It is finished...

but definitely not forgotten...

Coming back to work and looking through some of the pics I really almost get a lump in my throat. Throat is a very difficult word for me to spell. I came out with throught.. then throaught.. then throaght.. then finally the more correct throat.

Thanks so much for all the pictures!!!

Thanks guys... for making one of the most memorable holidays in my life a reality!!!
:)

Nicolas Pics
Reese Pics
Sakkie Pics
Britta Pics
Eugene Pics
Melanie Pics
Katja Pics
Christelle Pics
Anne-Laure Pics

Arrival in O.R.Tambo international

Hi Guys, another little possible change.
My dad (in spite of agreeing to letting me use his car for the weekend) will not allow me to drive into central Johannesburg, so I have a very strong suspicion that that trip will not happen (as all my friends are working on Thursday).

So I have to warn you to set your scope a little lower and perhaps enjoy our garden and my local town... :)
we will probably need to rest a bit, so I will think of fun "local" things to get up to... you can even see my primary school and high-school with a short walk if you wish, and we can explore the dubious danger/excitement of our Kempton Park city centre.
:)

Pilansberg Map

Here is a map on how to get to Bakgatla (Click on the map for a bigger image)

More travel info:

Packing and luggage:

• 20 KG check-in luggage allowance for domestic flights to cape town, and as we cannot be certain that there will be time to stop by my parents place on the way back to Europe, you will have to fly with all your luggage to cape town. Because of this please try to pack as small suitcase as possible, otherwise we will not have space in the cars if we have too much big luggage!! We will all be able to do clothes washing.
• Try and pack with the following in mind: Cape town will be warm and pleasant, and you need comfortable summer clothes, flip-flops and one clubbing outfit. You will need one warm jacket (for the sometimes windy cool evenings) and something to cover your legs for mosquitoes in evening. You don’t need to pack anything special for the bush, cause this will be normal summer clothes + hat. Normal shoes/flipflops will be fine, as it is NOT muddy and we are not walking. Bring one pair of jeans.
• Ensure your Luggage is secure… the plastic wrapping for example is not enough, there have been cases where this has been ripped off and the suitcases opened. Also try not to pack any valuables into luggage, instead keep them in hand luggage.
• Hand luggage and handbags: 5 KG total amount (they weigh it in SA airports!) and you have to ensure that you keep everything in sight and on your person all the time.
• Bush trip: We are arriving at Jhb International (newly renamed O.R.Tambo International – our government has money to waste) and we are dropping the main luggage off at my parents place. We will pack a smaller bag for the bush trip (my parents have extra bags, so don’t worry about bringing an extra one).

Security and safety:

• When out and about do not display phones, wallets and other valuables in a way that someone can grab it from you.
• When at restaurants and café’s, NEVER place phones or wallets on the table.
• When at restaurants ensure that all belongings are in sight.
• NEVER leave phones or wallets in the cars. It is an invitation to break in.
• Always lock the car doors while in the car and also when you are leaving the car.


Enough about the serious stuff, here is some fun information:

Itinerary (its not really… ;)

• We will arrive at Jhb international, and my sister and mom and dad will come to pick us up from the airport. There are two options, either relax at my parents’ house and take it easy, or go out for a drive in Jhb.
• Really bad traffic (the worst in SA) means that those who want to go on the Jhb drive will quickly drop the bags at home, and then we will leave again, otherwise we will be stuck in traffic all afternoon. I was thinking of going to Rosebank Mall via Jhb central, so that you can get an idea of the city. We have a coffee at Rosebank, and then return to be home by approx 4pm…
• We have the evening to chillout and my dad is preparing a traditional Afrikaans dinner for us
• We will pick up Anne-Laure from Airport in evening.
• We can leave our main bags at home and pack a smaller bag for the bush if you want.
• The next morning we depart at 5am (I know it is early, sorry for that, but we have to due to the same bad traffic!) to go to Bakgatla Camp, Pilansberg.

This is the Friday start of our bush safari, of which we have two game experiences and the rest of the time doing what YOU want…
I am warning everyone now that I will be doing NOTHING most of the time, just being by the pool and relaxing, talking to people. :) lets see if this really happens!
• Christelle will be picked up by Andrew and Abrie as she arrives at the airport on Saturday, and they are coming through to the camping site on that day.

• We will probably leave Bakgatla Monday midday, to be back by late afternoon. Reason for this is the bad road (unlit and many animals) which is not good to drive at night. Any washing that needs to be done can be done by my mom. :)
• Tuesday morning at 5:45 our flight departs O.R.Tambo international, and we will arrive bright and busy in Cape Town!!!!

No plans or structure for this week – we will all discuss, decide and splinter off to do what we want for these days, if you have any special requests please let me know!!!
So far we have table mountain and Robbin Island as two activities which a few people will probably go to.

Little surprise:
I know some of you are gonna kill me for this, but we don’t actually have a place to sleep for the last night in CT. The idea was that we go to another place for the very last day of the trip, somewhere where very few tourists go, so that you can get another view of South Africa. I am still looking into this, and I will also find out if we can extend our stay in the Camps bay house, perhaps we can each decide what we want to do (some people just enjoying another day of quiet, others adventuring off) but we will discuss this when we see each other!!

