5th February 2022 - Home eventually

 We had been told that our hotel stay/food etc was covered until we needed to leave for the airport at 3.15. The next morning we found the restaurant and had a really lovely breakfast with lots of choices. Meeting up with some of the others we were told we would have to pay for lunch etc. so that took a bit of sorting out with a very helpful lady at check in. We thought we would go for a walk and see if there were any birds but were advised it wasn’t safe so we had to make do with some grassy grounds round the hotel, with a backdrop of planes coming and going at the airport.

We spent most of the morning on a video call with the BOC meeting before having lunch, rejoining the BOC and then collecting our luggage and heading for the airport. We sailed through the temperature checks and queued at the Virgin desk, which was who we were now flying with, we had had been told, eventually. All went well until our tickets were checked and for some unfathomable reason, I was booked on a flight for today, but David was booked on the flight tomorrow. The check in lady couldn’t understand why but couldn’t change the flight because it had been made by BA so we then toured the airport looking for the right desk, where we could get the flight changed. We only had an hour and the airport was large. Eventually we managed to get it changed and we then raced back to check in with 10 minutes to spare. 

The flight back was smooth and uneventful, apart from the passenger next to me losing his glasses. We eventually arrived back at 7.15 am on a chilly Sunday morning. 

4th February 2022 - The trip Home

 We had a lazier start to the day with breakfast and then went for a walk round the area. We had excellent views of a Stork, found a group of pin-tailed Whydah and came across a skulky pair of thrushes which took a while to see clearly and didn’t give good photos. We walked down to the Golf Course for lunch, avoiding the gun toting guards, and then returned to finish packing and head for the airport for a 3.15 flight to Johannesburg with connections to Zurich and then onto London. We had spent some time filling in the Locator/health declarations for Switzerland and London.

Check in went smoothly and we went through into departure. Watching the display and our flight was delayed but due in in time for us to catch the connecting flight to Zurich and onto London. The arrival time got later and later and it became obvious that we would miss our flight. An announcement came over the tannoy asking us to return to the check in desk, urgently. As David had gone to the loo it was a bit of a fraught few minutes trying to find him. We then went back through security to the desk. ‘You’re going to miss your flight’ was the comment! We were then offered a direct, British Airways flight later in the evening, which we accepted, returned back through security and watched the arrival time of our flight get later and later. Eventually it became obvious that we weren’t going to catch the BA flight either. We returned back through security to the desk where there was a queue of customers all missing connecting flights. One couple were on a flight to Miami for a cruise, one was a worker on a cruise ship and had to get to Italy to catch his ship.

In the middle of all this was a man who had come to collect his wife who was on the incoming flight so she was texting him the situation with them sitting on the plane for 4 hours and eventually being taken off and put on another plane. 

Our luggage was brought back to check in and we were given the option of booking into a hotel in Durban and flying out the next day, or going to Johannesburg and booking in there. We chose to stay but we’re then told there were no rooms available so we had to rebook onto the flight and we were told we would be met at the airport and taken to a hotel for the night. They also said we were booked onto a direct flight to London the next day. 

We eventually left Durban around 11.30 but not before the airport Security had to be called to remove a couple of drunk men who were sitting behind me, and managed to hit me on my head several times with the flying fists and arms.

Arrival at Johannesburg was around 1.00 am on the Saturday. There was no one there to greet us and no idea where we should go. We managed to find a kiosk and demand help, they said they had phoned upstairs and promptly closed the kiosk! Finally a man showed up and escorted us to some mini busses which took us to a nearby hotel where we eventually booked in around 1.45. We were taken up to our rooms and… one of them hadn’t been cleaned! We had to go back downstairs and re book in. We entered our rooms, I changed into my pyjamas and fell into bed at about 2.00am.

3rd February 2022 - Back to Durban

 Another early start, with all our luggage, had us heading out to the Marutswa Forest to try and find Cape Parrot, unfortunately unsuccessfully, but we did see African Olive Pigeaon, Terrestrial Brownbul, Speckled Mousebird, Amethyst and Malachite Sunbirds, African Firefinch and Forest Canary. We had breakfast at an abandoned visitor center, which seemed a real shame as the views were amazing. 

