Johannesburg, South Africa.
Sorry, a bit of a geography refresher before we move on. Africa is a continent, like North America is a continent (which consists of Canada, United States, Mexico, the countries of Central America, and island countries in the Caribbean).
The continent of Africa includes 55 countries – 54 prior to the split of Sudan into Sudan and South Sudan.
The continent of Africa is almost four (3.76) times the area of the contiguous United States.
Southern Africa is an area. Southern Africa is generally defined as the countries of Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
South Africa is a country (or for those non-Americans, a “state”). Like the United States is a country. Or the Vatican.
Moving on… We arrive O. R. Tambo International Airport (aka, Johannesburg International Airport) after another overnight flight. Once through customs (make sure you click on this link!), we emerge into the greater airport – a very nice airport. As a contrast, ask me about Nairobi Airport someday. We then meet up with Sister #2 – arriving from California. Likely get some water, some food, and some Rand cash out of the ATM. Leave the international area and head to domestic flights.
Side story: We’re flying to the small town of Hoedspruit, Limpopo, South Africa. A small-ish town, a VERY small commuter airport, but a LONG runway – since home to a South African air force base. On a 2006 trip, we had a stop in the small eastern Africa country of Burundi – I didn’t even think the entire country had enough land to accommodate a runway for a Boeing 747 (or maybe it was an Airbus A380) – Africa ceases to amaze.
We arrive Hoedspruit via South African Airways. It would have been a wonderful flight – with amazing service – like a drink and actual real food – the flight attendants work their butts off, even on this very short flight. Although as of April 2020, South African Airways is slated to go bust. Africa ceases to amaze.
This is a long post, well, because this would have been a LONG day.
Eastgate Airport (Hoedspruit).
Stepping down off the aircraft onto the tarmac and the searing heat of Africa, and walk to the “terminal” where we would immediately see Sister #1 and my Brother-in-Law. They have arrived from the Netherlands via Cape Town an hour prior. Hugs, kisses, smiles – or whatever one does post-COVID. We collect our luggage – the “luggage building” – which was under construction in 2019 is likely now finished. Prior to that, luggage involved a tractor, a wagon, and the sidewalk.
As much as I wanted to impress my family by driving them all from the airport (on the ‘wrong’ side of the road) to our lodging, I was unable to find a rental vehicle that was large enough to accommodate six adults and luggage. Well, a vehicle that could do that, AND (since I’m American) was also a 4x4 – for the few hours of off-road traversing that I was to impress my family with a few days later. Instead, we’ve hired a transfer. We load up and head to Leopard's View – north of town, and less than an hour away.
We’re tired and jet-lagged, and relieved to arrive at the wonderful respite of Leopard's View. Steph and I stayed here in 2019 and are so happy to return.
Dinner menu, Leopards View, 2019. African safari lodge food is the best.
Lion cubs. Balule Nature Reserve, 2019.
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