfortunately our Drakensburg trip was way too long ago in 2013. We did however have a couple more brief visits to South Africa afterwards.

 

[craven morehead]

CemAir Flight 5Z1902:



Boarding the bus for the drive across to remote stand.





The bus is chockers, and now the rain is pelting down.



Another CemAir Dash 8 parked up.



Drove past this CRJ90 which I was really hoping we would be on, but no the Dash 8 it was.





Approaching our ride.



Unlike QantasLink CemAir don't bother with the booster step to access the stairway. It was a reasonable step up for some of the older pax.



Of course, it was a mad scramble from the bus to the plane. I would have been standing in the rain for ~ 5minutes and my shirt was soaked.

Once onboard I had selected 3B and had a chap next to me in 3A. But after the last pax boarded 2A/B were vacant so I made contact with the hostie and shifted forward and had a seat to myself. Good result, especially after forking out the big bucks

So, this Dash8 - 400 had the galley up the front and somehow that allows then 2 more rows down the back compared to the usual QantasLink planes I'm often on back home.



Ready for take-off



TBC:

 

[craven morehead]

5Z1902 continued:

We got away 12 minutes late which was not really surprising with the weather.

The in-flight snack was ample for an hour flight. The crew were friendly and easy going.



Less than 10 minutes out from King Shaka.





Coming into land.



No security issues here.



No one telling us not to use mobile devices on the tarmac.



Time to deplane and hit the terminal.



Even though we got away 12 minutes late we still landed on time at 14.15. A cheap but comfortable flight and I would be happy to fly with them again. Which I will most likely do if their timetable suits me heading back to JNB. I don't know if being a Saturday afternoon made any difference, but the terminal was very quiet. Bags were out quickly, and I then went out to meet my mate who had driven 2 hours to pick me up.
Have any other AFFer's flown CemAir?

 

[craven morehead]

After pretty much 48 hours on the knocker I arrived at my friends place just outside the town of Ixopo KZN

Ixopo, KwaZulu Natal - South Africa Towns

southafrica.co.za

"Emfuleni" is the property and my friends run this cabin style accommodation offering. The onsite Bar & Restaurant just tops it off

The place is rustic and just so peaceful.

My friend's bungalow below.



My cabin on the left.



My cabin after I had unpacked. Rookie error for a TR







Looking across to the Bar & Restaurant.



Looking at the Bar & Restaurant.





I'm straight into the local brew



A Boerie Roll with tomato & onion gravy and hot chips for supper hit the spot after a long trip.



So basic but so enjoyable!

 

[VPS]

After pretty much 48 hours on the knocker I arrived at my friends place just outside the town of Ixopo KZN

Ixopo, KwaZulu Natal - South Africa Towns

southafrica.co.za

"Emfuleni" is the property and my friends run this cabin style accommodation offering. The onsite Bar & Restaurant just tops it off

The place is rustic and just so peaceful.

My friend's bungalow below.

View attachment 307477

My cabin on the left.

View attachment 307476

My cabin after I had unpacked. Rookie error for a TR

View attachment 307482

View attachment 307483

View attachment 307484

Looking across to the Bar & Restaurant.

View attachment 307485

Looking at the Bar & Restaurant.

View attachment 307486

View attachment 307478

I'm straight into the local brew

View attachment 307479

A Boerie Roll with tomato & onion gravy and hot chips for supper hit the spot after a long trip.

View attachment 307480

So basic but so enjoyable!

Don’t you hate that when you’ve got cough all over the place and realise you haven’t taken a photo for AFF

 

[antycbr]

Don’t you hate that when you’ve got cough all over the place and realise you haven’t taken a photo for AFF

Let alone ruffling the doona cover

 

[craven morehead]

Ok, it's taken me a few days to unwind. The trip over knocked me around a little more than normal.

A few more shots around my lodgings with some of the delicious homemade food served up.

Bar one day so far, it's been mostly overcast and drizzling and quite a lot of mist about.

View from my verandah.



Building on the left with the shade cloth is what we would call a camp kitchen plus it has a washing machine.
Note we share one HWS "Geyser" between two cabins.
A few of these cabins are let out to medium to long term contractors in the district.



One of the vege/herb gardens onsite.



My usual position late in the afternoon, on the verandah of the bar enjoying a beer and chat with my friends



One of the wholesalers making a delivery.



Whacked an umbrella up to keep the intermittent light rain off the Braai. It's a national pastime here cooking with charcoal on the Braai.



Some of the nice meat cooked on the braai served for supper.



A lovely hearty breakfast.



Bacon & Egg Burgers for brekky another day.



Another supper was Beef & Potato Curry served with chutney.



All the food is wholesome and tasty, not mention ridiculously cheap. The 2 x breakfasts pictured for example are ZAR$50 or AUD$4.50.
That's if I could get my friends to let me pay they are not wealthy at all. I will devise a sneaky way to sort them out at the end.

 

[craven morehead]

First foray out for lunch and sightseeing was to Himeville & Underberg.



I last visited the Himeville Arms 3 years back. New owners have since renovated the place a little and it is quite a decent Pub & accommodation option and I believe a venue for weddings and receptions as well.

