South Africa

In the evening on Oct 12 our train crosses to ZIMBABWE. Following days we explore this country. The fist day the “Great Zimbabwe,” the second day Bulawayo and the Cecil Rhodes grave in “View of the World.” On Oct 15 we go to “Lake Kariba” and take a boat ride on it. The day after there is sightseeing of “Hwange National Park.” On Oct 17 our train comes to “Victoria Falls.”
Still this morning we go from our train on foot across a bridge to ZAMBIA. We see the “Victoria Falls” from the Zambia side. Then our minibuses take us to a Zambian town Livingston. We see a market and a museum there.
On Oct 18 we take our minibuses from Victoria Falls to BOTSWANA. There we visit the “Chobe National Park.” The most memorable are the many elephants we see. We take a boat ride on the Chobe River. Then we return to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.
On Oct 19 in the morning we go to “Victoria Falls” on the Zimbabwe side, my second visit here (the first was in 1983). After lunch I am taken to the local airport for my flight in a small plane to Windhoek in Namibia.
The plane lands in Windhoek, NAMIBIA after 7 PM. A taxi takes me to my hotel. From here I take the “Dune Express” another “Shongololo Train” to Cape Town. On Oct 20, there is a sightseeing of Windhoek, the pretty capital of Namibia. One fact that before WWI Namibia (that time South West Africa) belonged to Germany is that the streets are called “Strasse.” In the afternoon the minibuses take us to town Otjiwarongo in the northern part of Namibia. Here is our train.
While the train stays in place its passengers make a day trips to “Etosha National Park” and the following day to “Waterberg Nature Reserve.” Then the train starts moving south. Morning on Oct 23 we take a van trip to area around the mountain Spitzkoppe. In the afternoon we are in the town Swakopmund with the main street called “Kaiser Wilhelm Strasse.” Then south to 34 km distant Walvis Bay. Near it there are high sand dunes. By evening we are back to Swakopmund and our train. Next day I take a trip north to “Cape Cross,” which is a southern edge of the “Skeleton Coast.” In the afternoon, back to Swakopmund where I explore the town by myself.
On Oct 25 we leave the train to see the countryside and spend a night in a tent camp. We reach the train again in the evening of the second day after it moved to Mariental. Next day we drive to Kalahari Desert. A Bushman shows us their live in the desert. Then to the Hardap Dam built for irrigation. By night we are back on our train. Over night the train moves to Keetmanshoop. Today a minibus tour takes us to a POW camp from WWI for German soldiers, later a now closed diamond mine and to a port town Luderitz. The following day we visit the “Fish River Canyon,” the second biggest canyon in the world. Late at night our train crosses the border to SOUTH AFRICA.
On Oct 30 we awake in Upington. This is a wine growing region. We visit “Augrabies Falls Nat. Park.” There are many wild animals there and we see beautiful waterfalls on the Orange River. Later a visit of “Spitskop Nature Reserve.” Then the train goes the whole night and in the morning we are in Hutchinson. By vans to town Graaff-Reinet. There we travel through Great Karoo which is a semidesert. Our train is waiting for us in Beaufort West. On Nov 1, I take a tour through Klein Karoo (a green country) to “Cango Caves” and town Oudtshoorn. We visit the caves and individually see Oudtshoorn. In the evening back on our train. The following day our trip starts at Paarl where we visit the “Afrikaans Leguage Monument” a symbol of the Afrikaan language. Next stop is in a winery to do some tasting. It is followed by wine towns Stellenbosh and Franschhoek. In Franschhoek we see the Huguenot Memorial. Our train is also there.
On Nov 3 we are in the Cape Town. We spend two days here. We take the cable car to the top of the “Table Mountain,” then the “Castle of Good Hope” in the city. At noon we are in “Victoria and Alfred Waterfront Shopping Center.” In the afternoon “South African Museum” and the “Company Gardens.” The second day a trip to “Cape Point” and “Cape of Good Hope.” In the afternoon we see the famous “Kirstenbosch Gardens.”
That ends my “Shongololo Train” trip. On Nov 5, after the last night on the train, I fly from Cape Town to Johannesburg and from there to Maseru, Kingdom of LESOTHO. By a van to my hotel. The next day a car with a driver takes me through the capital, Maseru, then outside the town a visit to Thaba-Bosiu Mountain with graves of the royal family. It could be said Lesotho begun here in 19th century. In a town Macitsieng I see the compound of the king and in Morija I visit a small museum. After 4 PM the car takes me to the airport.
