A few words from my sister Heather...

Ah, Africa. Hmmm, holiday. Two ideas that I’ve not yet put together during these last several years that I’ve been working in Africa with MSF (for a variety of reasons). So when Julie was embarking on her African journey of discovery…I thought I’d join in and do some discovering too. Our last sister adventure took us to the continental divide in Alberta/Montana in the late 1990s…we were overdue. The South African (SA) adventure was a combination of familiar experiences and several new ones.



There were the typical moments of over-stimulation as I first entered a shopping mall…why is everyone moving so quickly and everything is so loud? Why are there so many choices of every item in the grocery store? The excitement as I enjoyed a hot shower with good water pressure…in fact so good, I nearly did a face plant into the wall!



We enjoyed the touristy parts around Cape Town…so different from the other African cities I’ve visited…Bujumbura, Brazzaville, Kampala, Lubumbashi (LBB)…there are public services with a functioning infrastructure of roads, water, electricity (well…Cape Town is now also experiencing some ‘periods’ of blackouts)! The rich and poor divide was clearly evident on the drive from Cape Town along the Garden Route where over many kilometres you see the densely assembled makeshift houses of the slums…using metal sheets, wood, plastic…whatever. The houses were connected by a web of electrical wires…but we wondered about water supply, waste disposal, toilets. There were a couple of pick-up football games alongside the highway…a dangerous playground.



The visit to wine tasting area was a treat…we do get SA wines in LBB…so now I know which ones to pick!



Next…and possibly the best part of the trip…the animals and flightless birds! Penguins at Boulders Bay…they were hysterical and entertaining…waddling in from their ocean swim. The African penguins are not much taller than a large seagull. Now, the ostriches…I didn’t know that this bird was so stupid. Apparently, the female will lay about 15 eggs per breeding season…but the farm needs more egg production, so they steal the eggs leaving just one in the nest. The female returns to find that there is only 1 egg left…”Oh, only 1 egg. Must lay more eggs!” Then she lays more, that are then stolen…cycle continues…until about 75 eggs are taken from the ostrich. Not so smart; note the very small head.



The Pumba Private Game Reserve was my first opportunity to the animals outside of a zoo…how the different animals intermingle or don’t. I was like a child again learning about these magnificent animals which included: elephants, lions, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, warthogs, impalas, kudus, monkeys, besbok...which ones like the short bushes. Which ones prefer the tall grasses. What sounds they make to signal danger…to call a friend. We would sit on our deck and watch the zebras, wildebeests, warthogs and impalas drink from the small pond…Oh, did I mention that we were traveling ‘in luxury’…more stars than I’ve ever visited…an oasis for rest and relaxation for this tired humanitarian worker.



It was a fabulous trip where Julie and I enjoyed lots of laughs and thankfully didn’t have any mishaps with the left-side driving. A great sister bonding experience…where to next I wonder? I return to LBB and MSF refreshed and ready to continue with the vaccination campaign against measles…

Garden Route to PUMBA Lodge

We sadly left the wine region of Stellenbosch in search of game! Heather had not been on safari and was a important stop on her trip. I thought if we have to go safariing again...then let's definitely do it in style. Well...we drove the garden route to Pumba Lodge and wow did we hit over the top posh!! By far the most amazing room ever..you will have to see the photos. Our own African home with thatched roof mostly glass overlooking the bushveld. Our bathroom was sumptuous with soaker tub and glass shower with a view. Outdoor plunge pool and shower just in case. The best part was that we had a view of the local watering hole where from our bed, tub, shower or deck we could watch wild game come for a drink. AMAZING!! We saw warthogs, impala, zebra, baboons, water buck, impala, secretary birds.. all from our room come and take a little drink. The safaris blew Heather away. She wasn't the best spotter but slowly realized that looking thorough the binoculars whilst the landrover is moving causes nausea...lol.

We were lucky enough to see rhinos, giraffes, white lions and elephants. It was different to Botswana as it seemed too easy to just getting from your comfy down duvet into the Land Rover to spot game and enjoy a warm cup of cocoa. It wasn't as authentic as Botswana but definitely more civilized.

Heather has now left for Joburg a more relaxed women and happy to have seen a beautiful part of this African continent. She promises to send her thoughts on the trip which I will post on the blog. I hoping she tells a story or too...about the Ostriches we met...

I am leaving Cape Town tomorrow for Frankfurt and then to Calgary. I am sad to see the trip come to an end as it has been a wonderful adventure. There is so much more to tell but some is hard to put into words or even capture in pictures. This is a very special place and I wish all of you have a chance to see it someday. I am sad to leave Africa but happy to return my wonderful country of Canada...as I am so grateful to call it home.

Thanks for your comments, well wishes and support. It has been a trip of a lifetime and if you know me it won't be long before my bags are packed for another journey.

More pictures to follow when I return home. Looking forward to seeing you all soon.

Love,

Julie

Wine Tasting and Spaahing in Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch...started our day early and headed in search of wine. We stopped at Verglenogen which was one of my favorites not for the wine but the estate. Incidentally, it is Nelson Mandela's favorite as well. It is one of the oldest wine estates in the region with fabulous gardens and 100 + year old trees. The architecture of the old estates is charmingly dutch and most vineyard estate home are loaded with antiques. Heather and I decided to have lunch here at the rose garden cafe. This cafe overlooked about 1000 + roses of all different colours: yellow, pink, white, and red. It was divine..and to top it off there was peacocks roaming around while you enjoyed your lunch. A definate highlight for me...but there was no time to waste we went to Morgentler to taste olives and olive oil...a unique experience and then to Blauwidden (? sp) for a wine and nougat tasting which was a real treat. Heather and I have fallen in love with the PINOTAGE..it is a south African original wine combo of pino noir and hermitage grapes...very yummy.

After tasting, we were back at the SPIER estate for massages....heaven.