Camping - YEEEHAAA!!

YAY!!!
Less than one week!!!

:)

So, here is the wrap:

We are all going camping, I have booked the following list of peoples, X means sleep over that night, accommodation is sorted already:

	Friday	Sat	Son
Eugene	X	X	X
Nicolas	X	X	X
Reese	X	X	X
Britta	X	X	X
Anne-Laure	X	X	X
Christelle	X	X	X
Alex	X	X	X
Melanie	X	X	X
Katja	X	X	X
Jerry	X	X	X
Roger	X	X	X
Stephan K	X	X	X
Mariska	X	X	X
Jacques	X	X	X
Magda	X	X	X
Carla	X	X	X
Rene			X
Lourens			X
Jonelia	X	X
Mizpah	X	X
Mine	X	X
Andrew Pienaar		X
Abrie		X
Pieter Jonck	X	X

If you are not on the list (or if I am missing a partner etc.. let me know!!!)
Also, the guys here are quivering with excitement… so thank you all for making this a reality, and thank you in advance for mingling and exposing them to warm Afrikaans hospitality (spoken in English of course)!
I will send out a cultural disaster guide shortly to attempt to avert any major incidents.

Okie, I need to highlight a few things:

Travel:
We are leaving Friday morning before traffic (so really early- approx 5am), and I have it that Jerry, Roger, Magda and Stephan Kotze are ferrying us…
If I have this wrong please correct me!

Obviously you other guys can come when suits u, but I would like to spend a lot of time with you! I will sms my cell number to all of you when I arrive in SA.


Things we all need to bring: torch, towels, swimwear, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, food & drink, tent and sleepinggear.

My mom has prepared some sample menus (I will list below) however, basically we will be braaing every evening, and we will have “quick-fix” lunches, and we will have cerial and bread for breakfast (probably one bacon and eggs braai morning). You will however be responsible for bringing your own food or drink, as my mom cannot cater for 25 people. Obviously. :)

So food should be easy: Just bring meats to braai. AND bringAfrikaans delicacies – koeksusters, vetkoek ‘n melktert, biltong & droeewors... – so that the new guys can taste some “native” food! :) I have asked them to also bring stuff from their countries, so try and bring something each, ok? will be cool to share special food with each other.

Share?
Perhaps you guys can team up for tents and food, most people are coming in large groups of one ;) so please feel free to contact each other and share the burden of packing and shopping: Roger, Jerry, Stephan K, Magda, Carla, Rene, Jonelia, Mizpah, Mine, Pieter.

My Mom's Food suggestions for your menu's:
Breakfasts: cereal, bread - Otherwise coffee tea & rusks...

lunches-
1.cold meats with croisants (Friday)
2.tuna & mayo with gerkins with rolls
Tomarto, lettuce, cucumber,cheese,snaks, rye bread etc to add to all the above as you wish.

supper-
1. braai chops with mixed vegetable dish (will supply instructions with foil plate- this is cabbage with garlic and cheese – easy to make) (Friday)
2. braai chicken with rice and mixed veg (in foil will supply reciepe - this is green peppers mushrooms brinjal onion and baby marrow)-Saterday
3. braai rump with potato & sweet potato in jacket/foil with salad ( beetroot?) Sunday

You can add sausage to any of the above & all the veggies are quick =- 15 min except the potatos/ sweet potatos, also you can swap any way round with any veg.... just a rough plan

Drinks: Maybe when you get here that day each goes to buy his own cool drink / alcohol - If you buy at the shop in Pilanesberg you are going to pay MORE.,

As you can see my mom is quite big on everything in Foil - no mess, no fuss, no pots... so just bring food and foil!!! :)

Cape Town Accomodation

Some folks needed more info on the Cape town accomodation, so here it is:


Main house: (R1875 per person for week) (approx £133 GBP per person for week)
http://www.safarinow.com/go/Campsbayglen/

• Eugene
• Nicolas
• Sakkie
  
• Britta
• Katja
• Reese
• Stephan K
• Jerry

Second flat: (R676 per person for week) (approx 67 EUR per person for week)
http://www.sleeping-out.co.za/member_details.asp?MemberID=3193
(Thanks to Melanie for booking this!)

• Melanie
• Alex
• Christelle
• Anne-Laure
  

Roger: staying with friends

Camping in the Bushveld!

Ok, so this is how it works...
we are going to Bakgatla
And my mom has already booked 2 campsites for Me, Nicolas, Britta, Melanie, Katja, Alex, Reese, Anne-Laure, Christelle, Jerry, Stephan K and Roger. (each campsite holds 6 people).

I realise it would be easiest if I just book everything for all of you, but unfortunately I dont have the cash-flow nor the coordination to achieve this, so what you do is the following.**update** you are all so disorganised I have booked campsites for you.
You do not need to do anything * update* check the newest post above to see if you are in list *endupdate*

I will email later with what to bring etc...