From Maseru I fly back to Johannesburg. There I change the plane for one going overnight to Atlanta, USA, where in the morning on Nov 7. The last plane takes me from Atlanta to Los Angeles. There I rent a car. In midafternoon I am at home in Vista.

Travel office: Wild African Ventures and Shongololo Train.
Who took part: On Shongololo Train were Dutch, Germans and Brits. In Lesotho alone.

Another day on the Mediterranean Sea with more lectures. On Nov 2 is a sightseeing trip of “Alexandria” in EGYPT with visit of the new and modern library built near the place where the old one once stood. In the afternoon, Minerva II. sails east to Port Said. Very early in the morning on Nov 3 I leave on a full day bus tour to see “Coptic and Moslem Cairo.” All buses from the ship going to Cairo are in one colon with military escort. In Cairo we visit the Citadel with its Mohamed Ali Mosque. Then several other mosques followed by Coptic Christian churches and one synagogue. When returning back to our ship at Port Said, our bus goes alone and without military escort. When passing near the Suez Canal at night we see fully lit ships sailing through it.
Next day morning Minerva II. is going through “Suez Canal” from Mediterranean to Red Sea. On Nov 5 our ship is moored in Egyptian Red Sea port Safaga. Today I take a bus trip to “Luxor and the Valley of the Kings.” The following day most of the passengers change and I have to switch to another cabin. It’s almost the same but it does not have balcony. On Nov 7 I take a second trip from Safaga to “Luxor, Habu Temple and the cemetery of Nobles.” During both trips the buses drove in a colon with military escort. At night Minerva II. sailes from Safaga to the Egyptian resort Sharm El Sheikh on the Sinai Peninsula. I go for a trip to “St. Catherine’s Monastery.”
On Nov 9 our ship is in Aqaba, JORDAN and most passengers including me are heading on buses to the famous “Petra,” an ancient capital of Nabateans. Next three days are on the Red Sea.
On Nov 13 Minerva II. is at the pier in Djibouti City in DJIBOUTI. I take a tour of the city with stops at “camel and then regular market.” During next 4 days our ship leaves the Red Sea and rounds the Horn of Africa. Sailing is filled with interesting lectures.
On Nov 18 the ship puts anchor near the island of Lamu in KENYA. There is a sightseeing tour of the town once built by Arab merchants. Next 3 days Minerva II. is mooring in the largest Kenyan harbor Mombasa. Again a part of passengers leave the ship and new come on board. I change my cabin. While here I take several trips: “Mombasa City Tour,” “Haller Park Nature Trail,” full day “Simba Hills National Reserve” and full day “Tsavo Jeep Safari.”
On Nov 22 our ship anchors near the harbor of the island of ZANZIBAR which is part of TANZANIA. In the morning tour of “Zanzibar Town’ (called Stone Town) and afternoon “Jozani Forest” with Red Colobus monkeys. Then there is a day on the Indian Ocean.
On Nov 24 Minerva II. anchors of the island of MAYOTTE which is department of France. Mayotte is one of 4 Comoros Islands, but the other 3 form an independent state. I take a bus tour of the island.
Between Nov 25 and Nov 30 the ship makes stops on MADAGASCAR in places: Mahajanga, Nosy Be, Antsiranana and Toamasina. On the island we see the famous lemurs, chameleons and several species of baobab trees among others. I visit the “Ampijoroa Nature Reserve.” In Antsiranana we see British and French cemeteries. It is the only place where British and Vichy French fought each other during WWII.
After another day on the Indian Ocean Minerva II. lands in Pointe des Galets on the island of REUNION which is a department of France. I take a full day island drive.
Between Dec 3 and Dec 5 we are visiting MAURITIUS. Minerva II. has mooring in Port Louis which is the capital of this independent island. Again some passengers leave the ship and some come on board here. I am getting another cabin. Mauritius is a beautiful tropical island where I take number of trips. The first is “Black River Gorges Hike,” the other is “Sugar World Museum & Botanical Gardens,” then full day tour to “Ile aux Aigrettes” and the last “Casela Nature Park.” Then we spend a day on the ocean again.
On Dec 7 we are back in Toamasina, MADAGASCAR. Then along the eastern shore south and on Dec 9 the ship puts anchor at Taolagnaro (Fort Dauphin) where full day bus tour to “Berenty Reserve” with more species of lemurs.
