Last-minute post-New Year trips have become a cherished tradition for many travelers, and we are no exception. This time, well-rested and having finished off every last bit of holiday food, we met at the airport late in the evening on January 1st and set off straight to Africa!
After a long flight with a layover in the United Arab Emirates, we happily said good morning to each other in Johannesburg, the capital of Africa. We were warmly greeted on arrival by Oksana — our guide, friend, colleague, and wonderful person who without doubt added a special touch to this journey. Oksana is an Africa specialist with vast experience and years of living on the African continent — she has spent more than 18 years in these lands. A whole lifetime!
First things first (after a light breakfast, of course), we jumped into a comfortable bus and headed to Pilanesberg National Park, where both people and animals had been eagerly awaiting us!
The hotel we had chosen was situated right inside the national park. It turned out to be incredibly atmospheric, with outstanding cuisine you rarely find in all-inclusive formats. But we hadn't come for the food, of course — we were there for the jeep safaris scheduled for both morning and evening.
We have been to many similar parks, not only in South Africa but also in Kenya and Tanzania, so we have plenty of points of comparison. With full confidence we can say — in this not-so-famous or widely visited park, we were simply stunned and endlessly amazed by the extraordinary number and density of rhinos. It seemed they were around every bush. Big ones, small ones, very small ones, and very big ones. We spent several truly magical days watching these remarkable animals and indulging in hearty meals between observations. The memories are unforgettable!
After the park, we moved on to the capital of South Africa. We're willing to bet that not everyone — even those with a solid knowledge of geography — can name the capital of South Africa off the top of their head without googling. It's Pretoria — a symbol of the fighting spirit of the white Afrikaners. On the approach to the city, Oksana simply blew our minds with historical facts and stories about the settlement of Africa. It was incredibly fascinating, even if we didn't retain much from those impromptu lectures. In the city we visited the Boer War memorial, and it made a powerful impression on us — we highly recommend visiting it if you ever get the chance! We also took in the other local sights: the historic quarters and the local equivalent of the Kremlin.
From the city's main monument dedicated to Nelson Mandela — nearly the height of the Eiffel Tower — you get a view over a small park. To the right of the statue: immaculate flower beds and clean pavements. To the left: an island of democratic struggle — all things Black against all things White. Part of the lawn had been taken over by a small tent encampment, where alongside the tents you could spot vegetable patches growing zucchini, bananas, and some rather robust cannabis bushes. The camp's residents were quite approachable, though not for free: they actively invited visitors to be photographed with them in exchange for a contribution to their protest. We opted to quietly move on.
It turned out to be a very long day, which ended pleasantly at a charming little restaurant with delicious food. The following morning we were already planning to head to Mozambique. You can read about that journey in our other report.
