Day 37

Day thirty seven
Saturday - 22nd February 2020

Current position
Signature Lux Hotel by Onomo
135 West Street
Nelson Mandela Square
Sandton
2146
Johannesburg
South Africa
S 26°6.39948'
E 28°3.31788'

It hurts when the alarm sounds at 4.45am but easy to rise from a flea ridden bed. In half an hour we were
showered teeth brushed and made our way for a wake up coffee at reception before setting off on the bush walk.
Like yesterday it was good to throw back the door and taste fresh air. Walking to reception in the iridescent light of sunrise we were greeted by several antelope who without the slightest concern stared nonchalantly as we passed. We got a sleepy good morning from the handful of guests who'd summoned up the energy to get up early as we served ourselves to coffee and a rusk. We were introduced to the Bush ranger who was brandishing a black rifle just incase. He told us in no uncertain terms that it was single file through the bush with no talking. With trepidation we set off but as more often than not it turned out to be a walk in the park with no lion or leopard attacks. Yes we saw one or two more antelope and three large spiders clinging to their webs but on reflection that was it. Our bush ranger did tell us a little bit about the flora and fauna but he had been alone too long and had lost his bushside manner. Fortunately the walk only lasted an hour so it wasn't long before we were back at the Ranch tucking into breakfast. Afterwards we said goodbye to our friends who were on the four night safari and boarded the minibus for another bouncing seven hour ride back to Johannesburg.
After an hour and a half we stopped for a short thirty minute break to visit the Blyde River Canyon a huge green tree lined ravine with a glassy silver river snaking its way though its depths. Unfortunately what would have been splendid views were obscured by candifloss white clouds that slowly drifted past.
Back in the bus our new driver drove faster than ever which on the upside meant that we'd be in Johannesburg earlier but on the downside we were being tossed around like a green salad.
The hour long lunch stop was taken at the same services that we'd stopped at on the way and again on leaving we were divided up into other mini buses depending upon our destination. It was at this point we lost Daisy a half Dutch half English girl who we'd got to know quite well after I saved her life by lending her a USB lead to charge her camera so she could take photographs on the Safari. She also without knowledge gave us a hint of a good idea for our travels next year.
Just before we hit Johannesburg there was an almighty storm and visibility became poor but still our driver pressed on at speed. I gave a tug on my seatbelt as did Ros but the other passengers seemed oblivious to the potential danger and sat without wearing theirs. Still all was well and one by one they were all dropped off until we were the only two remaining. We had a further twenty minute drive to Sandton which is nearer to the centre of Jo'burg.
Compared to the last two nights our new hotel was pure luxury there was a spotlessly clean fresh smelling bed and white linen sheets. We rested for a bit and then headed out to eat. Outside the exceptionally nice hotel across the way there was a rather nice brand new white Rolls-Royce parked outside so I went over to take a look and said to the doorman is this your car which in turn got me talking to a taxi driver about cars and more interestingly South Africa. He told me that day by day South Africa was becoming a better place to live and by any stretch of the imagination it's far better than it was in the nineties. Everyone we talk to seems to be very happy and helpful and likes to have a chat. We finally moved on and had a good steak at the Butchers Shop Restaurant. I was please to see the restaurant had three carved Colonial Gentlemen which means there's a glimmer of hope that I may be able to buy one in Jo'burg. We then returned to our room to catch up on some sleep.