DEAN'S DIARY MAY 1998
Dear Friends,
I must tell you straight away what wonderful winter weather we are enjoying at the moment. The predicted maximum daytime temperature for today is 26 Celcius and the sun has not stopped shining for almost two weeks now - we are so lucky here in Durban and KwaZulu-Natal.
I have just returned from a marvellous safari into Zululand with Carl, Emma, Gary and Anne - and they commented about the marvellous weather and could not believe that more tourists were not around - well, that is something I also find hard to believe - from April to August is the best time to visit our Game Reserves for game viewing and for some odd reason very few foreigners realise this - they come during our hot summer months and then do not enjoy as successful game viewing as they would if they came in our mild winter months! Sure our nights are chilly and you need to put a jersey or jacket on and if you are inland or in the mountains, a fleecy jacket is a big help, BUT the days are marvellous - we still walk around with T-shirts and shorts on and then about an hour before sunset, we start dressing up a bit warmer - come to Durban for our next winter holiday (or in most foreigners case - your summer holiday!)
Let me tell you about my most recent trip:
Carl and Gary are in the Royal Navy and those of you who are in South Africa will know that the HMS Cornwall has recently paid a visit to our shores after having been involved in the rescue and peace-keeping work in Sierra Leone. The HMS Cornwall is a large frigate that also has a helicopter. Carl is on the Maintenance team of the helicopter and plays an important role - no Carl, no helicopter repairs!! Gary, if my memory serves me correct, was with the electronic aids section - my apologies Gary if I am wrong. Well, during their 3 week visit to South Africa, these two guys had taken their leave and their partners had flown out from the UK for a 2 week holiday with their loved ones. The HMS Cornwall arrived in Walvis Bay for a short visit, then PE, followed by a visit to Cape Town. Emma and Anne flew out and met the chaps in Cape Town before flying up to Durban with Sun Air - which they were really impressed with. I met them at the airport, and then took them on a short guided tour to some of the attractions in and around Durban, including The Temple of Understanding, the Cato Manor informal housing scheme, the Berea, harbour breakwater and beach viewpoint, into the City centre for a bit of shopping and banking and then to the Cafe Fish for a pub lunch overlooking the yachts. We then departed up the scenic Sugar Coast for Shakaland.
On arrival at Shakaland we had a lovely cup of tea whilst enjoying the views over the Nkwalini valley followed by a cultural guided tour through this Zulu village with Enoch. Learning about the cultures and taditions of the Zulu nation is a real eye-opener and interesting.
Our tour ended with the tasting of traditional Zulu beer, which Carl really enjoyed. After a couple of drinks around a crackling fire, we then enjoyed a hearty tasty meal with Emma commenting on the many tasty new vegetables that she had never eaten before.
After dinner the Zulu dancers arrived and welcomed us to the chiefs main hut for an hour of drum-beating and foot-stamping Zulu Dancing. Anne proved to all that she was also capable of dancing when she accepted the chiefs invitation to join the Zulu maidens and dance with them!! What was really good was that Enoch explained what the different dancers were doing and saying - not often done at other cultural villages. Sadly we had to leave Shakaland and we drove the short distance to Mfuli Game Ranch - for our nights sleep and breakfast.
After breakfast we drove to the Ulundi Battlesite - where the final of the Anglo-Zulu war battles were held. With Carl and Gary being with the Royal Navy - this was obviously meaningful to them. Joining the gravel road we continued into Umfolosi Game Reserve passing one of the VERY long coal trains, en route to Richards Bay. The game viewing to Sontuli picnic site was successful with Rhino, Zebra, Giraffe, Kudu, Impala, Nyala, and Wildebeest being amongst the animals that we spotted. A traditional African Bundu Safaris picnic lunch was enjoyed by all, overlooking the Umfolosi river with 3 crocodiles and a rhino gracing the river banks. We continued our successful game viewing to Hilltop camp in Hluhluwe reserve, arriving there just before sunset. Large sections of the reserves were being burnt, as part of the vegetation control - the grass was very long and by burning it, and the weeds means that when the first rains appear there shall be lovely new green grass for the animals. I just hope the tortoises and slower insects move out of the way - one major disadvantage of fires!