After 2 days sailing on the Indian Ocean Minerva II. lands at the pier in Richards Bay in SOUTH AFRICA. On Dec 12 morning I take a trip to “St. Lucia Wetlands” and in the afternoon to “Hluhluwe Game Reserve.” The following day the ship is in Durban. In the morning a sightseeing tour of the city and in the afternoon is a trip to Pietermaritzburg. Then a day on the ocean before Minerva II. moors in Port Elizabeth. In the morning bus trip to “Addo Elephant Park” with 260 elephants and sightseeing of the city after lunch. During night the ship sails to Mossel Bay. From here is a bus and train trip called “Choo Tjoe Train” to Knysna Lagoon. At last on Dec 17 Minerva II. reaches Cape Town. In the morning I visit the “Robben Island,” where Mandela was held and in the afternoon I take the “City Tour & Table Mountain,” where I have been already twice before.
On Dec 18 before noon I leave on charter with Monarch Airlines and after 12 hour flight the plane lands in London Gatwick in UNITED KINGDOM late at night. A bus takes me to Heathrow Airport and after midnight, Dec 19, I am in Hotel Ibis. In the afternoon I fly to Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC. I spend Christmas in my sister’s house. We do also a day visit of Chrudim. On Dec 27 I leave Prague and with another night in Ibis hotel near London Heathrow I continue on flights via New York to Los Angeles where before midnight on Dec 28. I rent a car and drive home to Vista where at 3:30 AM on Dec 29 after 70 days traveling.

Travel office: Swan Hellenic
Who took part: 4 sets of passengers on Minerva II.

On Sep 12 we take vans to Hermans at Walker Bay with some wine tasting. After driving 420 km we are met by our train in Worcester. Overnight the train travels to Mossell Bay at the Indian Ocean. The following day we go by vans to Knysna. Due to a landslide the train I took to Knysna 4 years ago, does not go. On Sep 14 I make a visit to Oudtshoom and its ostridge farms. Next day we are at the pleasant Port Elizabeth. In the morning a visit to “Addo Elephant National Park” and in the afternoon the city itself.
Overnight our train travels to Bloemfontein a seat of South African high court. We reach the city before noon. There is sightseeing of Bloemfontein in the afternoon. Dominant structures of its center are cooling towers of used to be a power company covered by graffiti. Later in the afternoon we board our train and go overnight to Durban. In the morning, our train is in Pietermaritzburg a capital of KwaZulu-Natal province. The day is devoted to birding and by late afternoon we reach our train in Durban. The following day, Sep 18, I do sightseeing of this city. I was here 3x before and I enjoyed all the visits. Today we stop also at KwaZulu-Natal University. In the evening our train goes north. In the morning we leave the train and drive to local villages and to Lake St. Lucia where we have a boat trip. On Sep 20 a visit to Hluhluwe-Umfolosi National Park.
In the morning on Sep 21 our train is in a small town Mpaka in SWAZILAND, which is an independent country between South Africa a Mozambique. It is an absolute monarchy. We are driving through this country in our vans. We visit its largest town Manzini with 80 thousand inhabitants. Later on passing through the capital Mbabane. We leave the country later in the afternoon.
On Sep 22, we are back in SOUTH AFRICA and have a visit of the “Kruger National Park.” As always, the driver of our van is also our guide. There are many birds in the park. We also see 4-leged animals from zebras, monkeys, and lions to elephants. We spend the whole day in various parts of the park. Next day I take a trip called “Panorama” with stops at “Mac-Mac Falls” and in used to be gold bearing area in “Pilgrim Rest.” Later, “Three Randavels” and “Bourke’s Look Potholes.” Last is the “God’s Window.” Seven years ago, I visited all these places, too.
On Sep 24, our Shongololo Train comes to the largest city of the country, Johannesburg. Today’s visit is to the administrative capital of South Africa, Pretoria. It is a pleasant place and I always like to come here. The usual stops are at the “Union Building,” the seat of the government, the “Church Square” and at the “Kruger House.” Outside Pretoria we visit the “Voortrekker Monument,” almost a secret place of Afrikaners (the descendants of Dutch settlers). In the afternoon we see “Soweto” (Southwest Township) the largest township in South Africa, where only the Blacks live. We see number of places in it incl. houses of Mandela and Desman Tutu. With it our Shongololo Train trip reached its end.
