Elephant Back Safari at Addo Elephant Safari Lodge

What an awesome experience... sitting bare-back on a gentle elephant giant and riding through the Zuurberg Mountains bush.


Addo Elephant Back Safari Lodge is a very special place - it's in the middle of nowhere and it feels like you're on top of the world. Wow, what a romantic place. It is definitely a romantic honeymoon spot, but also for anybody looking for an amazing experience with beautiful accommodation in a secluded place.


My pictures below definitely does not give this beautiful place justice. It is so much prettier.




We arrived late afternoon after a 1.5-hr nerve-wrecking drive up the Zuurberg Mountain pass. I would strongly suggest you avoid driving this road. It is a steap mountain pass with a very narrow road and lots of turns and bends. My sister and I were quite stressed along this road. I have to say that when you arrive at the lodge and see how beautiful it is, you feel the stress of the road is definitely worth it. There is however much better ways to get to Addo Elephant Safari Lodge. You can take their road transfer from Port Elizabeth Airport or Addo or you can fly with them from Port Elizabeth or Addo. They have an excellent deal where you get your transfers for FREE if you stay at the lodge for 2 nights. This is quite a good deal. You get a road transfer to the lodge and an air transfer out of the lodge. I would definitely recommend a 2-night stay at Addo Elephant Safari Lodge.


There is more than just the Elephant Back Safari that you can do whilst staying here. You can enjoy guided walks, game drives, medicinal plant walks, sundowners on the hill, bush dinners, elephant walks and bushman caves walks.


This is me riding on Thaba (it means happy) with Ignesuis (the Elephant Handler).

The elephant handlers at Addo Safaris are very professional and well-spoken. Their English is well and they can truly interact with the guest. They also know how to make you feel comfortable on this big animal. They have been working with Ellies for years and years. I was VERY impressed with them.

The chalets (built on stilts) are connected to the lodge with wooden walk-ways so it's really private. The view from the chalets are BEAUTIFUL and there's a jacuzzi on the deck that they will prepare for you once you return to your chalet.

The main area of the lodge is quite small with a dining room, lounge area and small bar area. It is however very cosy and comfortable and you get to meet other travellers and discuss your day's adventure. The owner of the lodge also eats with the guests in the evening and has a real hands-on operation. He made potjiekos the evening that we were there. I have to mention that it was also the best potjie that I ever had.

I highly recommend this lodge and it was certainly the highlight of my trip.

For more information, pictures and prices: http://www.lodgesinafrica.com/South_Africa/Game_Lodges_-_Safari_in_Addo/Addo_Elephant_Back_Safari_Lodge_%284_paws%29/

A weekend in Betty's Bay

A weekend in Betty's Bay is surely worth while... we had a lovely weekend with friends and their children there last weekend. The Harold Porter Botanical Garden and the Penguins at Stony Point makes this destination worth a visit.... and not to mention the sand dunes which makes sure for some good fun.

Penguin Honeymoon couple at Stony Point in Betty's Bay:

It's only an hour's drive from Cape Town between Pringle Bay and Kleinmond in the Overberg region of South Africa. Betty's Bay also offers some great beaches. Silver sands and Hangklip dunes are to the west of Stony Point. The beach is good for picnics, swimming and surfing.

It's a great place for a weekend getaway...

Romantic Accommodation in Stellenbosch - Spier Hotel

Dawie and I spent a lovely evening at the Spier Hotel on Friday 25 March.

The hotel offers village-style rooms around 6 courtyards - it's beautiful and very tranquil and relaxed in the beautiful gardens. The superior rooms are next to the river so it's even more tranquil and very private. I would recommend the superior rooms for honeymooners. For other honeymoon accommodation in the Winelands, have a look at our Lodges in Africa website.

The entire Spier Estate is really beautiful with the most amazing art all over and they also have very special restaurants... the famous Moyo's which is truly an experience and then also the famous Eight Restaurant which does not have a menu... you tell them what you'd like to eat and they make it for you. We also had a quick look at the Cheetahs they have on the Estate. This is an excursion that you can book and I think this would be nice for children or anyone interested in cheetahs. You can also enjoy a picnic on the beautiful lawns. You don't have to order a picnic basket... you can just pop in to the Delhi and select a few items and then you're on your way...