As we arrived at Hilltop Gary had a message to phone the ship - bad news - the ship was sailing on Saturday or Friday and they had to get back in time!! Boy what a way to ruin a holiday. I was determined to make the most of their holiday and provide them with some exciting moments and happy memories. We all enjoyed a great dinner in the restaurant and some Zebras chose to visit the two couples chalets just before dinner as well!! Early the next morning we went on an exclusive 6am game drive with Freddy the game ranger. It was really an exciting trip - we came across buffalo, rhino, zebras, giraffe, impala, waterbuck, nyala and even 10 elephants which were drinking from the river a mere 12 metres away from us!!! Returning to Hilltop we ate a delicious and filling breakfast, followed by many phonecalls to rearrange flights etc and then we took our picnic lunch to the Theyeni Hide, which unfortunately was not visited by too many animals during the two hours that we sat there for. After an early dinner we bordered the larger truck with Freddy and many other guests for a night of game viewing - boy what a success we had - the nocturnal animals that we saw included striped genet cat, a hippo, buffalo, a family of 12 bush-pigs plus a barn owl, a dikkop bird and night jar. We obviously also saw many other animals that were either sleeping or which we had woken up!
Waking up the next morning, we enjoyed a final breakfast at Hilltop prior to a short visit to Emdoneni Ranch to view the cheetah and meet the tame Zebra and then continued to the Beira Mar restaurant for a tasty portuguese seafood lunch. We then continued to Durban International Airport for the sad farewell prior to the 5.40pm return flight to Cape Town.
Emma phoned me the next day and told me that the ship had sailed at 4pm and the helicopter had flown to C.T. international airport to await their arrival. Their excess luggage had been collected from their B & B in Cape Town, and so they sorted it out in the airport foyer, prior to Gary and Carl joining the helicopter and flying out to sea to join the ship which was a good 100 miles away from Cape Town, en route to West Africa again - I presumbe to Senegal where we hear of unrest at the moment. Emma had to buy another airticket as her flight was only scheduled for the 20 June and here she was in Cape Town on the 13th without her husband. Anne was still deciding whether to stay in Cape Town with some of the other wives and girlfriends and visit the Garden Route.
And so ended the Royal Navy's trip, but I hope that they will be back and I can show them around some more of our beautiful country - read their comments in my Guest-book.
Two weeks ago a new event happened in my companies life - I employed a secretary. Alice is now running my office during my absence as business is picking up and I am away a lot more than in the past. Alice has a great knowledge of Southern Africa, having travelled around with her family and also is used to getting the best deals for her previous companies travelling clients. Welcome Alice - may your stay be long and prosperous. This development has also meant a need to expand my premises and so I have ordered a office to be constructed in my backyard - this neat little wooden office will serve us nicely and I am looking forward to Alice settling in neatly with all the office equipment.
A few weeks ago I was fortunate enough to take two American students, Sara and Sacha on a day visit up Sani Pass and into Lesotho. They were both studying in Cape Town and were keen to meet some of the Basuto villagers and see their way of life - well, we left Durban at 6 in the morning and then met Jonathan at Himeville, having stopped at World's View in Pietermaritzburg for a quick breakfast with stunning views over "the sleepy hollow" and our provincial capital. Jonathan has a new lengthened Landrover which proved very comfortable in ascending the pass to 2865 metres (9400 ft). We visited two of the villages in Lesotho and then enjoyed a scrumptous lunch in the Sani Top Chalet. We all decided to walk down the pass for a while and then Jonathan caught up to us and eventually we returned to Himeville and then the two ladies and I drove back to Durban.