 

We then headed to the Mkomazi Valley. The gate was locked so Aldo had to drive down to the Center for the key so we spent some time searching the grassland area opposite. We manage to hear Fan-tailed Grassbird and saw Swee Waxbill, Lazy Cisticola, Black-Saw-wing and House Martins. There were a couple of nice plants in flower but it was a bit lumpy and we had to negotiated the slope carefully. 

Aldo returned with the key and we drove across the slopes to a viewpoint - we had  and eventually we saw at least two, one adult and one juvenile, Blue Swallow feeding along the valley and round the trees.

 We also found an amazing cricket species. We then made our way down the valley to Highover, a South African Natural Heritage Site for lunch. The first car managed to see Purple-crested Turaco but it had gone by the time we stopped. We did have Natal Spurfowl which crossed the road, and around the center we saw Green Wood Hoope, Black-headed Oriole, Cale Starling, Thick-billed weaver and Golden-breasted Bunting. 

After lunch we began the long journey back to Durban. We stopped at the Mkomazi River were we had great views of Crowned Eagle in the trees as well as Greater Striped Swallows on the wires. 

Arriving back at Afra Lala we checked in as we weren't leaving until tomorrow. Had we known that the trip would be back at the time it did we could have got a flight home this evening. As it was we had an extra day before our late afternoon flight back home. Some of the group were taking part in the extension so there were 8 of us for dinner - we returned to the Golf Course and had another lovely meal. 
 

Sani Pass 2nd Februaury 2022

We had an early start, met our local guides, Stuart and Aldo, loaded up the vans and headed towards the Sani Pass to Lesotho. We had a couple of stops along the road, one stop found Southern Boubou, Bokmakierie, African Yellow Warbler, Bush Blackcap and Swee waxbill, but the highlight was a Red-throated Wryneck, which sat up in the top of a tree and gave reasonable views. We stopped for breakfast at a riverside area, Mkonazana in the Drakensberg Park. We scanned around and eventually managed to see Half-collared Kingfisher as well as Cape Batis, Olive Thrush, Fiscal Flycatcher, Brimstone and some Cape Canaries and Streaky-headed Seedeaters. There were also a couple of butterflies and damselflies in the vegetation.
After breakfast, we headed towards the pass. The scemery was greta and there were lots of flowers, mainly various Kniphofias giving a splash of colour. Along the river we saw a couple of African Black Duck and on the boulder in the meadow were a pair of Ground Woodpeckers. Before we gor to the Border area, we stopped and Stewart brought a sack out of the van - he opened the neck and releaded a Rinhals Spitting Cobra from the sack. It settled on the ground and gave excellent views before moving off through the vegetation toward some rocks. On the way up we had good views of  Karoo Prinia, Wailing Cisticola, Cape Rock Thrush, Buff-streaked Chat and Cape Bunting with brief views of Horus Swift. Just before the border post we found our first Drakensberg Rockjumper, which gave great views as it fed among the rocks, and we also had Cape and Bearded Vultures flying over. We also saw Mountain Reedbuck and Grey Rhebuck as we travelled higher.
We had to stop at the Lesotho border and take a PCR test. While we waited for the results we looked around the bushes with a few birds flitting about. One of our group tested positive so he had to travel back to the accommodation while the rest of us carried on up. Once we got to the top, around 9,100 feet, we found a different set of birds among the Karoo-type vegetation. We managed to see Layard's Warbler, Sentinel Rock Thrush, Mountain Wheatear and Yellow Canary. We also got good views of Slogget's Vlei Rat which were abundant around the buildings at the top. We stopped for lunch in a mini quarry where Dom found a Clicking Stream Frog and we saw Fairy Flycatcher, and heard and saw unexpectedly numerous Mountain Pipts. There were a couple of encounters with sheep and goats and their herders. The young lads are sent off for the summer to care for the flocks as they roam around the mountains.
We stopped for a drink at the Sani Top Chalet, the highest pub in Africa. We had more views of the Vlei Rats and Drakensberg Rockjumpers before making our way down again. On one of the hairpins we encountered a man with a load of wood - quite a trek. We did manage to get fleeting views of Barratt's Warbler as well as some lovely flowers.
We spent the rest of the day birding around Himmeville with Grey-crowned Crane, White Stork, Jackal Buzzard, Ant-eating Chat, Quailfinch and Red-collared, Fan-tailed and Long-tailed Widowbirds. We then returned to our Lodge for a lovely meal. Afterwards we checked for bats but only got the same as the night before - we also walked round with the thermal camera and found a couple more  Raucous Toads. 