A good mate has lent me his X-Trail to get about.



Another friend travelling with me today.





Not uncommon decor over here





Smoking area out in the courtyard for those that require this option.



Nice outdoor setting looking over the gardens and pool.



The sign we saw when we were pulling into park.



We went with the daily special and weren't disappointed



2 beers and a meal each = ZAR$330 or AUD$29.00

We both very much enjoyed our lunch.

 

[Bundy Bear]

How is the driving in South Africa, I am also concerned about the crime.

 

[craven morehead]

After lunch it's time to head across to Underberg to fuel up and do some shopping.

Beautiful countryside on the short trip across. Good dairy country up this way



Heading up to the Shell Servo.



They still have full service at the garages here. Fuel, oil, water and tyres etc. Bogani served me today.



AUD $110.50 ~ $2.02 per litre. Very expensive for the locals.



Heading to the Tops bottle shop down the road.







Very well-presented liquor store



Neat little Datsun Ute parked up in the shade.



Underberg, literally " under the mountain " next stop the SUPERSPAR grocery store.

 

[craven morehead]

How is the driving in South Africa, I am also concerned about the crime.

Lots of potholes let me tell you. Traffic can be a little chaotic but not ridiculous. Keep in mind I'm currently in a rural area so not too bad. Cattle & Goats prone to wander on the road. Re: crime, one must be aware of their surroundings. More so when leaving an ATM's etc

 

[drron]

I think the potho;es are not more numerous or deeper than rural NSW at the moment.
I drove from JNB down to the Drakensburgs on the highway and then from their across country throuch Ladysmith and Dundee to Isandlwana then followed the Tugela river to the coast then south to Durban. Those places are on the map up thread.
Yes I was careful but at no stage did I feel threatened. I had worked with a South African before I went who gave me one piece of advice. When leaving your car for a while pick out a local and give him 10n zar to watch your car. Just over a dollar then and whether it did stop any vandalism I don't know but at least it gave a little bit to the local community.
I don't know if it is still something to do.

 

[craven morehead]

The SPARs over here seem, to quite an extent, support local farmers. I found the produce is top quality especially in this SUPERSPAR.











6 of the best-looking Porterhouse steaks I've seen in a while They will be on the braai very soon!



Just to show how thick cut the steaks were. ZAR $319.00 or AUD $28.57 for 2.53kg



A well set out supermarket with a great selection of goods.



Heading back out of Underberg. Maybe time for a quick beer somewhere on the way home

 

[craven morehead]

I think the potho;es are not more numerous or deeper than rural NSW at the moment.
I drove from JNB down to the Drakensburgs on the highway and then from their across country throuch Ladysmith and Dundee to Isandlwana then followed the Tugela river to the coast then south to Durban. Those places are on the map up thread.
Yes I was careful but at no stage did I feel threatened. I had worked with a South African before I went who gave me one piece of advice. When leaving your car for a while pick out a local and give him 10n zar to watch your car. Just over a dollar then and whether it did stop any vandalism I don't know but at least it gave a little bit to the local community.
I don't know if it is still something to do.

Yes, that's common practice @drron ZAR $5-10 does the trick. You can pick the "Car Guards" out as they nearly all wear a Hi-Viz vest.

 

[cosi]

QF at its best, serving $30 bottles in both Domestic and International J

Heirloom Cab Sav at Dan's Murphy for $22.99

 

[John in Melbourne]

A few more room shots:

A coffee station.

View attachment 306993

View attachment 306992

Tonnes of room.

View attachment 306991

Some Diamond trinkets.

View attachment 306995

Time for a rest now.

QF63 tomorrow after breakfast in the Flounge

Great trip report!!! Thanks. And, I like your sense of humor.

 

[Mwenenzi]

After lunch it's time to head across to Underberg to fuel up and do some shopping.

Beautiful countryside on the short trip across. Good dairy country up this way

Heading up to the Shell Servo.

They still have full service at the garages here. Fuel, oil, water and tyres etc. Bogani served me today.

AUD $110.50 ~ $2.02 per litre. Very expensive for the locals.

Heading to the Tops bottle shop down the road.

Very well-presented liquor store

Neat little Datsun Ute parked up in the shade.

View attachment 307866

Underberg, literally " under the mountain " next stop the SUPERSPAR grocery store.

Good to see photo of RSA Bakkie's. Some are unique to South Africa.
Those B120/B140/1400's were made in RSA for years after production stopped elsewhere. A sold in other RHD markets in Africa. Drive one in Kenya

Roads and general conditions look the same as when I lived for ~2 years in RSA some decades ago

 

[craven morehead]

Holy Snapping I just lost 2 weeks in the blink of an eye. Righto, let's get back on track!

A quick stop on the way home from Underberg to visit a friend of a friend's pub and accommodation set up at Bulwer. Just a short detour and 2 quick beers on our way home to Ixopo.

The Nip Inn:







On top of the cabins there was a caravan park here as well.



Nice enough place but pretty well in the middle of nowhere. The current owner has run this place for 24 years and it is now on the market for ZAR$6.5m