Another young couple, Angi and TJ, from the States have just returned from a glorious two week trip from Cape Town to Johannesburg, via Durban and Swaziland with my cousins safari company. Today I had an e-mail from Angi and this is what they had to say:
"We just returned from our trip with your cousin's company on Monday (the 8th) and we just wanted to thank you again for pointing us in their direction!! We had a wonderful trip! You certainly have a beautiful country!! There was such a variety of things to see and do. The guide that they sent was a man named Rupert from Pretoria and he was fantastic. It was the best vacation that we have ever had! The weather was beautiful, the scenery was magnificent, and even the food was delicious! When we were in the Kruger Park we were fortunate enough to see 2 lioness and to witness the capture of 2 bull elephants to be taken to the Pilanesberg game reserve. It was all around just a fabulous trip!! Thank you again so so much for telling us about the trip. We would love to come to Africa again some day and maybe next time we will be able to arrange it farther ahead so we could go with one of your groups. Hope that you are having a wonderful winter and all is well!"
So there you have it - if I cannot personally take you on a trip, then I shall arrange it with either my cousin or one of the eight other friends who I network with around the country. Everyones trip is guaranteed to be thoroughly enjoyable and exciting. As I have mentioned before, the more people the cheaper and if your dates are flexible and you are wanting other people to join your safari or wanting to join another safari - let me know and then I can try and "mix and match" your safari with other clients.
I was also recently in the situation where I had to try and find a cheaper car hire company than the one I deal with - well, to cut a long story short, there is not another nationwide company that offers the rates that I can offer you and the good service. My car hire company gives me special rates and I pass this discounted tariff on to my clients for self-drive itineraries, but please, do look after the cars or else the discounted tariff disappears. A number of people ask for 4x4's - well folks, here in South Africa to visit the majority of our attractions a 4-wheel drive is not needed. The tar (asphalt) roads are extensive and the gravel roads are well maintained. It is only when one ventures off the beaten track into the Transkei, Maputoland, Lesotho, Mozambique, Botswana and Namibia remote areas that a 4x4 is needed and to be honest with you, you do not kow where to go and good maps are scarce - so it that case, that is where someone like me comes into the story. I know these areas well and can take you there safely and comfortably. My Toyota Hilux is the South African 4x4 !! Apart from a Landrover, the other 4x4's are basically toys and macho machines, that the wealthy own and their highlight is driving onto the pavement at the local shopping centre or parking on their friends sloping front lawn!! But if you really insist on a 4x4, I can hire one for your self-drive itinerary, but you must realise they cost over $100 per day - not cheap!
My one friend Rowan, and yes I do have more than one friend, has recently bought a cell phone (mobile phone) and before he took it home to show his folks he brought it around here and we fitted a hands-free car kit into his car. This is something I would have thought would have been compulsory to have with any cellphone purchase. The number of 'yuppies' that drive around with one hand holding a phone to their ear, whilst the other hand controls the gears, steering wheel, indicators etc is unbelievable. They are a menace on the roads and I wish someone would do something about it! Some clients of mine in the past made a comment about how many people here had cellphones - well, you get them for free at the moment, just got to sign a 2 year contract to pay a minimum monthly fee of R150 plus calls. So wherever you go there is someone talking on a cellphone - they can be convenient, but I just wish people would be more considerate with their use.
I made a real fool of myself last week - it was one of my past pupils and good friends birthday, I found a really great card and then inside wished him happy 20th birthday - this was followed a few days later by a polite phonecall stating that he was only 19 years old!! How embarassing - I must be getting old - anyway, Jay used to be my right-hand man when I was a teacher, always helping me out, well, he helped me with the fitting out of the electricals in my 4x4 and now he has helped me with the electrical supplies for my new office - thanks Jay.