 

Heading for Himmeville. February 1st

 We had an early start with tea and biscuits, loaded our stuff into one of the two vans and set off. Our first stop was by some grassland in the Karkloof area, where we spent much of the morning. There was a Long-crested Eagle sitting on a post and over our heads was a flock of Southern Bald Ibis. As we watched, they came down in a field so we drove along to a track off the road and stopped to scope them. Among the Ibis were a few Hadeda and a Black-wing Lapwing. Martial Eagle, Jackal Buzzard and a Honey Buzzard flew over. We had Drakensberg Prinia in the hedgerow and lots of Red-collared Widowbirds. We then drove along a gravel track into a timber area and stopped to scan around. Here we had good views of Neddicky, African Firefinch, Dusky Indigobird, Golden-breasted Bunting and Black Saw-wing. A Cape Grassbird was calling in the scrub but wasn't seen. A Double-collared Sunbird was heard in a small cleared area, so some of us walked closer and eventually managed to see the bird feeding among the flowers. 

We then drove further into Kwa-Zulu National Park and arrived the main site for the morning, Benvie Gardens. We had our breakfast with birds calling around us and then a walk around the grounds among the trees. We found Woolly-necked Stork, Olive Thrush, African Paradise Flycatcher, Black-headed Oriole, Forest Canary, Bar-throated Apalis and Cape Batis among others. As we began to walk back an Orange Ground Thrush was found and I eventually managed to see it skulking in the bottom of the bushes. 2 Crowned Eagles displayed above the our heads, viewed through the tree canopy.

After a quick lunch we moved on towards the Drakensbergs, going further inland and up in elevation. We travelled a gravel track and stopped at a dam just outside Himmeville and scanned across the water. Here we saw Cape Shoveller, South African Shelduck, African Spoonbill and African Wattled Lapwing. Slightly obscured but visible were a pair of Grey Crowned Cranes. Unfortunately, the 'usual' Wattled Cranes were absent.

Further along the ttack we stopped and scanned across the fields where there were many Long-tailed Widowbirds, performing their entertaining display flights. Other birds here were Yellow-crowned Bishops, Pale-crowned Cisticola, Pin-tailed Whydah and African Stonechats.

We then drove on to our accommodation which was set out in large lawns with a view across to some lakes. We settled in and then went for a walk round. Dinner was in the restaurant and the food was delicious. On the step up to the accommodation we found a Raucous Toad and a walk round with the bat detector located some Cape Serotine bats but a little distance away, probably over the water at the bottom of the property grounds.

Disembarcation Day

 We'd been told to have our cases outside our cabins by 1.00am, with a code letter attached to a sticky label, putting overnight essentials in our carry bags. We were up early and then went for breakfast before waiting to be told where and when to disembark. Our number was 20, disembarking at 9.30. The process was as efficient as the embarcation process had been, with our luggage waiting for us in a huge hangar with code letters on the wall. You went to the row of luggage with your code and then just searched through to find your cases, a process which was pretty quick.

We had arranged to meet up with  Dominic Rollins, our tour leader for the Sani Pass extension, so we waited outside the terminal as he was in a later group. We weresitting by a column as we saw him go past with a coule and carrying someones case. We got up , picked up our luggage and went to follow them, only to lose sight of them. We stopped by the road where we'd last seen them and waited. It was very hot but we didn't want to move away for when he returned for us. As we waited we saw a small butterfly that landed in some plants and was not easy to see. As I was trying to photograph it, Dom returned, having sent the others off in a van and ordered a taxi for us. It was a half hour wait and so we moved into the shade but had to move away as the staff were prepring for the boat's next trip out that evening. The taxi came, we loaded up and set off for the half hour drive to our accommodation, Afri Lala.

