I went to South Africa on the 17th June for approximately six weeks. I went to all three test matches that took place in Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg, and the emerging Springboks game at Newlands stadium, Cape Town. I also got to two Tri-nations games, the Springboks v All Blacks in Bloemfontein and Durban. I am very proud of our Irish Lions and in particular those from Limerick and while we didn't get the result we wanted, it was a fabulous experience; one that I won't forget!
Not seeing much of the country by air, I ended up driving to:
- Blyde Canyon, The Three Sisters, God's window
- Pilgrim's Rest Old Mining Town
- Hazyview Elephant Sanctuary
- Kruger National Park
- Tsbukudu Game Lodge Safari Hoedspruit
- Kimberly Big Hole
- Drakensburg Mountains - Witsieshoek Mountain Resort
- Kwa Zulu Natal, Ladysmyth/Dundee area where the infamous battles against the Zulu nation took place
- Swam in the surfing mecca of Durban on the Indian Ocean
- Took a dip in Sodwana Bay - famous for fishing and diving
- Jumped into Kosi Bay Mouth, just a few kilometres from Mozambique. The fishermen still work traditional wooden fishing traps used for centuries
- I drove on the N1, N2, N3, N4 motorways and by now my face is probably plastered up on a most wanted Lions Supporter poster for shall we say "putting the foot down" on long open roads - yes the temptation was too much! :)
I took a tour to Soweto Township in Johannesburg, Stellenbosh Wineries near Cape Town and Cape Point - Cape of Good Hope, the most south-westerly tip of South Africa! I didn't see the Flying Dutchman but it sure was windy!!
I took an elephant ride, walked with lions on safari, bottle fed the now famous Hippo Jessica, stood under a monster Baobab tree, faced a rhino, petted a cheetah and played with a bush baby - fantastic!
I took an elephant ride, walked with lions on safari, bottle fed the now famous Hippo Jessica, stood under a monster Baobab tree, faced a rhino, petted a cheetah and played with a bush baby - fantastic!
I met some wonderful South Africans - Afrikaans, Zulu, , Xhosa, and Shannan tribespeople. I met and enjoyed the company of many of our own Lions supporters from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland on my travels and thank them for the mighty craic!! I met French, Belgians and many people from Zimbabwe and Botswana .
Tsbukudu Game Park Hoedspruit
