Trees Piersma explored the lesser-known North Cape with ten travel agents. With tough 4WD rental cars they travelled from Upington to Cape Town, via Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Augrabies Falls National Park, Namakwaland, the Cedar Mountains, Kagga Kamma, Paternoster to bustling Cape Town.
Kwazulu Natal in three days
Monday morning, 7:55 a.m. The usual morning mood. Phone. Already?! It’s Joseph. What’s so early! South Africa? Who… I? Er, yes. I can…
Surprise!Prior to a travel show in Durban I have three days to discover Kwazulu Natal.
A once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Uganda– it’s been on my bucket list for years and there I am – enjoying a breathtaking sunrise over the clouds from the plane on the way to Entebbe. Will gorilla tracking be able to meet my high expectations?
Zambia, South Luangwa
A tour group consisting of nine Flemings made a two-week safari in the wild-rich but otherwise desolate South Luangwa where nature photography was central. They ended the trip with a visit to the Victoria Falls. One of the participants wrote a lively report.
Magical Mozambique
Beaches in Mozambique? Yes, they have a coastline, but at African beaches you think of Gambia, Zanzibar, Kenya or seychelles. Or the coasts of Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt of course. Mozambique will have few people in mind.
Madagascar, the forgotten continent!
Jozef Verbruggen: ‘Arriving in Tana immediately creeps up on the idea, I want to explore this immense island. I followed the R7 route. For an obvious reason. Madagascar, 590,000 km2 is too immense to visit at once. Some areas have hardly any roads or have very bad roads. The R7 gives a good impression to landscapes/people and animals/birds. It is, as it were, the average dealer of the many regions that one can visit. Above all, make time to leave the R7 and get off the beaten track. Then you will experience an even more authentic Madagascar, where time has stood still.’
Réunion – Nature Island, diverse in all respects
Grite Daneels: ‘Air Austral and the Tourism board of Réunion planned a study trip to tropical Réunion; or Untamed Travelling if one of the specialists wishes to participate at this destination? Like!
And so we left Charles de Gaulle on a direct flight to Ile de la Réunion. This time no stress about the validity date of my passport, the identity card is sufficient! Even though this natural paradise is 9400km away, we remain within the borders of France. In other words; a piece of Europe off the coast of Africa with the French language, the well-known euro and delicious French wines on a tropical island! Upon arrival at roland garros airport near Saint Denis we are embraced by a pleasant 27 degrees. We immediately set course for one of the highlights, the point of view at “Cap Noir” that gives us a glimpse of the inhospitable “Cirque de Mafate“. We have been warned, this is just one of many moments on this island where we will feel nudig next to so much natural beauty!
Chasing Livingstone in Africa
Professor Dr. Jaap Lengkeek: “I’d heard the words “Dr. Livingstone I presume” before. The first time I actually became aware of them took place about 40 years ago. I had bought a sporty khaki jacket, which I wore on occasion with light trousers and my Spanish boots. A vague acquaintance of mine found me with this combination on the street. “Dr. Livingstone, I’m crying” he screamed and erupted into uncontrollable laughter. Something like that’s going to stick.’
Senegal – on discovery in Africa
At the invitation of Untamed Travelling I made an 8 day tour of Senegal with director Jozef Verbruggen. An adventure to remember!
It started in Brussels, from where you fly a scheduled flight to Dakar within 5 hours. The hectic is immediately noticeable, you are in different spheres. Our trip took us past lodges and boutique hotels in Dakar, St Louis, Gorée Island,Kaolack and in the south Toubacouta on the Sine Saloum Delta.Senegal is predominantly French-speaking, French culture, friendly people, pleasanttemperature in December and lots to see.With guide and driver we crossed the country.With the first night at the Rysara hotel we had a nice starting pointfor our visit to Radisson Blu and many other beautiful accommodation locations in andaround the city. Here you enjoy history mixed with present. Travel in luxury without missing the present. Walking through the streets of Dakar and then having lunch at Cafe Roma constantly brings you into different spheres.
Looking for the Picathartes
Our adventure has begun. Once left the capital, civilization seems to stand still. We are embraced by another world. Vehicles are hardly present, beautiful people, goats, sometimes sheep and later pigs running across the road. Past towns with unknown names like Boda, Ngoto, Bimo, Ouodo. Slowly the landscape is changing. The Congo Base is making its entrance, in one go we are in the jungle. Raffia, trees like cathedrals surround us. A first look at the Congo basin waiting for us. Bird life is changing. We see the first “blue swallows” when we cross a river.