On Sep 25 I take a plane from Johannesburg to Lilongwe, the capital of MALAWI where early afternoon. A local guide takes me to Kumbali Country Lodge known for Madona visits. There is a mosquito net above my bed. The following morning, I leave Lilongwe in a car with my guide going to “Mvuu Lodge” in the “Liwonde National Park” on the shore of the Shire River. I get a bungalow above a waterhole there. There is a wildlife run in open 4WD cars with an armed guard in the afternoon. We see many birds and a whole range of other animals. Next morning there is a morning walk. Again many animals and birds. Then a boat ride on the river. In midmorning I leave this lovely place and drive with my guide to Lake Malawi. In the afternoon we reach the “Livingstonia Beach Hotel.” The view from my bungalow to the sandy beach of the Lake Malawi is beautiful.
I leave this place next morning on Sep 28. My guide takes me by car to the airport in Lilongwe. I board a South African plane in the afternoon and fly to Johannesburg. Here I take another SA plane via Dakar to New York where the following day at 7 AM. Then in a United Airlines plane I fly from New York to LAX. There I land few minutes after 1:30 PM. I rent a car and drive home to Vista where later in the afternoon still on Sep 29.

Travel office: Wild Animal Ventures & Shongololo Train
Who took part: about 70 people from USA, UK, Netherlands and Germany

After night sailing we find ourselves in Banjul, capital of GAMBIA, in the morning on Dec 11. This narrow country is wedged inside Senegal. During the day trip we visit “Abuko Nature Reserve,” “Makasutu Forest” and a museum in Banjul.
Another day on the ocean. On Dec 13, Freetown, a capital of SIERRA LEONE. This was the first place where Blacks from America were brought back to Africa. There is a sightseeing trip of the capital. Our bus is escorted by 2 motorcycle policemen. When out of this 1 million people city the road goes past beautiful but empty beaches. At one we stop for refreshment. Pleasant music and interesting dances performed by a local group. For lunch we are in a nice hotel while getting an interesting speech of American ambassador to Sierra Leone. On the end of the tour is a visit to “National Rail Museum.”
The following day afternoon we should visit Monrovia in Liberia. Our ship is waiting several hours for a Liberian pilot to take our ship into the harbor, but nobody shows up, so we leave for our next destination. It is a disappointment. Next almost 2 days Corinthian II. rounds Africa to Gulf of Guinea.
At noon on Dec 16 we land in Takoradi, GHANA. In the afternoon there is a bus trip through towns Takoradi and Sekondi. Next day another trip from Takoradi on the main highway along the coast east visiting local villages and an impressive fortress, “Cape Coast Castle,” started 1652 by Swedes and finish by British. Served for slaves to be sent to Americas and the British ruled Gold Coast from here until 1876 when they moved the capital to Accra. After lunch we see the “Emina Castle” and its “St. Jago” fort. At night Corinthian II. sailed to another Ghana harbor, Tema. In the morning on Dec 18 a bus tour to sightsee the 3 mil. people capital Accra. Among other places we stop at the extensive “Memorial Park” of the first president Kwame Nkrumah. The following 2 days in Tema we make a visit to “Shai Game Reserve” to see animals, later to a beads factory and the second day to a “Aburi Botanical Gardens” and “Mompong Center” for herbal medicine.
On Dec 21 morning our ship is moored at a pier in Lome, TOGO. Next two days we are in this on the map skinny country. There are 2 armed policemen in our bus. First visit is to a royal palace where we hear speech of the local king then a local school. In the afternoon there is a sightseeing of the capital Lome including a woodoo market. Next day morning a visit to a village with another king. In the afternoon a voodoo village s voodoo ceremony.
On Dec 23 morning our ship moves to the next country BENIN. We are in the harbor of its largest city Cotonou. There is a trip to the capital of Benin, Porto Novo, on the border with Nigeria. Again we have 2 armed policemen in each bus. One has a machine gun. The buses are escoted by motorcycle policemen. We visit an ethnographic museum in Porto Novo. Later we stop at Honme Museum, where the kings used to live. Afternoon trip is to Ganvie a village built on stilts in a large lake. We get there on a local boats. I have been here 9 years ago coming from Mali through Burkina Faso in a 4WD car.
Then we spend a day on the Gulf of Guinea, a day filled with lectures as always when on the ocean. On Dec 25 Corinthian II. put anchor at Limbe in CAMEROON. This is an English speaking part of this country which joined the French speaking one during the decolonization. The rest of the British Cameroon joined Nigeria. In the morning a visit to oil palm plantations and then we stop at a tea plantation and see the processing of tea leaves. Later on we see a palace, where a German governor had a seat, when Cameroon belonged to Germany before WWI. In the afternoon there is a stop at lava flow from 1999 when Mt. Cameroon erupted. The volcano is in the clouds above us. We also visit a collection of apes and monkeys in a zoo.