We had a lovely dining experience at Cape to Cuba in the town of Stellenbosch. The food was amazing and we were pleasantly surprized. I haven't been to Stellenbosch for quite some time and I really enjoyed the atmosphere and all the restaurants and terraces in the streets. We did not even get time for a wine tasting tour so we'll need to go back soon...

5 yr Wedding anniversary at Kirkman's Kamp in the Sabi Sands

My husband and I spent our 5-yr wedding anniversary at Kirkman's Kamp in the Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve in South Africa. Kirkman's is one of my favourite game lodges in this area as they offer a home-away-from-home experience and phenomenal Big 5 game viewing.


We went in January which is actually the rainy season and not that good for game viewing. During the winter months from May to October I've seen the Big 5 within the 1st hour of the game drive. In January we saw the Big 5 over a period of 2 days. So you will still be able to see the Big 5, but not just all in your first game drive. The bush is BEAUTIFUL in January - green and lush...



In the evenings we had lovely sundowners in the bush before continuing on our evening game drive. They also did a lovely romantic room turndown with champagne and rose petals, etc.



They also did a lovely breakfast in the bush for us as a surprise one morning.



The room was lovely - very old-style colonial with a victoria bath and the works.



I can't wait to return... it was surely a nice and very romantic getaway for such a special occasion.

For more safari options: http://www.lodgesinafrica.com/blogcategory/Game_Lodges_-_Safari_in_Kruger/

4x4 Adventure Trip through Namibia

We headed off to Botswana - leaving friends and family behind in Cape Town. We were sad to leave, but also excited about our new adventure ahead. Our first night was at Elephant Leisure Resort in the Cedarberg - about a 2.5 hour drive from Cape Town. This is where Dawie and I spent our honeymoon so it was very nice to go back there with Juan.

Beautiful Cedarberg

Chalet with jacuzzi at Elephant Leisure Resort

Our second night was spent on the Orange River in a river bungalo at the Felix Unite camp.

From the Orange River, we drove to Aus and on to Klein Aus Vista where we stayed for the evening. We did a 4x4 excursion to see the wild horses of Namibia. It turned out to be our wedding anniversary as well so it was quite nice having sundowners in the Namib and enjoying this special day.

Road to Aus

Wild Horses of the Namib

Sundowners in the Namib

More to come: Sossusvlei adventure and journey along Windhoek, Okahandja, Grootfontein, Rundu, Divundu to Botswana...

Namibia Lodges: http://www.lodgesinafrica.com/Namibia/

Nxamaseri Island Lodge - Okavango Delta, Botswana

Nxamaseri Island Lodge is situated on an Island in the Okavango Delta in Botswana. It was one of the first lodges in that area about 30 years ago. My husband and I was so fortunate to manage this beautiful lodge for a while in 2009. We loved working and living there. I will never forget fallling asleep with the sounds of hippos in the background and waking up when all the birds start singing in the mornings. We were in Paradise... We loved meeting all the interesting guests at the lodge and hosting them so that they feel welcome and very at home... and leaving as friends.

This was the spot in the lounge area where you could sit forever and just look out over the nxamaseri channel. We had our management meetings here while we waited for the guests to return from their afternoon activity.



This is the lounge at Nxamaseri... the main area is under thatched roof and open on the one side which makes it very nice to look out and hear and feel all the sounds of the bush.

This is the dining room where we had lovely dinners with our guests.

This is the bar area where we also had very good times talking to the guests and listening to all their travel experiences...

We wanted to live in Botswana for about 3 - 5 years, but had to come back to South Africa as Juan needed special schooling. Juan was talking a lot, but he had his own language - one that even his parents could not understand. So in order to help Juan, we returned to Cape Town in September 2009.

