After a couple of weeks out in Johannesburg and the Kruger Park, Uns and I arrived back into London this morning. We flew out two weeks ago on Wednesday from Heathrow into a rainy and overcast Jo'burg which we weren't quite expecting for our sunny SA holidays :) After disembarking the plane, we stood around waiting what seemed like forever in passport control but eventually got through and headed home for a chilled out afternoon and evening.
That Friday we headed up to Greenstone for some shopping and lunch followed by an afternoon in the sun in the garden. Seemed like the overcast and rain was only around for our first day which was fine with us. On Saturday we went up to visit Kris and Taylor at their place - Nic was away in San Fran but would be back before we left, so figured we'd catch up with him then. After our Kris and Taylor visit, we popped up to A6 to visit Bev for a while and then back home for another afternoon in the sun in the garden.
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On Sunday we left for Kruger Park Lodge, arriving there in the afternoon in time for a swim and a braai that evening. Since we were changing chalets on Monday we had the day around the resort, so after packing up the car in the morning we spent the rest of the day around the pools and the resort before checking into our new chalet which was overlooking the river for the next four nights.
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From Tuesday through to Thursday we spent as much of it in the Kruger as we could and had a good few days of sightings, including leopard and cheetah which were two that I hadn't seen before, as well a fantastic wild dog sighting, so definitely a good few days in there!
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On Friday morning we left Kruger Park Lodge and headed home and then Saturday we popped up to Bev for a visit and then over to Greenstone briefly for a few things there. That afternoon Uns and myself made our way out to the Four Seasons Westcliff hotel for a night out there. At check-in we were upgraded to a deluxe room which was on the top floor overlooking the green belt of Johannesburg - such a nice room and an amazing view. We used the afternoon to chill out in the pool, soak up a bit of sun and then had dinner that night upstairs at Flames the restaurant, which again looked out over the view of Johannesburg.
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On Sunday morning we relaxed out around the pool and then checked out at midday and headed home. Bev came round in the afternoon for a braai and had a good relaxing afternoon until mom happened to miss her step and fell badly, injuring her ankle :( We decided not to go out that evening, but rather chill at home, and while mom rested her swollen injured angle, I struggled to set up grandpa's old train set on the dining room table, and got it running eventually!
Yesterday morning Uns and myself popped up to visit Nic, Kris and Taylor at their place. Nic just got back last week which was good timing, so was good catch up with him too. From their place we went up to Dickie Fritz Moth Club to see the plaque they had put up in memory of grandpa, which was always going to be difficult and emotional, but a really nice memorial to him there.
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That afternoon we were just at home and packing up before heading through to the airport, maximising our duty free allowance with some bottles of Chocolate Block, and then boarding the plane back to London. We arrived back in good time this morning, grabbed an Uber home and now I've come through to the office, hoping it's not going to be too long a day today :)