Hughes, Edwards & Morris

All aboard! Taking off from Polokwane: destination Botswana!

Tim designed a two week luxury guided safari for this group of three families who regularly holiday together. They wanted to see the highs and lows of Cape Town - South Africa's mother city, before heading off on safari to the Kruger National Park in South Africa and the Tuli block in Botswana.

Photo Gallery

(Click image to enlarge)

Jane with local children at the football match

Sarah & Jane summon the mighty creatures of the deep...

The boys on safari | Kruger National Park, South Africa

The sleep out | Tuli Block, Southeast Botswana

Show all photos

Comments

Jo Hughes:

"This could not have been a better organised, action-packed and exciting trip! It has truly exceeded all my expectations of both Africa and Tim!! Can't wait to comeback for the Rhino and Buffalo - can't believe the parents saw all 5! Thanks."

Kit Morris:

"Tim. It was great to have you to help us experience Africa and perhaps feel more comfortable and less of a tourist! It has been the best holiday ever and we have had a lot of good ones! Thank you so much."

Sarah Edwards:

"This has been the best experience of my life - a perfect combination of culture, wildlife and life's education. Thank you Tim. I think this experience for our children will help to open their eyes and be more aware of the world around them. It can only help to make them more complete human beings."

Additional Information

	Day 1 The group arrived on a beautiful winter's day in Cape Town, and got straight down to business. After checking in to Les Cascades de Bantry Bay, the parents - John & Jane Hughes, Mark & Sarah Edwards and Kit & Shireen Morris - decided the opportunity to scale Table Mountain was too good to be missed. The kids all piled into the Chrysler with Thinus for a trip to Camps Bay Beach and a brave dip in the sea for some…

	Day 2 Wine Tour Day. Setting a precedent for the rest of the trip, today saw the parents heading off into the winelands with Tim for a tour of the Stellenbosch and Franschoek vineyards. As a winemaker himself, Kit had made contact with Christo Versfeld of … and a private cellar tasting had been arranged. After further tastings with … at Vrede-en-Lust, the team took a well lubricated lunch on the winefarm before a late afternoon meander back to Cape Town.

	Day 3 An early start for the whole group down to Kleinbaai and on to the Whale Whisperer - a custom designed whale-watching vessel. Within a short time, three very large Southern Right Whales were paying us very close interest. Fortunately we had our own whale whisperers in Jane and Sarah, meaning an acrobatic display with us in front row seats. On the way back, a couple of the younger guys jumped aboard the Shark-viewing boat and braved the cage to go to face-to-face with the sea's apex predator: the Great White Shark…

	Days 4-5 Two more days to enjoy the delights of Cape Town. Days beginning with Els' fabulous breakfasts, and ending with meals out in some of Cape Town's best restaurants. Sunday's trip down to Cape Point made partivcularly memorable by baboons in the restaurant and some very convincing penguin impressions…

	Day 6 An early start to the airport for the flight to Jo'burg and on to Hoedspruit. The temperature was much warmer than in the Cape, and the safari was about to begin. On the transfer to the lodge, giraffes came out to greet us as well as some impala and other antelope.

	Days 7-8 Lize proved to be the perfect hostess, with her and her team producing some fabulous meals - the bush dinner being the highlight. But by day, it was Robbie and Andries who opened everyone's eyes to the wonders of the Bush. The game drives and walks gave us sightings of lion, elephant, buffalo (for some), a glimpse of a rhino, kudu, waterbuck, hippo and much more. The highlight, however, was the rare chance to sit and watch a pack of Wild Dog pups playing around their den.

	Day 9 Having bid a fond farewell to Robbie and all the team at Pondoro, the group made its way back to Hoedspruit for the private charter flight to Botswana. As glasses of Sauvignon Blanc were clinked on take-off, it was generally agreed that this was the way to travel… A short stop in Polokwane for immigration, and we arrived at the Limpopo Valley Airfield. Here Tips and Hector collected us for the short drive to Tuli Safari Lodge.

	Days 10-12 The dry landscape around Tuli reflected the lack of rain. The antelope were even breaking into the Lodge's grounds to graze on the only grass for miles around! The variety of activities on offer, from Mountain Bike Safaris to Horseback riding (hmmm) kept everyone entertained. In return everyone kept the lodge entertained with evening singing and dancing after dinner ('my home is far away…'). The last day saw the much-anticipated soccer match between the lodge staff and the guests. We (read I) were exhausted after the game, but soon realised we had been a warm-up session for the main event between the Lodge and the local Army side…

	Day 13 It was a sad day to say goodbye to all of the staff who had made Tuli so special. The morning's highlight was a lepoard sighting! The last tick on the list before it was back to the Limpopo Valley Airfield for the return leg of the private charter flight to Jo'burg.