We flew up from Cape Town to Johannesburg to meet them off the London plane, then we all drove to a private game reserve adjacent to the famous Kruger for three nights. This was followed by two nights in the Blyde river canyon area and a dash back to Johannesburg on Christmas Eve to catch the train to Cape Town. 

The train (it wasn’t the famous and astonishingly expensive Blue Train, but rather the merely comfortable 'Premier Classe’) took 24 hours so most of Christmas Day was spent on board. On arrival at Cape Town we had to get out to the airport to pick up another hire car in order to return to VS. A few days in the Simonstown area were put to good use, with climbing Table Mountain, visiting Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope, and shark diving - Tom’s idea of a treat for his mother.

Tom & Hannah departed for an independent drive to Port Elizabeth on the 29th and returned to the UK on the 3rd. A good time was had by all.

Here are a few photos of the party in various places. Animal photos from the Kruger safari will appear in another blog entry, as will the shark diving.

Kruger National Park is the same size as Wales, and adjoining it are a number of private reserves which substantially increase its size. The private reserves have extended the Kruger fence so animals have free movement throughout. The VS party stayed at Toro Yaka Game Lodge in the Balule reserve. Here is the lodge safari vehicle, a converted landrover. The lodge only takes eight guests so we could all get on board. The guide drives and the guy sitting on the front is the tracker - a skilled and much sought-after position in local society. 

Below, lunch in the lodge with one of the delightful staff; temperature just a fraction under forty degrees in the shade.

The VS crew elephant spotting. There is nothing to stop animals wandering into the lodge, they just choose not to (most of the time). Shortly after this photo was taken two elephants did in fact walk up as far as the path you can see in the middleground. 

The Blyde River canyon, below, is one of the largest in the world, with the peaks in cloud much of the time:

There is some good walking in the gorge

Christmas breakfast on the 'Premier Classe’:

Visiting Cape Point:

Tom and Hannah’s final breakfast with us near Simonstown, Hannah sporting her brand new engagement ring - we had been party to an elaborate ruse by Tom to lure her up the Lion’s Head for dawn (0515hrs that day, after an hour’s drive and an hour’s climb) where the affiancing took place.