Well, we’re homeward bound. After a magnificent and glorious three weeks in South Africa, we have travelled from Cape Town to Durban to Amsterdam and will shortly leave for Guernsey.
Cape Town
After taking afternoon tea at Cape Town’s Mount Nelson Hotel (as a chap and chapess do), we flew to Durban and stayed at the Granny Mouse Country Lodge, some 90 minutes west of the city, for one night before catching an Emirates flight to Amsterdam.
Today, we take a Blue Islands flight back to Guernsey (via the ‘other island’) to be reunited with Play d’eau. In a strange way we know it’s time to go home, yet our hearts have been certainly captured by South Africa.
As Amy’s brother, Kevin, had said to us, ‘South Africa gets in your blood’.
How right he was.
Some last pics
Here are some last pics from the many we took.
Our room at the Tala Private Game Reserve KwaZulu-Natal click to enlarge
Our 12m long room at the African Pride, Melrose Arch, J’burg, with its green and red lighting click to enlarge
The Queen Victoria Hotel was close to the waterfront which buzzed with life click to enlarge
These guys were great with their improvisation and rhythms click to enlarge
“The wheel on the front goes round and round’ click to enlarge
Traditional skills are still being used click to enlarge
The port and marina were so busy click to enlarge
Table Mountain was wearing its table cloth click to enlarge
The cloud disappeared… click to enlarge
…and window cleaners were suspended by ropes click to enlarge
Sandwiches, cakes, savouries, scones, creams, jams, breads and 'nibbles' click to enlarge
We indulged in afternoon tea at The Mount Nelson click to enlarge
Piers’ favourite click to enlarge
We stayed at the Granny Mouse Country Lodge for our last night in SA click to enlarge
Our room had a wood burning stove – great because it dropped to -3C overnight click to enlarge
Granny Mouse overlooks the valley and its river click to enlarge
The fog stayed hovering above the river click to enlarge
As the sun rose, it was -3C, frosty, and fog steamed off the river click to enlarge
A great sign by Reception click to enlarge
Water taps and corrugated iron made a novel water features click to enlarge
Nearby were the stunning 95m (310′) Howick Falls click to enlarge
Piers and Lin
Granny Mouse Country Lodge
…on temporary leave of absence from Play d’eau
Fleming 55
A wide open mouth is a warning sign click to enlargeOn our safari around the Tala Private Game Reserve, the ranger took us to the Hippos.
Don’t underestimate a Hippo
He pointed out a Hippo Run, a track that a Hippo uses. Woe betide anything that gets in the way of the run – it will suffer.
Continuing, he told us of someone who had left their Toyota Landcruiser across a Hippo Run in the Kruger game reserve. Three tons of Hippo charged and T-boned it at 30 miles an hour.
The Landcruiser buckled and wedged itself around the Hippo’s head.
Pah! Not a problem. Lifting its head complete with the one and a half ton Landcruiser, the Hippo trotted 150 metres to the side of its run and simply tossed the Landcruiser aside.
Respect!
Piers and Lin
Granny Mouse Country House, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa,
…on temporary leave of absence from Play d’eau
Fleming 55
A picture postcard story of the wedding preparations.
The wedding venue, Acacia, in the Tala Private Game Reserve.
A beautiful thatched, wooden barn with a large decking area overlooking a waterhole, 150m away. The sun was bright and strong.
The grassed reception area. Wine and beer was kept cool in wheelbarrows click to enlarge
Welcome to the wedding venue click to enlarge
The ‘bridal aisle’ entrance to Acacia click to enlarge
The ceremony was held on the decking click to enlarge
Chairs were facing the waterhole and rhinos click to enlarge
The minister’s view click to enlarge
Nadine and Colleen prepare the tables click to enlarge
The staff helped as well click to enlarge
Amy’s sister, Dayna placed decorations in glass vases click to enlarge
The Manager in charge of the event checked everything so carefully click to enlarge
Rosie, Amy’s Godmother, with Amy click to enlarge
Nadine, Amy’s cousin, adding touches to decorations click to enlarge
Top table flowers and decorations click to enlarge
Orange was the theme click to enlarge
Brigitte, Amy’s aunt click to enlarge
Linda, Amy’s step-grandmother click to enlarge
The flowers were so gorgeous click to enlarge
Irene, Mark’s partner click to enlarge
Colleen, Amy’s aunt click to enlarge
Shelly, bridesmaid click to enlarge
Chairs were decorated with bows click to enlarge
Mr and Mrs Hippo click to enlarge
Toby, Brigitte’s partner click to enlarge
Rhinos were mud bathing click to enlarge
The Bridal Lodge… click to enlarge
…with a Vervet monkey scampering across the top click to enlarge
The evening sunset click to enlarge
The barman who looked after us all so well click to enlarge
The next day Mr and Mrs Tobias du Pré leave for their honeymoon click to enlarge
We took no photographs during the wedding, leaving that task to Simon Jones, the professional photographer and video team from Heartistic productions. When we receive our copies we’ll post some more.
