Mabula Private Game Lodge

We are coming close to the final portion of our current project at work - so the team management decided that people needed to get away from the work environment (of a million distractions) and uprooted about 40 people to a private game lodge about 200 Km away from Midrand.

Even though I have spent most of my life in Africa, I have never stayed overnight in a game lodge (or similar). It was not really what I was expecting - I have stayed overnight in a jungle in Peru - and this experience was a lot quieter. And although, we saw birds and a warthog in the lodge area itself, it was rather devoid of animals.

The reserve is quite big (20 000 hectares) and we did go on a game drive in the evening of the second day. Unfortunately no lions or leopards were spotted, but we did see 2 of the big 5 (buffaloes and rhinos) as well as other animals such as giraffes, zebras and numerous types of antelopes.

Beautiful Cape Town

On my previous visits to Cape Town this year, it had been raining. For the first time, last Sunday, it was a clear day - and it was a glorious winter day at that! I was in Cape Town for an early morning meeting on Monday, so decided to enjoy Cape Town and see a few friends etc.

My only aim was to go down to Hout Bay before meeting up with a few friends at Kennedy's in Long Street. On the way to Hout Bay, I decided to stop at Constantia Nek and take a short hike. I have really become unfit - even this short hike was a struggle - but the view of the snow capped mountains was well worth it.

Grilled Snoek and Chips at the Hout Bay harbour - more or less they only thing I eat here, but damn tasty, and damn good. Prices have shot up though - no more 20 bucks for fish and chips.

And there seems to be a new sport in town - paddling on a surf board ...

Oh, and it seems that car guards are venturing into other business these days. One of them offered me some weed (good stuff from Swaziland apparently) and another offered me cocaine too. No wonder Cape Town has a reputation ...