The Chronicles of LaWheelz

 One of the last evenings at Phinda, our group was treated to a 'Boma' dinner (outside under the stars). It was gorgeous with all the lamps lit around us, and again, the food was amazing. Our food was locally sourced, and very fresh. Portions weren't ginormous like they are in the states. Our butlers are Happy and Ngcebo. (Butlers are the folks who take care of dining at the lodge.) Both went out of their way to deliver the best experience. One evening, I complemented Happy on such a delicious dinner and wonderful service, and she clasped her hands to her heart and thanked me sincerely. Her response embodied the spirit of the lodge and the people of South Africa.   Zulu extravaganza  As we were waiting for dessert, we heard a commotion near the dining room, drumming and clapping louder and louder until our butlers, and many of the lodge staff appeared while serenading us with their beautiful Zulu songs and dancing under the stars. They brought out a birthday cak

early coffee time Each day starts with a cheerful 6:00 am Wake-up call. We throw our clothes on, slather our faces with sunscreen and bundle up for the morning ride to meet at 6:15. Coffee, cookies, and crossiants are served to take the sting out of such an early time. Our group gathers while the guides and trackers ready the land cruisers. Speaking of which, Phinda's crew keeps these bad boys polished and shiny. You can feel the pride in the work that is done on every level. Staff has been so welcoming with a commitment to seeing their guests happy.  Getting in these land cruisers seemed easy for the rest of our group, but John and I struggled with it. His movements are stiff and uncoordinated, and I have a messed up leg. They gave us a little step stool to make the first step onto the vehicle easier. There was always a kind person in our group and/or staff that graciously assisted us. One night, l missed a step that kind of left me hanging onto the side with my good leg f

  Cape Town Airport,  June 10, 2024 Did I mention we are traveling with a group of wonderful people? We all share two very special people in common (not shown, but they are in our hearts with every step of this journey!) Some are related by blood, others by cherished friendship.  This photo was taken right before we said goodbye to our wonderful guide Ian (far right, back) as he watched us like a proud parent as we went through security. After a short wait, we boarded our Airlink flight for an hour and 15 minute flight to Kruger (Nelspruit) airport.  From Kruger, we identified our bags, then we were walked to the tarmac where we met our itty bitty planes to take us on to Phinda... 🫣😬😵‍💫 Getting into one of these things was a bit of a challenge, especially for some of our taller guys, and was kind of difficult for John and I, but we made it in just fine, though not gracefully... soon we were airborne in one of two planes.   look closely,  are those hippos? interesting patterns on th

Some days just don't go as planned. We had a whale watching trip, plus two wineries (one with a paired lunch) to visit, but learned due to rough seas, whale watching was postponed to a later time in the morning (which conflicted with our scheduled wine-pairing lunch at the 4th best winery in the world). So the majority of us made the executive decision to forgo the whales and indulge in the pairings.  Ian modified our plans and we made a couple of stops en route, one was a winery called Benguela cove - a very austere winery/art gallery on a beautiful setting, but to me, the place felt kind of cold. We tasted five different wines.  I took very little sips, and swear I got a buzz. ( can't blame that on an empty stomach!) https://www.benguelacove.co.za/ Next stop was the little coastal town of Hermanus. Ian found a chemist for me that was still open (guess they mostly close at noon). The bus stopped so we could run in to get me a couple pair of readers. We left John on the bus wit

 Ian and Colin picked us up early the next morning. The schedule - pretty full.  Our big bus headed up to Table Mountain. We were lucky with traffic, got a space right away; hopped off (well, some hopped, I carefully extracted myself.) Before we knew it, we were in a queue for the gondola ride that would take us up the hill. It was very large - people kept pouring into it! The platform rotates so everyone has a panoramic view as we climb steepy but swiftly. My anxious self says a little prayer- "cables don't snap, please?" And just like that we are at the top... Our view was spectacular, and we shared it with people from all over the world. Looking over the railing, one could get a teeny bit dizzy!  What a huge drop back to our base. They also had a conveniently located gift shop (a soothing way to calm vertigo 😁). Very refreshing to find locally made items too.   When it was my turn to buy my gifts, I had to wrestle my wallet from the bottom of my purse, pulling stuff o