Piers and Lin
Tala Private Game Reserve
…on temporary leave of absence from Play d’eau
Fleming 55
Toby and Amy exchange their vows click to enlargeThe day had arrived. The day Toby and Amy were to wed.
The Venue
The Tala Private Game Reserve was the chosen venue with its 3,000 hectares in KwaZulu-Natal, between Durban and Pietermaritzburg.
Its various single story accommodation lodges are scattered around the reserve with a central main reception and restaurant complex. There’s no tarmac here, just rough dirt tracks.
Animals include rhino, hippo, kudu, zebra, giraffe, impala, eland, monkeys and ostrich. Bird life is everywhere, some singing beautiful love songs whilst others make ghastly sounds that put crows to shame.
Preparations
The previous afternoon saw many of Amy’s extended family and Tala staff descend on Acacia, a large thatched timber barn standing on the side of a slight incline in front of a waterhole.Mr and Mrs du Pré with Mr and Mrs Tobias du Pré click to enlargeWhilst tables, chairs, linen, cutlery, flowers, sashes and labels were being lovingly placed inside the barn, seven rhinos were mud bathing (outside) in the waterhole 150m away whilst zebras strutted their stripes, impala jumped, and bored wildebeest just grunted.
Rather than tables being numbered, Amy had created cards with specific dates or comments, such as ’35 Flights’ – ‘the number of individual flights taken to see each other’.
Wedding Day
Right on cue, the sun rose just after 6am into yet another clear blue sky.
As we opened the veranda doors of our lodge, monkeys scampered across the lawns, jumped into trees and peeped from behind the trunks to see what we might be doing.
After a lazy breakfast, Piers took more photographs whilst Lin relaxed on the veranda.
By 3pm, Piers had donned his locally hired tails whilst Lin wore a beautiful special dress for the day. She looked so gorgeous.
We assembled on the decking in front of the barn and Ron the minister told us what was to happen. The rhino and other animals were still in attendance. It was almost surreal.
The Marriage
The stage was set click to enlargeToby was standing at the front when the bridal party appeared. Maid of Honour, bridesmaids, best man and groomsmen.
And then Amy, veiled and on her father’s arm, walked around the corner. So elegant, so poised.
Amy looked utterly beautiful in the most lovely white dress and long embroidered train. There were gasps followed by tears and hushed snuffles.
In front of guests, Ron and the rhinos, Toby and Amy said their vows looking intently into each others’ eyes. Ron’s address was a delight and thoroughly scriptural.
Mr and Mrs Tobias du Pré looked radiant and so, so happy. After years of long distance waiting, their dream had come true.
The Reception
Rose petals showered the couple as they made their way onto a grassed area to cut the cake and be toasted.Tables were identified by dates and explanations click to enlargeSitting at our tables, dinner was served. Mark, Amy’s father, spoke. His speech was the finest and most heartfelt we’d ever heard, a comment which was to be made to him many times that evening.
Justin, the best man, was hilarious.
We danced late into the evening. Eventually, at 11pm, Toby and Amy left, and the party slowly dispersed.
A truly stunning event, and one which the animals will describe for generations to come.
It had been a long wait for the couple. It had been worth it. Their prayers had been answered.
Piers and Lin
Tala Private Game Reserve
…on temporary leave of absence from Play d’eau
Fleming 55
We started our drive but we soon had to keep stopping for photos click to enlargeAfter our two nights at the Rosendal Winery, the drive to Altes Landhaus (Schoemanschoek, Oudtshoorn) was greater in distance and greater in beauty if the latter was at all possible.
The enormity of the endless, dry, arid mountain ranges, the unusual variety of colours, the ostriches, baboons and other animals we couldn’t identify, was captivating.
Altes Landhaus
We were staying in another boutique hotel, the Altes Landhaus, a large Victorian colonial style farmer’s ranch, beautifully restored and with gardens full of intense colours.
Everywhere in this ranch was huge including our room. I say room yet it was really three rooms. The bedroom, lounge and bathroom were all of equal size.
A nice touch was a decanter of sherry resting on a side table to refresh us.
Peace
The browny-red colours reminded us of Devon soil click to enlargeBoth Rosendal and Altes have been so peaceful. It’s Autumn so guests are few; both hotels are in the middle of nowhere so there’s no noise apart from crickets, toads, tree frogs, endless bird song much of which is heard on David Attenborough’s documentaries, and the dinner gong.
For the next two nights we have a rest from fine dining and calories and plan the next stage of our journey – to Plettenberg Bay before setting course for Toby and Amy’s wedding in the Tala Private Game Reserve.
We’re so excited. We want to press the time accelerator.
Piers and Lin
Altes Landhaus
…on temporary leave of absence from Play d’eau
Fleming 55
Beaucette Marina
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Different rock formations everywhere click to enlarge
The ranges rolled on for miles into the distance click to enlarge
So hot, so dry, yet animals thrive here click to enlarge
By now we are nearing our destination click to enlarge
We arrive at Altes Landhaus click to enlarge
Bougainvillea lined the 100m driveway click to enlarge
Alternating red and white, a wall of colour was created click to enlarge
These were the voyages of Piers and Lin du Pré aboard their Fleming 55