After settling in and sorting out the paperwork, we had a look round and then met up for a walk to the nearby golf pratice range for lunch. We had good views across the golf course, with Hadeda everywhere. The protions were huge and I had to ask for a doggy bag for my 'spare' piece of chicken. We walked back to the Afri Lala, seeing Square-tailed Drongos, Red-eyed Doves and Common Mynah on the way. I them went into the pool for a swim before getting ready for a walk round a nearby golf course which designated it's surroundings as a nature reserve. As we walked round we saw the ever present Hadada Ibis, Reed Cormorant, Familiar Chat, Egyptian and Spur-winged Goose, Southern Red Bishop, Pied Kingfisher, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, EAstern Golden and Cape Weavers, with nests hanging from a tree at the top of the lake, African Palm, African Black and White-rumped Swifts and Wooly-necked Stork among others. Half way round, Dom had to leave to collect the second van so we continued ourselves, heading back to the car park to be collected and returned to Afri Lala before we went to a local restaurant for dinner. The food was great, with large portions again, but managed to choose a reasonable one of huge prawns.

Heading Back North

 After the amazing last couple of days, the journey north was very quiet with just Wandering Albatross, White-chinned and Great Winged Petrels. However, there was a real buzz from news that a possible Tristan's Albatross had been seen. We had spent a lot of time on our balcony because of rain and bad weather, watching Wandering Albatrosses and the Petrels. David was looking out for Royal Albatross and had photographed every albatross that had passed. When we got a message, not easy through the ship's address system which was only easy to hear from the corridor, that there had been a possible sighting of Tristan's. As we looked out as an unusual Albatross came round the ship, I even managed to photograph it, and it turned out to be the Tristan's. 

We tuned into a lecture by *** about Albatrosses and, of course, he mentioned and illustrated the possible Tristan's. 

The next morning  we were up and at the bow of the ship just after 5.00 and there was the Tristan's still floating around the bow and down the sides of the ship. 

The rest of the journey to Durban was pretty uneventful with a few cetacean sightings which usually had passed or were so distant that by the time the news came through there were well gone. We did manage to get Striped and Rough-toothed Dolphins in the scope but missed the others.

On Monday morning we could see Durban in the distance and the sun coming up over the skyline was quite atmospheric. There were Swift Terns and Grey-headed Gulls about as we headed for port, with the pilot coming out by helicopter. The boat gently nosed its way in and then did a slow pirouette before the thrusters pushed us into the berth. On the way in we saw Egyptian Goose, etc.

Journey South

The track that we followed over the week. 

Each day started at 5.00am with a quick cup of tea and a look out from the balcony, collecting our gear and the trek to the decks. Most days we spent on level seven, mostly on the port side, although we did move if the light changed and we did try the stern and the bows, although these tended to be busy. We went for breakfast in the buffet when we thought there was a quiet period. Lunch was the same, with a selection of hot or cold food, although on ‘Albatross’Thursday, we collected some bread rolls and cheese and ham and made sandwiches as it promised to be really good, and it was. We stayed out until around 7.30, when the light went before returning to our cabins and freshening up for dinner in the Restaurant on deck 6.

On Tuesday, we saw several species of Albatross, including Shy, Indian Yellow-nosed, Wandering and Black-browed. Northern Royal was also called. Several Petrels joined us with White-chinned, Great-winged, Soft-plumaged, Northern and Southern Giant Petrels. There’s was also and increasing number of Shearwaters, with Cody’s, Great, Manx, and Sooty seen, with Little also recorded. Storm Petrels also started to make an appearance and Leach’s, Wilson’s, White and Black-bellied Storm Petrels being recorded. We managed to miss the Leach’s and Wilson’s. 

