Lions and Tigers and Bears Oh My Africa-on-foot the Greater Kruger

Places You Have to See

Nelson Mandel boyhood home same street as Desmond Tutu’s

Robben Island

Tambo Airport

Voortrekker Monument

Outdoor Market barter but don’t be insulting.

Krugger National Park

Pretoria

Cape Town

Add on a trip to Victoria Falls

Diamond Mine

Safari or visit a local zoo.

Things You Need to Know

South African Rand is currency the exchange varies it is best to check.

There is an age requirement for most safaris.

Official languages Afrikaans, English, Zulu, Xhosa, Swati, Tsonga, Southern Sotho, Tswana, Venda, Northern Sotho, Ndebele

People are very friendly and helpful

Drinking water is safe. 

Well known hotels are expensive but a very good idea.

It is a long flight that requires a connection.

You need to carry a copy of your flight itinerary and have two facing blank pages in your passport.

Guided tours are best.

Not all tourist sights are wheel chair accessible.

It can be cold at night.

Try local cuisine.

Check about malaria medication.  Bring a mosquito net for sleeping.  Have vaccines up to date.

Yellow fever vaccination is only required by visitors from certain countries.

Check under and in and all around your bed before turning in at night.

Check safety concerns before you leave and adhere to rules at all times.  Crime is high in some areas. www.travel.gc.ca

The train from the Tambo International Airport is safe and easy to use.  Do not under any circumstances use other trains.

Hired drivers booked through your travel agent are a great idea.  Traffic accidents are frequent.

Do not let strangers touch your luggage.

Some areas are very poor.

At least one person on your flight will buy a very large wooden giraffe.

I arrived at Johannesburg late at night.  I had a driver picking me up very early in the morning from a prearranged location in the airport.  Because I was cheap I stayed up in a restaurant in the Tambo International Airport drinking coffee and reading a book.  I had emailed ahead to ask and was told many travelers do that.  They were very friendly and kept an eye on me.  They had all sorts of questions about snow as they had never seen it before.  They laughed as I attempted some Zulu.  Most South Africans speak two or more languages.  I met my driver and we headed out for our six hour journey.  We stopped at a service centre along the way and it’s just like home if you ignore the guard with the huge gun at the door and the rhinos and giraffes in a mini zoo behind the building.  We arrive at our destination safely.  Some truck we passed on the road have 20 people sitting in the back and people randomly run out onto the highway so it was good to arrive in one piece.  Welcome to Africa-on-foot.   I’m introduced to the owner and the guide Rein.  What do I want to see?  A hippopotamus.  Why do Canadians always want to see a hippo?  Obviously they did not see the Telus commercial.  I had changed my plans to come here last minute because I was supposed to go to Killamanjaro then South Africa to see friends.  I was worried about travelling alone through Kenya being white and female.  They had just updated the travel advisory to include improvised explosives and day light kidnappings.  I did not want to sleep with my back up against the doorway in my hotel waiting for daylight.  I was taken to my house it was so cool I had two bedrooms and bathroom better than the one at my house (minus the two harmless lizards) it was very comfortable and the ladies that worked there were very accommodating and friendly.  When I left they called me Mama which my friend told me was a sign of respect and I was very happy I made a good impression.  Right away we when out for a drive and saw all sorts of animals; rhinoceros, giraffe and elephants.  It was epic.  We came back and ate and then some time around the fire and bed.  My first night I was fast asleep and there was this huge windstorm.  My door flew open and I rushed out of bed to close it.  It was pitch black and I could see.  I called out for help but couldn’t hear myself over the wind.  I tried to call for help for what seemed forever.  Maybe not such a good idea.  There was no way I was walking around Africa in the dark the houses are too far apart and I’m not that stupid.  Snakes, spiders and all sorts of bitey things.  Lions and tigers and bears oh my.  Of course I’m trying to hold the door closed when I see something outside the kitchen building.  I found out later there is a honey badger that likes to try to break in and attempt to steal food.  Now I’m seriously shitting my pants.  So I had to think quickly.  In the dark I unplugged the fan (generator not on at night) and wrapped the cord through the door handle and placed a chair strategically in the corner all the while trying to keep the door shut.  The cord wrapped around me and the chair.  Guess what?  My first night in Africa was spent sleeping (sort of) with my back up against the door.  The next morning the sun was shining I was still alive my door was fixed and the adventure continued.

The Greater Kruger borders the Kruger National Park and is a collection of private unfenced reserves.  I was lucky enough to go here to Africa-on-foot and it was the experience of a lifetime.  http://www.africaonfoot.com/.  Fly into Johannesburg and you are driven northeast hours until you reach your destination.  You stay in chalets or be more adventurous and spend the night in the treehouse.  I did!  It was worth it even if I did share a double bed with two other quests.  Not quite brave enough to do it alone.  You have the opportunity to do a hiking safari or the traditional driving safari.  In the afternoon/evening drive you do a driving safari.  The food is the best I’ve ever had.