Africa Travel Guides

While the start of the World Cup has been given here is the story of a stay in an organized tour in South Africa conducted in 2005. An experience that is beyond the scope of all budgets, but that was exceptional, with beautiful discoveries, charming landscapes, encountering friendly people, culture and rich history.

TOUR OPERATOR
When I choose a destination, the tour operator of choice is important, it should allow me to discover a maximum of countries on which I have set my heart … According to this criterion immutable, this year I went with KUONI, an organization that one which no longer can praise the serious both in terms of organization of services.

Unfortunately I am aware that the price of the circuit is not within reach of every budget, it was also my case when I was younger. For those especially knowing that I write today that at least they will virtually travel time reading the reviews …

So, issue price, the circuit selected from 9 to 20 June 2005, with full pension was € 1790 with an added air taxes (145 €), the supplement to the discovery of the Kruger Park 4×4 (45 €) the fuel surcharge due to rising oil prices (9 €) and finally the optional insurance (80 €). To save out the calculator, so the total amounted to 2304 € per person. This is partly explained by the distance Paris-Johannesburg (nearly 9000 km) and two domestic flights Johannesburg-Cape Town and Cape Town-Durban.

The various air travel has been with the South African Airways I discovered. Its fleet (mostly Airbus) is recent and services on board I was fully satisfied.

OUR GUIDE
It was a 43 year old woman, whose name SMITH betrayed the British origins of his ancestors, but all along the route she has to ignore its roots and be totally objective when she spoke of the history of Africa South. She knew not to take part neither one nor the other was to show respect for us tourists eager to know the history of his country and its many peoples (there are no fewer than 11 official languages ).

Fiona was his first name, perfectly mastered the French language, was always available, no racist and even seemed proud that her country can be an example of successful integration of blacks who had suffered so much from treatment as required by the white settlers. Let us remember the apartheid still fresh in our memories and yet it was yesterday (I will discuss in detail).

She had excellent knowledge on just about all the topics it dealt with no taboo … My discovery of South Africa, I owe largely to Fiona that I would call excellent guide. And everyone knows that a successful tour depends largely on the guide.

OUR GROUP
The price and also the time of the year (this is the beginning of winter in South Africa) are probably the reasons why our group only consisted of 11 people .. In other words, an ideal number to create a perfect osmosis, which was the case even if our geographic origins were diverse (near Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Perpignan and Strasbourg).

OUR CIRCUIT
It seems to me essential to give more value to my personal account of the country indicate that, although of course I can not pretend to know all of South Africa in 10 days, I’ve traveled enough south to north give me a general opinion.

Thus began my tour Down Cape, the Cape of Good Hope, the Wine Road south to end at Pretoria and Johannesburg, Durban in particular through the parks of Kruger and Hiuhluwe and the northern Drakensberg.