On the Wednesday, Prions started to appear in good numbers, the majority were Salvin’s but there were Antarctic, Broad-billed, Slender-billed and Fairy reported. Albatrosses included Grey-headed and Sooty as well as those from the day before. There weren’t many Shearwaters recorded, just Little and Sooty and similar species of  Storm Petrels. It was the sheer numbers of Albatross and Prion that held the interest.

Thursday dawned dry and warm and promised to be the best day as we were close to and going to go round Prince Edward and Marion Islands. We got up a little earlier, managed to coollect a cup of tea and set ourselves up near the rail on deck 7. This has been named as Albatross Thurdsday and the number of birds was amazing. We shot upstairs for breakfast and made up some sandwiches to take back. This proved a good choice as we really wouldn't have wanted to miss anything because of lunch. Later in the morning various Penguins started to appear. The majority were Macaroni and King but a Gentoo surfaced in my scope, looked around and then dived again. Among the macaroni it's possible we saw Southern Rockhopper but it was very difficult to identify them so we haven't counted them, a shame as they are different from the ones we saw in the Falklands and not easy to see except at Marion.

 Among the Wandering, Grey-headed, Indian Yellow-nosed and Sooty Albatross we had great views of Light Mantled Albatross, as well as Great-winged, Northern & Southern Giant, Soft-plumaged White-chinned and White-headed Petrels. We also had several reasonable views of Common Diving Petrel. Among the smaller birds we had Fairy and Slender-billed Petrel, Black-bellied, Grey-backed and Wilson's Storm Petrels and a Subantarctic (Brown) Skua. There were several other prions and petrels called but not easy to be sure of identity.

Because of the imminent bad weather, we only had a half hour before the captain turned the boat around and headed back north at speed. It was a real shame but the storm could have delayed us by 2/3 days and may have caused a very uncomfortable ride.

Embarkation Day.

Following several communications about moving embarkation forward because of a potential storm which could keep us in port for several days, we were told to be at the port by 9.30am. We had an early cup of tea and at 7 o’clock said goodbye to *** and left for port. It was slightly stressful, we weren’t sure where the car drop off was, but we found the port and the boat and asked if we could leave our luggage while we took the car back. In retrospect, it would have been easier to take the car back to the airport and catch the shuttle that MSC had arranged for cruise people. I turned my data back on and, using Google maps we found the drop off fairly easily, first filling up with fuel. We asked if it was possible for someone to drive us to the port, which they agreed and we managed a very complicated route but at least we got dropped off in the port. The checkin & test procedures were very impressive and remarkably quick. The final lateral flow test was negative and we were on. We found our cabins, and had a look round while waiting for our luggage to arrive. The balcony was great and I’m so glad we got an upgrade. We left harbour early and anchored just off-shore while they sent four shuttle boats back for 49 passengers to board who had not managed to change their travel arrangements. We were just opposite Robin Island and there was plenty to look at, with Swift Terns and Humpbacks while waiting. It was very warm. We went through the mandatory safety briefing, rang down to confirm we had watched the video, collected life jackets and ‘proceeded to our muster stations’ by which time the missing passengers had had an interesting time boarding the boat and we could set off.  

We tried both sides on deck seven, as well as looking at the bow, but it was a bit crowded so we returned to deck seven. There were Common, Swift, and Sandwich Terns and Hartlaub’s, Kelp and Sabine’s Gulls as well left and we enjoyed seeing the Cape Fur Seals hauled out on the buoys as we left.

dinner with Helen/Richard +

A day relaxing with Penguins and a drive round the Cape Point Nature Reserve. 23rd January 2022

 Naturally, it was an early start, with a cup of tea and leaving by about 6.00am. We decided to go and see the Penguins first, while looking for breakfast, so we drove back to Boulders Beach car park which was almost full by now. 

Still one of my favourite signs.  

We found a gap to squeeze into and parked up. There weren’t the numbers we saw last time and the entrance gate to the penguin sites has been moved forward to the exit from the car park. We found out later that the path along the top was still there and free but it was difficult to see among the people. We spent a bit of time by the wall and a Penguin came out onto the rocks to preen. Around the rocks were a Cape Wagtail and a rock agama.

