Daniele Somenzi's South Africa 2002

2002 South Africa Anita

We left from Pisa via Paris with Air France and landed in Johannesburg on 2 January 2002. We were the first to bring the euro to South Africa; in fact, at the bank where we all changed money into Rand, they had never seen the euro. And to be honest, we had only had it for a few days ourselves. After saying hello to Guido, the twelve of us set off towards Witbank, meeting very heavy rain, almost a storm, on the motorway. The Formula 1 hotel was waiting for us with all the rooms booked already from Italy. The next day we continued towards Kruger Park, well rested; it was the real start of the holiday. We spend the first night at Kruger in the Tamboti tented camp. A lot of adrenaline keeps us company during the evening and above all at night, since animals of every kind live there even though the fence is there.

The big snake we met on the way to the toilets, for example, and the nightly howling of the hyenas, really brought the African adventure to life. The next morning we were all telling each other our impressions, coward-style. Anyway, all very beautiful. At last the safari on board our vehicles begins. I was driving the Volkswagen with Olga Mà, Alice, Ester and Anita on board. The rendezvous was at midday at Letaba, to have lunch all together and tell each other about every single sighting. Safari and then more safari; in the evening everyone to Skukuza to take possession of the tents assigned to us. From the heights where Skukuza sits you can see many animals drinking at the river, including kudu, antelopes, vultures and much more.

In the evening we have dinner at the very nice self-service and then off to bed.

The safari continues with various sightings during the day; the camp where we stay is Pretoriuskop, very beautiful and with a pool half blue, half rock. Anita knows it well because she took an unplanned dip fully dressed. That evening, a night safari on board a truck; we saw many genets, owls and also elephants.

The warthogs graze in the gardens inside the camp, a setting that reminds us even as we stroll that we are in Africa. With Olga I go as far as the park exit to swap a suitcase of old clothes, shoes and toys with the locals, who in exchange fill us with little wooden elephants and more. They usually prefer clothes and shoes.

In the afternoon of the next day we leave the Park and drive to Pretoria, the legislative capital of South Africa. Here we slip into the Formula 1 hotel. We all take a walk in the big square and have dinner in a small restaurant.

Sun City is our next stop, a kind of little Las Vegas in the middle of nature, 4 stunning hotels, complete with casino, golf courses, a small lake with water sports, a wave pool and other entertainments.

We stay here a couple of days. In the adjoining Pilanesberg nature reserve, some of us spend the time on safari; here rhinos and hippos are easy to see.

We sleep at the Sundown Ranch a few kilometres from Sun City. Here we can visit the lions in the enclosure and even hold one, naturally a cub.

A game of billiards and then off towards Kimberley, where we stop and visit the mine that has now become a diamond museum. A small lake full of flamingos makes us use up rolls of film.

The next day, passing through Upington, we reach the Kgalagadi Park and sleep at Twee Rivieren. We spend 3 days in this stunning, very arid park. We even sleep in a brand-new tented camp near Mata Mata. Mà cooks pasta and steaks while down in the valley the ostriches stroll by. The sense of peace is total.

The Augrabies Falls are the last stop; here the Orange River, which has been carrying diamonds in its waters for millennia, is the setting for a canoe excursion for some of us. We return to Johannesburg where we spend the last night at the usual Formula 1.

We spend the last day at the house of Edo, a gentleman we know. His villa by the lake is very beautiful, and the little motorboat ride too. He likes to have barbecues, and so we all stuffed ourselves with sausages and steaks of every kind.

In the evening we return the vehicles and take an Air France flight via Paris back to Italy.