We have arrived in Cape Town after our adventures in Central Africa.
We flew from Dubai to Johannesburg arriving after a very nice flight on Emorates Airlines. We flew business class and it was worth it, the meal was actually very good. I had lamb and Fred had a nice fish. The crew was great. When they found out it was our first time on Emirates and that we had been traveling since January, they took our picture, put it in a folder that they all signed.
We were met right on time and escorted through immigration and customs and then were met by our driver. Interestingly, the immigration lady didn't even find one empty page but just stamped any place she could find!
We stayed one night at Tintswalo at Waterfall, a beautiful small hotel half way between J'burg and Pretoria. The next morning we were taken to Pretoria where we boarded Rovos Rail for the 3 day trip to Victoria Falls. Mr Vos the owner gave us a briefing about our "adventure" and he wasn't wrong!
His main point was that trains do not run on time if Africa. True to course we boarded on time but did not leave because a switch to get us put of the yard wasn't working. When we finally left we went back through J'burg and made it to a rain yard when we were having lunch. Then we were advised that the dining car had a hot wheel, meaning to was not rolling correctly, and that we had to wait here until they could bring a new dining car. six hours later we finally left J'burg.
I'll write more about the train when I'm not trying to type on the iPad. The train was very nice, food good, but you never get a good nights rest on a train.
After 3 days and 2 nights, we arrived in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. the Victoria Lodge/Hotel is right at the train station, but we stayed on Zambia side at the Royal Livingstone.. It was a very nice hotel and we enjoyed the view over the Zambezi River just as it drops over the falls. The river was at it's highest stage so the falls were magnificent.
Yesterday we traveled from Livingstone, Zambia to Cape Town. We are staying at Table Bay Hotel over looking the habor. Tomorrow we will join Roar III, Part 2.
