Flight Problems

After an early start from Wilderness we flew from George to Johannesburg and then on to Nelspruit. Everything appeared to go well at George. We checked ourselves and our bags through to Nelspruit and enjoyed the views en route to Johannesburg. As we headed off to domestic departures at Johannesburg we happened to pass the baggage reclaim, and there, circling the belt on its own, was my case. We then had the problem of what to do with it! We took it across to the SAA desk for baggage problems, who told us to check it in upstairs at the main desk. At that point a porter arrived with a wheelchair (from where and why we don't know, other than my mother had her stick with her). He then took over, taking us up to check-in, jumping the queue to get my bag on the flight, and then delivering us to the gate. He more than earned his tip.

At the boarding gate, despite our seats having been booked months ago, and issued to us in George hours before, my seat was changed. I asked if John could sit with me, but was told to "see the cabin crew" aggresively. Fortunately, the one and only cabin crew was lovely and let John set with me at the front of the plane and then she looked after us for the remainder of the journey. Amazingly, all 4 suitcases arrived in Nelspruit on the same plane as us.

From Nelspruit we travelled to Hazy View for 2 nights before our safari. This gave us the opportunity to visit Blyde River Canyon. We were treated to amazing views at The Pinnacle, God's Window, the Potholes and finally the Three Rondavals. Whilst having lunch at the potholes, we were clearing our rubbish away, that included 3 apple cores. They were the last things left on the table when, quick as a flash, a vervet monkey dashed onto the table and put one in his mouth and grabbed one in each hand. He then shot up the nearest tree and sat eating them. (We're still trying to work out what he would have done if there'd been 4 apple cores).