The local cafe obviously had a vested interest in the penguins with this ‘advertising’ idea. 

We then drove west to the Cape Point Nature Reserve, just before the entrance we stopped for a Rock Kestrel and then entered the reserve, having to pay the International visitor rate. The reserve is part of the Table Mountain National Park and covers the southernmost point, includint the Cape of Good Hope. It's natural vegetation is Fynbos, one of the smallest but richest of the world's six floral kingdoms. 

We drove through to the Cape Point car park where we scanned around, had a baguette and a coke followed by an ice cream.

Around the car park we saw Red-wing Starling, Grey-backed Cisticola, Cape Bunting, Fiscal Shrike, Rock Martin, Cape Sugarbird, Cape Robin among others. There was a small troop of Chacma Baboons which were chased away by a couple of rangers, all of whom were equipped with a catapult to help deter them from attacking visitors. Later on we saw one or two who had braved the rangers to raid the bins. 

We then retracedour steps and drove down to The Cape of Good Hope. On the way we saa a small group of Eland feeding not far from the road. At the point there weren't a lot of birds, apart from Cape Cormorant, Kelp Gull, Black Oystercatcher, Egyptian Geese and Cape Wagtail. After taking the obligatory picture of the sign we made our way back and across to Oliphants Bos. 

On our way across we very pleased to see a Bontebok feeding in the distance, so we stopped at a bridge and scoped it as well as taking a few pictures. In the stream there were a couple of frogs, different sizes but same species. The weather was deteriorating, with a sea fret growing from the coast area but we carried on. We had a small flock of Yellow Bishops in some reeds and the flowers were very colourful.

Arriving at Oliphants Bos we found a sizeable flock of Bontebok with a troup of Baboons feeding across the grass and in the bushes. On the beach there was a wreck of seaweed which had hundreds of Hartlaub's, Kelp Gulls and Black Oystercatchers feeding and across the sand there was Blacksmith, Kitlitz, Ringed Plovers, Greenshank, Egyptian Geese and Sacred Ibis with possible Bank Cormorant among the Cape Cormonrats. There were Swift, Common and Sandwich Terns flying back and forth 

We spent some time scanning the beach and then looked around the bushes and reedy atreas. We found several birds zipping around the reeds which were Cape Grassbirds and some Levailant's Cisticola plus a species of *Prinia. 

As we returned to the car we saw a Malachite Sunbird and a Bokmakieri sitting up in the bushes. The rules state you had to be out by 6.00 pm so we set off back towards the gate and made it by 5.45. We decided against going north to Kommetjie so set off back towards Simonstown, stoping at a couple of areas to scan over the sea. At one of these, a SA birder came up to us and asked if we were looking for BAnk Cormorant, and pointed out they were on the left hand side of the rock below us, amongst the Cape Cormorant. There was also a small colony of Cape Fur Seals hauled out.

We headed back to Boulders and as we entered the car park, we were told it was shut and to go outside into an upper car park. As we turned round we saw a Dassie sitting up on the wall. Not something we had seem before, so we took a couple of minutes to photograph it before parking up.

There were three African Penguins loafing around and a scan found a Water Dikkop among the boulders. We took a few more photos and enjoyed the quiet without the visitors before returning to Froggy on the 

Pond to freshen up before heading back to Simonstown for dinner. Being a Sunday it was even quieter than last night and we ended up having another lovely steak and chips at Bertha’s. Back at the B&B we packed up ready for a early start in the morning.

 

Kirstenbosch Gardens and Simon's Town - 22nd January 2022

 We managed to park in a shaded area of the Car Park and paid the Internation fee for entry. We stopped for a drink before carrying on into the gardens. It was extremely hot and ennervating so we walked slowly along the paths to a shady area with a bridge over a small stream. An Egyptian Goose flew in and stood on the bridge for a while.