I mentioned in my last diary entry about going to Karstens 21st - well, I went and had a really nice time. His mom had prepared a super dinner and there were plenty of drinks. Karsten was a member of my Outdoor Club when I was a teacher and came on a number of outings with me - I remember he loved the mountain hikes, came to Namibia, Kosi Bay, plus the Cedarberg Adventure. I met a couple of his friends and his lovely girlfriend - boy I wish I was 21 again!! What really touched me was Karstens kind words to me thanking me for all my assistance and support during his final year of school and the importance of me joining him for his 21st. Also at Karstens 21st were past pupils Jordon and Bruce and Karstens brother Ivan - all past members of the Outdoor Club - so we all had a great chin-wag, especially about Jordon and Ivans trip to Botswana with me in 1992. The down side of the party was hearing from the chaps how so many of the past pupils had fallen in the gutter and dealing with drugs, were jobless or were not leading good healthy lifestyles - really heartbreaking, especially when I knew them and taught them. Such a pity!
On a happier note, Abby has settled down well at home and now is bigger than Didi, but the two dogs have a glorious time playing together from sunrise until sunset and then even carry on after dinner!! So much energy - but Abby being a rottweiler, seems to love digging and still being a puppy, gets up to a lot of mischief. She went for her first walk in the neighbourhood the other day and although hesitant about a leash, she seemed to enjoy herself. One good thing is that she seems to enjoy her bath, which can be difficult if she tries to run away while you are soaping or rinsing her!
My gardener has turned into a painter now!! Nkosinyathi has not been successful in finding a permanent job, so I put up a tent in the backyard for him to sleep in for 2 weeks and then we used a high-pressure water machine to wash the house and then he painted it - so now we have a new house, along with varnished window frames. One of my old shipmates, Tom, is moving down fom Swaziland into a neglected house just around the corner from me. Well, ther is a lot of work to be done before Johness and Dominic (his wife and daughter) move down, so Nkosinyathi has moved there for three weeks to clean and paint his house, starting from the inside first of all. It is good to see Tom again as I use to only see him probably once every two or three years, now it will be once every few weeks - or whenever I am around in Durban.
Some neighbours down the road have replaced their front wall, and were going to throw their old one away - well Nkosinyathi and I transported all the wall and pillars to our backyard as the one sand-bank is collapsing and I can use the old wall for support, now I just have to wait until I have a one or two week break between trips. But thanks to Peter and Elizabeth for the wall. I do have a short break after Dave and Bernies honeymoon trip this month, but I also have my Western Cape Satour Guide exam then, so have to do some additional studying. Talking of Satour - in case you do not know already, the Toronto office in Canada, the Los Angeles office in the USA have closed and in September the Switzerland office will be closing - all part of the Governments budget cutting. Now, we have a national government and also a local government and they are all cash-strapped. The Rand-Dollar/Pound exchange rate is getting worse and worse (for us South Africans) and we keep hearing about no money being available - obviously some departments do not have their priorities. Just last week I read about a budget of over R3 million being applied for by the local security and transport government and they were only allocated R250 000, of which R193 000 was allocated for a new Mercedes for the mayor!!! Why a new one and why a Merc - meanwhile the police can't respond to all the help calls as their vehicles are not roadworthy, and the medical services don't have sufficient equipment. Then the surf lifesaving club has a new 3 seater jet-ski bought for their department and the list goes on. Our local minister of education decided to travel to the World Cup Soccer in France and left behind the education crisis until he returned - well, thankfully the Provisional premier seem to have his head screwed on correct and recalled him to South Africa to sort out the problem - boy oh boy!
Please, when you make money deposits into my account for your trips, please ensure that you e-mail me when you have made the deposit and tell me which bank and city the deposit was made at and your currency equivalent. I charge in Rands - which is now exchanged at about US$1=R5.32 and the Pound is about R8.30 at the moment.
I have a number of enquiries for next year already, so if you are wide awake and planning your holiday for 1999, e-mail me quickly and let's start the planning. Booking ahead means that you get what you want and at the older prices, before price increases.
Well, that's all my news for this month - see you around soon.
All the best
Dean Foster
Manager - African Bundu Safaris cc.
p.s. Remember to acknowledge any e-mails you receive - I WILL acknowledge all e-mails within 48 hours - if not, please resend it - something went wrong.
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