Cleanliness is godliness

Friday 9th September

Manyane, Pilanesberg, North West Province

We arrived in South Africa at 5am and headed to our hotel, where, due to a booking mix-up, we were put into the Presidential Suite.  No time to enjoy the opulence, however, as sleep was the only thing on the menu.

Suitably refreshed, we headed north to Pilanesberg, quickly re-learning how to drive like a local on the way.  We checked in to a pre-made tent in Manyane Rest Camp on the eastern edge of the reserve.  The tent was equipped with a Bible and a bar of soap - cleanliness literally next to godliness.

Lion, Pilanesberg

With just an hour until sunset, we wondered whether it was worth going for a drive or not, but I am glad we did.  After driving for about 20 minutes and seeing nothing, another driver flagged us down to alert us that there were three lions in the valley.

After a bit of searching, we spotted them - two females and a male majestically strolling into the sunset.  A better picture of Africa could not have been painted.

En route

Thursday 8th September

Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The lure of Africa is just too strong and we again find ourselves here.  This time, our journey takes us via Addis Ababa in an attempt to break up the length of the flight.

It has been interesting watching the faces people have pulled when we told them we were flying with Ethiopian Airways.  The sort of face someone might pull if I recount the tale of getting my scrotum caught in my zip.  Yep, that face you just pulled.

We boarded the flight not quite knowing what to expect, and found ourselves on a brand new 787 Dreamliner with the friendliest staff, the tastiest meals and enough legroom to host a small ceilidh.  All-in-all, the most pleasant and enjoyable flight one could ask for.  Never judge a book by its cover and all that.

The airport here in Addis is distinctly African - packed with people, chaotic in nature, decked out like a marketplace and with absolutely no concept of time.  There's nowhere to sit, the queueing system is unfathomable and, well, let's not mention the toilets.

We'll be arriving in Johannesburg in the early hours, and will spend a week in that area visiting some favourite spots before heading to Cape Town to explore pastures new.