Tag Archives: johannesburg

South Africa, Travelinds, Travelinds Destinations

Dullstroom

October 2016

Would you like to come with us to Dullstroom this weekend?

Where? Sure. Is that really a place?

Dullstroom, it turns out, is in fact a small town in Mpumalanga, South Africa – a three hour drive from Johannesburg.  As such, the Joburgers head out there regularly to enjoy the open spaces of this backwater retreat in the Mpulmalanga highlands.

The small town attracts sanctuary-seekers from all over the country, trekking to the beautiful rocky hills dotted with dams full of fat rainbow trout.  Fly-fishing, coffee, hiking, photography, crafting, artisans, small businesses – Dullstroom packs a lot into one weekend, if that’s your thing.

Our weekend consisted mostly of admiring the gentle rains over the wide open spaces, splashing off the koppies and making ripples in the sky-mirror dams.   Enjoying the fresh air and the beauty of nature, unhindered by traffic or crowds, serenaded by the frogs and woken up with the first golden rays of the morning sun at Zuikerboschhoek.20161008_174719

If it is possible to indeed feel completely rested and relaxed after just a weekend, then Dullstroom is the place to make it happen.

Check it out!

South Africa, Travelinds

A bus from Johannesburg to Gaborone

16 February 2015

Johannesburg has treated us to a fine stay with the family we love.  Today we took a trip up to Gaborone, Botswana for a night, to see the old folks and catch up with a beloved aunty. Since we were short on time and had been living out of suitcases for a month already, we decided to try a ‘luxury bus’ instead of the InterCape as we had heard about this option.

We found the Flight Connect bus on the internet and decided to try it. It claimed a 6 hour trip, with on-board WiFi, directly from the bus station at O.R.Tambo International Airport to Gaborone, Botswana.  To us this seemed a reasonable package for the price offered and we booked our tickets through email.

The office (in Botswana) was very prompt in replying to us with a booking number and indicating methods of payment (cash or credit card) and ensuring that we knew where to go. We got to the airport and then headed to the bus terminal, which is directly behind the Intercontinental Hotel, outside arrivals.  The bus was on time and our names were on the list. We made the payment for our return ticket when we arrived in Gaborone.

Tips:

  • There is a bathroom on board and it is clean, but rather bumpy.
  • The bus stops at the border, you jump out and go through immigration and then WALK THROUGH no-mans land (not too far) to the next border post and jump back on to the bus on the other side of the border. Don’t be alarmed when the bus is not there as you come out of the first immigration building.
  • There is WiFi on-board but no charging stations so take a fully charged battery with you.