It all started when I got the call at 6am (on reserve). I picked up the phone and the lovely voice on the other end was telling me that I was getting called out ! They were offering an Africa... 120hrs!!!!! What !!! I said!! Africa! are you kidding me???..... no they weren't!!.. As I jumped in the shower, it hit me!!!!! I should call my friend Alvaro! (short haul crew), he was on holidays and had mentioned to me that if I got a trip any where to let him know so he could join me!!! so I did.

He was not impressed getting a call so early in the morning, but that's the way the cookie crumbles!

I was having a rushed cup of coffee when the phone rang and it was Alvaro telling me that he couldn't get a ticket to JNB through the Internet ( no E ticket to JNB!!!) I told him to call staff travel, I was sure they open around 7 or 7:30am, but boy was I wrong!!!! With our luck the office had changed hours of operation from 8:30am now!! How's that!! Any way I told him to pack his bags and go to staff travel office and get the ticket and get to the airport ASAP!!

Well... things went well from then on, Alvaro got on the flight and away we went!!! The crew got on well together and already there were plans for JNB, the most popular one was to go to Bongani. The skipper offered to organize transport there and back for all the crew who wanted to go. We also organized with the JNB hotel to do a room swap!

On arrival we got together at the bar of the hotel to have a few cold one's and to map out the next days itenery!. We met in the foyer the next morning around 10am ( just after the best value breakfast in JNB). The bus arrived, the room swap was approved, so around 14 crew and a baby!! got on the bus.   ( the first officer took his wife/baby/pram/and all!).

It took around 4 to 5hrs to get there, with the mandatory pit stop! Surprisingly every one was in very good spirits, after such a long drive cramped in a small bus!!!,Upon arriving at the entrance of Bongani  we all got onto two Land Rovers that would take us all the way to the actual resort. A brilliant experience for anyone that has never been on an off road vehicle!,

The resort is out of this world! The staff were very friendly and the actual Burets very authentic in African architecture. On the first day we all had a late afternoon/night safari where we saw Buffalo's Rhino's Giraffes and a few other wild animals, and then we were all invited to an outdoor buffet/dinner that was very much apriciated (by this stage as we were all starving!). A few hrs later, well fed and intoxicated with many glasses of fine South African Shiraz, we retired for the night. ( After dark every guest has to be escorted in and out of the Burets as a safety precaution).

Next morning  we received a very early wake up call to let us know that every thing was ready for our safari! After a quick cup of coffee, off we went! This time we actually saw a pack of lions kill a small giraffe, very rare to see!! and of course we saw  more Rhinos and the mandatory Zebra here and there! The off road ride is really off road in some stages knocking down small trees and all, ( I thought any minute now Steve Erwin was going to appear from behind some bushes" Crikey"). 2 to 3 hrs later we returned to a very welcoming breakfast buffet.

When not on Safari, guests are welcome to relax by the pool or just admire the view from many of the sun decks (this will give you the chance to mingle with some of the "local" monkeys that always hang around there).

We also had a rare opportunity to visit the local village and school. where we were able to interact with the people that depend so much on the Bongani resort for their existance.

On our way back to JNB we stopped at the local markets where we bought the mandatory wooden giraffe and assorted souveneirs that we are all very familiar with!!!!!!...

So in conclusion, I would like to say, if you happen to get a trip to africa, plan a little bit in advance, because it can be a very rewarding experience.......

GoNZo