On Dec 26 morning we get to shore on zodiacs. Our ship anchors in Kribi in the French part of Cameroon. The countryside is covered by a rain forest. First on buses then on Lobe River we board boats of local pygmies a go to visit their village deep in the forest. There are not as small I thought the pygmies might be. They are hunters and gatherers and their children don’t go to school. In the afternoon we visit waterfalls on Lobe River. They fall practically into the ocean.
Our next visited place is an island country SAO TOME & PRINCIPE in the Gulf of Guinea. It used to be a Portugal colony. Originally uninhabited islands were used by the Portuguese over 500 years for coffee and cacao plantations. The work force was brought from Africa. The revolution in Portugal in 1975 withdraw that country from its colonies and the whole system collapsed. On Dec 27 we come to the Island of Principe. Again using zodiacs we get on the island. Four vans take us around the island. The following day a visit to the bigger Sao Tome Island where 160 thousand out of 200 thousand people of the country live. A tour around the island. High humidity and temperature. A stop at a waterfalls. We learn about the coffee production. Local women dancing in the street. A visit to a museum in an old Portuguese fort and local villages.
On Dec 29 we are back at the African continent in Libreville, GABON, practically on the Equator. In the morning there is a sightseeing of Libreville. At noon a lunch break some 40 km outside Libreville. Here we have an interesting talk with 7 employees of American embassy about their work in this country. In the afternoon, a visit of Monday Forest.
Another day on Atlantic Ocean with several lectures. On Dec 31 in Pointe-Noire, REPUBLIC of CONGO. This used to be a major French colony. Its capital is Brazzaville. Our bus goes through Pointe-Noire on its main drag, Blvd. De Gaulle, bordered by important buildings. We see a soccer stadium built by Chinese. Out of the city our bus follows the highway to Gabon. At noon, some 25 km from Pointe-Noire, we leave the bus and enter Diosso Gorge reminding Badlands in So. Dakota. Close by we see a museum which used to be a residence of Loando kings. Interesting was the royal succession: from the king to his nephew. After lunch in a beach hotel back to our ship.
Originally we were to enter the Congo River, but that was cancelled due to possible pirates on the river. Then there were to be 2 stops in Angola (Luanda and Lobito), but according to the information those harbors do not work around the first of the year. So we have now 3 days on the ocean going south to Namibia.
At noon on Jan 4, 2011 Corinthian II. lands at Walvis Bay in NAMIBIA. Until WWI it was a German colony, then it was run by South Africa and from 1990 it is an independent country. There is a bus tour to Swakopmund in the afternoon. Until quite recently the streets of this city carried names from the German era. The main street was “Kaiser Wilhelm Strasse.” Now it is “Sam Nujoma Avenue,” named after a Swapo member. There are high sand dunes near Walvis Bay. We have a dinner in a large tent under “Dune #7,” which is with its 800 m the highest. Next morning a trip in 4WD’s south to salt ponds, the coast and making runs among dunes. After lunch a visit to a township.
On Jan 6 we leave our ship and fly from Walvis Bay to Cape Town in SOUTH AFRICA. Our accommodation is in a 5* hotel “Mount Nelson.” The following day we take a cable car to the Table Mountain, visit the Peninsula with the Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. Later a visit to the famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. The last day morning a wine tasting in Stellenbosch wine area outside Cape Town.
Early in the morning on Jan 9 I am taking a KLM plane from Cape Town to Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS, where in the afternoon. Due to 2.5 hour delay at departure I missed my plane to Los Angeles. On account of KLM I am spending a night in a hotel here. In the evening I take a train from the airport to downtown Amsterdam for a little sightseeing there. Next day, Jan 10, before noon I fly from Amsterdam to Los Angeles. Here I rent a car and drive home to Vista where just after 5 PM the same day after 42 days traveling.

Travel office: “Destinations & Adventures” and “Travel Dynamics International”
Who took part: Nov 30 through Dec 19 there were 59 passengers in 49 cabins, in addition there were 2 lecturers with wives and 4 people from Travel Dynamics who directed the trip. On Dec 19 some passengers and people from Travel Dynamic left and new came on board.
Corinthian II: The ship had 57 cabins each could take 2 passengers (so max 114 passengers). Gross Tonnage: 4,200; Length: 297 ft. (90 m); Beam: 50 ft. (15 m).