To be a travel consultant worth his salt, you really need to know the hotels and areas intimately to blend together an itinerary that has everything that a traveller to the region is looking for. The saying of “’be careful what you wish for’’ springs to mind here as our expert ground handlers certainly put me through my paces with a spectacular itinerary visiting many different hotels and safari lodges. Travelling from Cape Town along the Garden Route to Port Elizabeth by car before exploring the Eastern Cape safari lodges and then flying on to Kruger National Park my adventure began.
Depending on your budget there are a few ways that this can be done. You could either join a group tour and meet other like minded travellers whilst being driven around the area in order to make the most of the in-depth local knowledge available from the guides, or you can have a private driver showing you the areas. On the other hand you may wish to do a self drive to explore the regions and enjoy the flexibility that comes with this option, which is certainly very popular.
The southern cape is graced with some of Africa’s most stunning landscapes, filled with dramatic vistas, fertile Winelands and a rich heritage infused with colonial elegance. This captivating journey from Cape Town, through the Winelands and along the beautiful Garden Route, provides not only dramatic panoramas but some of the finest culinary experiences in the world, as well as game viewing some of nature’s wonders.
There are of course many places to stay en route to suit all tastes and after really talking with our clients we try to find out which of the properties and locations best fits their itinerary at the same time integrating all the activities that are on offer, such as whale watching (seasonal), walking the nature trails, boat tours and spa treatments to name but a few.
About Richard Wende
Other articles by Richard Wende
I have pretty much spent the last 14 years travelling. In 1995 I felt it was time to explore the world and so I packed my brand new rucksack and headed off out the door. I started independently in New Zealand and Australia heading up towards Thailand and then via Cambodia to Vietnam before Laos and China, Tibet, Nepal and finally on to India. An incredible journey taking 5 years and me to sites such as Mount Everest, The home of the Dali Lama, The Killing Fields of Cambodia and the Great Wall Of China to name but a few.
This wasn’t enough I needed more. After returning home to see what reality was doing I was fortunate enough to be asked to join an Overland company where after being taught how to use a spanner and a hammer I headed back out in a large 18 tonne truck with some eager passengers ready to explore some more.
2000 – 2002 East and South Africa
I spent the next two years leading/driving expeditions through Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho and South Africa (east side via coast to Cape Town). These itineraries would include activities such as tracking the Gorillas in Uganda, leading, driving and coordinating game drives through all national parks (Masai Mara, Serengeti, Chobe, etc), and handling inter-relationships between clients and the indigenous people as well as the various tribes (Masai, Samburu etc).
2002 – 2004 Europe, Turkey Middle East and Central Asia
This time it was the UK departures fast tracking through Europe via Sicily to Tunisia and on by way of Libya to Cairo where I led a ten day programme of the pyramids, Valley of the Kings, down too Abu Simbel.
UK to Cairo via Turkey
Ten days through Europe to Istanbul. Crossing from Dover to France, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Yugoslavia, Macedonia and Greece. Before picking up main group and journeying through Turkey via Goreme and the coast heading south into Syria and Jordan, taking in all the famous land marks en-route and finally to Egypt.
UK to Kyrgyzstan via Iran
An exploratory expedition with ten days in Iran before heading north to Georgia and on through Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and finishing with a tour of Kyrgyzstan before heading back to the UK with a new group.
2004 – 2005 South America
Ten months traversing throughout Venezuela and Brazil from Caracas to Rio de Janeiro and vice versa including all major land marks and activities such as camping in the Amazon rain Forest, hiking to Angel Falls, dancing in Salvador and carnival in Rio. Rio to Quito three months co-leading through Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador. Again organizing, booking and participating in all activities such as the Inca trail, the Salt Flats of Bolivia and crossing the Altiplano.
I still have and use that rucksack!
