Lenny goes to a Wedding

I have heard when you see the sign that reads “Dunkeld Country Estate” and turn off the country road into a pine forest you are in for a truly magical experience.  Well, let me hold up my left paw and swear to you “This is true, and I was witness to the magical moment”!

Two of my friends on this exciting journey, Darcy and Katie, were engaged and when they were at the braai and said “Let’s get married” the magic started…

A wedding gown from one the Zulu staff members at Dunkeld along with a lovely dress for Brooke, the maid of honour, magically appeared the next morning.

Katie only had a few moments to relax in front of the honeymoon suite with a glass of lovely South African pinotage wine before she was whisked off to the chapel in the middle of this pine forest.

Here are the happy newlyweds and the African priests who performed the ceremony.

Congratulations “Veels Geluk” to the happy couple!

Now true love… that is magical!

P.S.  Despite my loud roar this wedding has touched a soft spot in my heart… I think it is time to go find my own pride…

The Winner of our 8 Days South Africa Tour is…

Congratulation from all of us at Go Touch Down Travel & Tours to Jacqueline Boisrert. Jacqueline from Oakville won our bi-annual draw of 8 day South Africa tour.

Jacqueline was thrilled to learn about winning the contest. “I could not believe I was the lucky winner!” – she shared with us.

Jacqueline just returned from her honey moon and cannot wait to have a second one to South Africa.  She looks forward to her trip and is eager to share the experience with her friends and our customers.

To qualify for our next draw, enter our Discover South Africa Give Away for your chance to win an 8 day South Africa tour. Visit us at St. Armands Circle, Sarasota or Downtown Oakville, Canada and experience true South African hospitality!

Good Luck or as South Africans say:  STERKTE!

Lenny gets closer to home

Who would have thought when I boarded a flight to leave the beaches of Cape Town to Johannesburg, that same day we would be turning off a country road into a magical pine forest!

Dunkeld Country Estate, located in the picturesque Mpumalanga Province, surrounded by beautiful mountains, was my second last stop with Go Touch Down Travel & Tours.   I knew I was getting closer to home when I saw animals that also roamed in my kingdom, I was so happy I could kiss the ground, but I opted out for the closest rock!

The Blesbok were grazing in the hills behind Dunkeld Country Estate along with those cheeky Zebras!

As beautiful as Dunkeld is, not all the creatures greeted me in the most welcoming way.  The Black Swan mother was quite vocal guarding her chicks.

But she was not as threatening to me as Janneman the resident goat! What can I say, I was a bit on the fence about how I felt about him.

Never fear, my friend Darcy, who was enjoying the fly fishing told me “Lenny, if you ever want a quick getaway I have just the right transportation for you” and he introduced me to some friends in the parking lot.

All I can say is “Happy Trails to you, until we meet again…”

Kirstenbosch – The most beautiful garden in Africa

Spring has sprung in South Africa.  You might be feeling an autumn chill in Canada but here in Cape Town there is nothing like the fresh spring September breeze ruffling through my mane. Spring is one of the best times to see over 7000 species of flora and fauna in bloom at Kirstenbosch Gardens, acclaimed as one of the great botanic gardens of the world. Set against the eastern slopes of Cape Town’s Table Mountain, the views no matter which way I turned, or what tree I napped under, were spectacular!

You might wonder why a lion is going to a garden.

Well, Kirstenbosch is part of a nature reserve and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site! The 36 hectare Kirstenbosch Estate lies in the heart of the Cape Floristic Region, also known as the Cape Floral Kingdom, where I have lots of room to roam and roar. Underneath my gruff and regal exterior, let me tell you, I might try to replicate this in my own Animal Kingdom, you know, I do have a lot of pride!  Just afraid that those darn cheetahs, who are always running so fast will knock over the sculptures.

Fall into Spring

South Africa is famous for its sunshine. Its weather has a subtropical quality all year round with mild and lovely sunshine conditions.

Being in the southern hemisphere, the seasons stand in opposition to those of North America and Europe. In South Africa spring begins on 1 September, and has no relation to the vernal equinox.

Spring is quite spectacular in the Cape provinces. During spring, from September to mid-October, the dry regions of the Northern Cape come alive with millions of flowers that carpet the landscape. Thousands of plants cover the plains in a lustrous carpet of flowers. The journey to see the flowers of the Namaqualand in the Western and Northern Cape is an annual pilgrimage for many South Africans.

Day temperatures rise to an average of between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius. Although it cools down at night, it is definitely not cold anymore. With its enjoyable sunny and calm weather conditions, Spring is really an excellent time to visit South Africa.

Lenny at Robben Island

Off to Robben Island – the birthplace of democracy and freedom for South Africa.  I left my friends behind, they wanted to go surfing and you know how I feel about swimming, not my thing.  I wanted to find out what makes this country of South Africa so exciting, vibrant and full of life.  What better place to start than taking a ferry to Robben Island.  It was a great ride, only about 20 minutes on calm waters.  I was up on the deck feeling the breeze through my mane.  I had to growl a few times at those ladies who wanted to cuddle…really!

Once I was off the ferry, I hopped on a bus to tour the island.  It is bigger than I thought and the tour guide was full of information.  We passed by the lime quarries where the inmates worked every day.  Can you imagine in the hot blazing sun, reflecting off that white limestone.  It would have been blinding!

Our new tour guide was actually an ex-political prisoner who was arrested with a group of students protesting at his high school when he was 17 years old.  Nelson Mandela and his group made sure that these young lads had 3 hours of study every night after work.  It was really tough but they got their education.  The cell of Nelson Mandela, well, that certainly was a place of reflection.

Just glad I could have the tour and leave the island as easy as that.  Good thing my driver and guide were waiting to bring me out for lunch.  I was so hungry I ate a lion’s share…Where to next…lets go north…on my way home.

Nelson Mandela’s Legacy

South Africa celebrated the 94th birthday of its most prized national figure, anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela. For many South Africans, the elder statesman is also thought of as a beloved family member and referred to by his clan name, Madiba.

Nelson Mandela became South Africa’s first black president after spending 27 years in prison for his fight against apartheid. He was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.

But one of the many things South Africans and people all across the world can look towards to for inspiration are the many quotes Mandela has provided us with.

Here is our list of the Top 10 Nelson Mandela Quotes:

1. “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
2. “There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”
3. “After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.”
4. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
5. “I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one’s head pointed toward the sun, one’s feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death.”
6. “No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
7. “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
8. “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
9. “As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”
10. “If there are dreams about a beautiful South Africa, there are also roads that lead to their goal. Two of these roads could be named Goodness and Forgiveness.”