We get up early – my excitement and apprehension wakes me up much before the alarm goes off. I lie in bed thinking of all the things that can go wrong-lizards in my room, no hot showers, being bitten by a desert scorpion or snake, malarial mosquitoes etc. But then I think of the possibility of seeing the most wonderful landscapes, experiencing the silence of the vast desert and the starry desert night and I quickly jump out of bed.
After a quick breakfast at the hotel that we have been staying in, we walk over to the tour operator’s office-with our knapsacks on our backs and the daypacks in our hands. We are asked to sign an indemnity form-basically signing away our right to any action against the tour operator in case of any adverse eventuality! Gulp!
We head out to the “truck” in which we are to spend much time in the coming days-no luxury bus for us. Our truck had been modified to make it comfortable for traveling long distances and is lovingly called “Peter Torche”. Check it out!
Our tour leader JoJo briefs us about what to expect in the coming days and then drops the bombshell (or so it seemed to me!!!)-MALARIA! He hoped that we had taken the recommended malarial prophylaxis. I was glad to hear some negative responses apart from ours; safety in numbers. When we looked worried, he tried to assure us that in the last three years, none of his clients had got malaria. But there is always a first time!!!!….
Since it was the first day, we had only a visit to an organic wine farm scheduled-the only one of its kind in South Africa. Got an insight into the wine making process and the right way to taste wine; a “heady” start to our trip, indeed.
Reached Citrus Del at 3.30 p.m., where we were to stay for the night. A small town, less than two hours from Cape Town, it is situated on the banks of Olifants river. The town boasts of a nine-hole golf course. The town is very small-the coffee shop here closes at 5.00 p.m. because it opens at 8.00 a.m.!!
Stayed at Citrus Creek- has independent units with well-equipped kitchens. We closed all the windows and kept the door closed so that the mosquitoes and other creepy crawlies could not get in-my phobia at work again! But inexplicably, it was cold inside the rooms but outside it was much warmer.
Around a bonfire, we got to know our fellow travelers better - the teacher for children with special needs - Joyce, the enthusiastic and entirely loveable Swedish -Marie, the retired teacher who divided her time between two continents-Suzy, Renata who had visited Africa before was there with her partner Gerard, Virgini from Luxembourg in whom I found a “friend for life”, the wine teacher Yihun and the sisters from Germany. Our extremely efficient crew - Jojo, the energetic tour leader, Lizelle-the “happy-go-lucky” cook and Anjia –the practical translator.
Had dinner in a million-star restaurant; our first look at the star studded desert sky.
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