Juan started his schooling at SNAP on 05 October 2009 and I started working for Go2Africa on 12 October 2009. SNAP is a wonderful school for children with special needs and all the tutors are doing an excellent job. Go2Africa is one of the leading Tour Operators in Cape Town and THE BEST company I have ever worked for. They motivate their staff, teach and grow them, award and recognise them - it's amazing. I have never felt this driven and motivated in my life. No wonder they are still around after 10 years and after the economic ressession.

Dawie had to do his part in Juan's tutoring in the afternoons so he couldn't start with a job immediately. He soon started at Sybu Data in January 2010 and may I say - he is lovely it!!!!

So after spending an amazing year in the Okavango Delta, we were all back in Cape Town and settled before we knew it...

Our southern Africa travels in Namibia, Botswana and Zimbawe... more to come shortly.

Botswana Lodges: http://www.lodgesinafrica.com/Botswana/

Lodges in Africa & The Snymans - moving to the Okavango Delta in Botswana

My husband, two-year old son and I are moving to Botswana the end of this month. We are going on an adventure!!! We’re going to work and live at the beautiful Nxamaseri Island Lodge as from 01 Feb 09. We are really looking forward to it and of course we’re also a little bit scared, but we trust everything will go well.


We are going to leave Cape Town on Monday 19 Jan 09 and then overnight at Elephant Leisure Resort – about a 2-hour drive from Cape Town. We spent our honeymoon at this place 3 years ago so we are very keen to go back (and have Juan with us). We will probably just chill in the Jacuzzi on the stoep of the chalet – overlooking the Cedarberg mountains. Lovely!!!!


Tuesday 20 Jan 09 will be a longer stretch when we drive all the way to the Orange River. So we will leave SA on 20 Jan and enter Namibia at Vioolsdrift. Back in the days Dawie worked as a river guide on the Orange River for a River Rafting Company, Felix Unite. We are planning on pitching our tent on the banks of the Orange River this night.


I’m really looking forward to our adventure on Wednesday 21 Jan 09. I booked a guided sunset drive in Aus where we will go out to look for the Wild Horses in Namibia. We’ll be camping at Klein Aus Vista this night.


On Thursday 22 Jan 09 we’re off to Sesriem where we will be camping for 1 night. We will definitely try to visit the dunes at Sossusvlei.


We will spend the weekend (Friday & Saturday nights) at a Hot Spring – just north of Windhoek – camping at Gross Barmen Hot Springs. We hope to get some relaxing time here.


On Sunday we will drive all the way to Grootfontein where we will be staying at Ghaub Guest Farm. Apparently our closest church is in Grootfontein so we will try to get to church on Sun 25 Jan 09. One of our friends in Cape Town’s father is the Dominee in Grootfontein so we hope to meet him. Don’t think we’ll be able to drive 300 kms every Sunday, but at least we will belong somewhere. Will try to download Ds Reinder and Henning’s sermons every week.


For our last night of our trip, I’ve booked us in a lovely River Cabin at Popa Falls (right on the border of Namibia). Bed and breakfast – lekker!!!


On Tuesday 27 Jan 09 we enter Botswana in the north at the Caprivi. From here it’s only a few minutes’ drive to Shakawe – our closest shop and clinic (rural). From Shakawe it’s another 30-minute drive to Nxamaseri Island Lodge.


The LODGES IN AFRICA offices will be closed from Saturday 17 Jan – Sunday 01 Feb 09.


LODGES IN AFRICA is also re-locating from South Africa to Botswana.


New contact details (ph/fax) in Botswana will be available early February 09.


Email details remain the same: anza@lodgesinafrica.com / travel@lodgesinafrica.com
Website details remain the same: www.lodgesinafrica.com


Our new Lodges in Africa representative - Zanie Erasmus – will remain in our South Africa office in Durbanville.


South Africa Cell Phone: +27 (0)82 079 0449
South Africa Contact Person: Zanie Erasmus – personal assistant to Anza Snyman
South Africa Address: Unit 5, Rust & Vrede Office Park, 21 Church Street, Durbanville, 7550
Online fax number: +27 (0)86 615 9887


We will continue business as usual in February – working from Nxamaseri Island Lodge in the Okavango Delta.


Visit my Blog regularly for updates about our Namibia trip, our new lives in Botswana and the Okavango Delta.