We spent most of the afternoon in the gardens slowly making our way up towards the Protea garden. As I sat in the shade a couple of english birders came down the path saying that there was a fruiting fig tree just up from the bridge that had a variety of birds coming and going, including Cape White-eyes, Forest Canary, Bully Canary, Cape Batis etc. There were also two Hadeda picking up fallen fruit and completely oblivious to our presence. 

Carrying on up we had good views of Dusky Flycatcher, Alpine and Black Swift, Black Sawwing and the usual collection of Speckled Mousebird, Red-wing Starling, Olive Thrush, Fiscal Shrike, Cape Turtle Dove, and Kelp and Hartlaub's Gull.

There were also some fast flying butterflies that proved almost impossible to photograph, including a very showy Swallowtail and a couple of lizards basking in the sun.

Among the flowering Proteas we managed to see a Cape Sugarbird and on the way out there were a group of Guineau Fowl with a single Cale Spurfowl. 

Returning to the car we made our way to Simon's Town, having to turn on the phone to navigate our way. A slight overshoot and then we turned up the road to Froggy on the Pond, where our host was waiting for us, telling us to go further up and turn round before parking on the side of the road and unloading our luggage. The driveway was very steep and then two sets of steps had to be negotiated before we reached our accommodation. The view was great and the rooms very comfortable. We settled in and then drove back to Simionstown for some food. We parked in the square, with an accompanying 'guard' and went to look for soemwhere to eat. Most of the places were closed by now but we found Bertha's Bar down by the harbour which served a lovely steak and chips with a nice cold coca cola. 

when it came time to leave, the outer door had been locked so someone had to come and let us out. We gave our 'guard' the price of the cap park and returned to Froggy on the Pond to crash out, after what seemed like a very long day.

Flock to Marion and the Sani Pass

  We first booked on the Flock to Marion cruise with Bird Life, South Africa in March 2020. The pandemic was not really even a consideration, something that would be over in a few months!!! We then thought about what to do pre and post cruise. The plan was for us to visit Kruger for a week, getting to Durban for the cruise and then a day or so round Cape Town before flying back. Over the next two years the cruise was postponed, the route turned round and we were booked onto three different ships. In the process we got a cabin upgrade from Ocean View to Balcony, which was a real bonus. 

  The cruise was eventually confirmed for January 2022 but until just before Christmas, there was no guarantee the the UK government would allow travel to SA and a fortnight before it was confirmed the boat would be allowed to sail. We booked flights, car hire and accommodation in Cape Town and organised a post cruise three day extension to visit the Sani Pass into Lesotho. To enter SA we needed a PCR test 48 hrs before flying. The options were to do a postal test or a drive thru/personal visit. The postal test proved difficult because of our late flight time, which made it difficult to get it in the post in time to get the results back but we found a place in Folkestone that tested in situ and got the results back within 24 hours. We also had to organise a test in Cape Town Airport before boarding the ship. All that was left was to pack. 

A flat battery and a crash that blocked the road added to the stress but as we had allowed plenty of time, we had time for an all day breakfast and a look in the perfume department. Terminal two at Heathrow was amazingly empty, although the flight was pretty full.  

A short two hour stopover and we were on our way to Cape Town. We settled into our seats set up a video, had a not too bad meal of salad and lasagne, with a very yummy chocolate cake and cheese.  For some reason, although I managed to get off to sleep, I woke again fairly quickly and then couldn’t get back to sleep. It was one of the most uncomfortable overnight flights I think I have experienced. Breakfast was a semi spicy green tinged wrap with yoghurt and the weakest tea you could imagine.

  We landed earlier than we expected and I got offered a wheelchair ride. This took us through the queues, passport checkin desk and into luggage claim quicker than I have ever done. The sting was “then you can give me something” not deterred by the fact that I only had a fiver, she was happy to change it!

The temperature was 36+, a wall of heat as we exited the plane and went to see if we could change our test. We could but it involved rebooking, a lengthy process but sorted eventually. Then we collected our car, relatively painless but it was very hot. We thought we’d try and get up Table Mountain but couldn’t find the right road, not helped by neither of us remembering to bring a map. So we headed for Kirstenbosch, as a sign appeared for that.