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Stephen...here's the report I promised. I'll try to keep it short but it'll be tough. It was an incredible trip and you did a first rate job putting it all together:
Day 1...Left PDX 1 1/2 hrs late due to ice storm in Frankfurt.
Day 2...Arr. Frankfurt only 20 min behind schedule. They made up the time with a quick turn-around and picking up the speed. We were very impressed with the crews and equipment of Lufthansa. However, any future trip that includes a 10 hour layover we would be more prepared for; a day room would have been very beneficial. We were to tired to take a tour but did take the train into Frankfurt for some sightseeing...the rest of the time was spent very uncomfortably in the Smokey Frankfurt airport. On the return trip we found some lounge chairs on the way to the United Air gate on concourse "C" that would have made our wait more comfortable and it was a non-smoking area.
Day 3...Met our driver in Capetown as planned. Olaf's is as lovely a place as you said it was. Its near the ocean and has a great walking path that goes all the way to V&A waterfront mall. Had a good meal and caught up on sleep.
Day 4...Woke early, our hostess recommended it would be a perfect day to see Table MT. and it was. We spent several hours hiking up there. We would recommend buying a day pass (R90) on the Red Route bus, it goes all over town and you can get on and off where you want and catch the next one (every half hour). Our next stop was downtown to Greenmarket Square...huge crafts open market. We neglected to pre-book Robben Island so missed the chance to see it that day.
Day 5...Took an all day tour to the Cape of Good Hope and points between. Very much worth R440 (ea) and the guide was very knowledgeable about local lore and history. Stops at Boulder beach to see the penguins and Kirstenbosch Gardens are a 'must see'.
Day 6...Robben Island...an in depth tour of SA's dark past of racism by the people who lived it. Very moving. Back to the B&B to pack up and wait for our car to be delivered....and wait and wait. It was the only fupah of the entire trip; they were nearly 2 hrs late due to a mix-up in paperwork....but they were very gracious in making up for it. They waived delivery fees and two days later at another B&B the head person of the tour group personally called and apologized and waived the delivery fee at Port Elizabeth. After the late start, several wrong turns and a crash course in learning to drive on the 'other side' we arrived in Stellenbosch at 8:30 pm...very frustrating; didn't get to see much of the wine area. Also they charged us for 6 day car rental, we had it for 5 and the delivery and pickup fees were double what you told us they would be. We were very pleased they were waived. Yellow Lodge in Stellenbosch was very nice.
Day 7...An all day drive to Oudtshoorn..over the pass after dark due to a late start....but Fosters Manor was incredible!!! The largest room I've ever seen.
Day 8...Toured around Oudtshoorn, the Ostrich farms and Conga Caves: indescribable. A 'must see'. Arrive Knysna 7:pm Another 5 star! FishEagle Lodge beautifully built and a fabulous location. And a well timed two day stay.
Day 9...The coastline is spectacular and our first opportunity to put our toes in the Indian Ocean. See the beach on the west side of the Heads, towards Bufflebaai.
Day 10...Storms River...not much to say about Storms River (Tsitsimakka Village), no shops, no people, weather cruddy, bungee jump place closed, canopy tour guy GFD....we packed for safari and stowed souvenirs.
Day 11...Leave early for Jeffries Bay and Port Elizabeth...best breakfast yet at Storms River. J'Bay a cool place for surfers and tourists alike...not many of either but we would have preferred to spend the night here than Storms River. Nice drive to P.E. Another beautiful city we'd like to have spent more time in. Drove to the airport and settled up with EuropCar w/o a hitch. All connections and shuttles smooth to Airport Grand Hotel.
Days 12 through 15...Bundu Safari Co. arrived on time at 5:30 am and the next 3 nights and 4 days were everything you promised they would be...and then some. We're still in awe of all we saw and did. The animals, the camps, the scenery...all incredible and well organized. I could spend several more paragraphs on this alone. You were right Stephen, to save this for last, what a memory we brought home.
We thank you and everyone you worked with for a job well done.
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