https://newmarkhotels.com/accommodation/mount-camdeboo-private-game-reserve Archives

Oh, oh, oh, oh Mandela Day

18th July 202618th July 2026 funtime65

And yes it will sound better in his native Xhosa tongue but for the day that’s in it and in the words of my fellow Glaswegian… oh, oh, oh, oh Mandela Day.

The Great Man, and the world hasn’t really had anyone like him since, was born on this day 108 years ago.

And since 2009 has been celebrated, by dint of the UN, as Nelson Mandela International Day.

While in his native South Africa, the Father of the Nation, is celebrated for the whole of the month.

Although, in truth, he is honoured every day of the year.

The name of the game reserve

C’mon the Rangers: With Iain and Hewart in Mount Camdeboo

By all, and certainly by Iain Buchanan, conservationist and founder of Mount Camdeboo Lodge.

In the Great Karoo in the Eastern Cape in South Africa.

Who, after confirming his Scottish roots, led a toast to The Great Man over high tea on the reserve.

Now we wouldn’t be surprised to have seen Iain at the rugby today.

Flying the flags: For South Africa and Scotland

A 12-hour drive is nothing to this rugby nut or in fact any Springboks fan.

Enjoying a braai outside the ground.

Which, of course, is another South African staple, whether in a lodge on a game reserve.

Or in a Gqeberha (or Port Elizabeth when we visited) township.

Because Madeeba turned the perception of the Boks when he donned a rugby shirt at the World Cup final in 1995.

Mandela pray

Of course, taking in a Boks match should be on most people’s sports bucket lists.

As much for sampling the culture of the country (and the braai) as watching the rugby, and Siya Kolisi and his world champion side.

Because you know what I always say, when you go away from home, take in where people play and people pray.

So here on Nelson Mandela International Day, we give up a prayer to Nelson Mandela.

And the poor sides, on this occasion today Wales.

Braai old time: Springbok fan in the township

But it was Scotland and England’s fate before that, who have to play his beloved Springboks.

Now to stay at the Mount Camdeboo Lodge for a week for two in a pod will set you back R 67,088, down from R 83,860.

Which in our British Earth Money is £3,000.

And check out the major airlines because fares will have changed since we last went out.

Africa, Countries

Join the Mandela Line and vote

26th May 202426th May 2024 funtime65

With this year seeing more people getting to elect their leaders than at any time in history let’s not waste our hard-earned right… let’s join the Mandela Line and vote.

Apathy when there’s a democratic deficiency and change is dressed up as a broken status quo is understandable.

And when we’ve fallen into the trap Aldous Huxley warned us of that our leaders would anaesthetise us.

By giving us exactly what we’ve been asking for, rampant consumerism and instant gratification, it is understandable.

And will explain why we’re more interested in voting contestants in and out of Love Island, I’m A Celeb and Big Brother than politicians to parliament.

A line of election activists

Not to sneer, of course, at those who think Big Brother is a Geordie voiceover rather than the OG (that’s Gen Z for original) George Orwell’s all-seeing dictator.

And that’s because our ancestors struggled, protested and often fought and died for our right to vote.

Much like they did, and more, in South Africa.

So that the 98% of the population could have the government that reflected them.

And have their moment, as they did, 40 years ago.

Queueing overnight in most instances to vote for the Great Man.

Everyone a voter

You will meet them when you visit the Rainbow Nation and be sure to ask them of their experience.

All parts of the republic from Amos, the waiter we met in Graaff-Reinet, who was involved in the armed struggle.

To game reserve owner Iain in Mount Cambedoo.

The vast majority of whom will wax lyrical.

About how heroic Madiba, the Father of the Nation was, and continues to be.

Port of call

The Voting Line is reflected and symbolised in the metal installation we found in the Donkin Reserve in Port Elizabeth, now Gqeberha since we visited.

Where our guide par excellence Siseko got us to the end of the line to stand next to South Africa’s saviour.

For South Africa, of course, we can read America, Britain, India, and anywhere around the world.

And a reminder that 60 countries of four billion people which is half the population of the world are voting this year.

So get to the polling station because it is everyone’s duty to join the Mandela Line and vote.

All major airlines fly out to South Africa and remember it is on the same Greenwich Mean Time so there will be no time adjustment.

Only the South Africans appreciate so much more the gift that is a free vote.

Africa, Countries

Cheetah’s day

4th December 2022 funtime65

It comes around swiftly at this time of year… cheetah’s day.

And on this day which is designated to the big cat, my thoughts naturally turn to Thandie and her cubs.

Not sure how much Santie figures in animal reserves.

But I’m hoping in this season of giving her little ones get spoiled.

It’ll be four years in a couple of months since I left Thandie mothering her new-borns.

In the Mount Cambedoo Reserve in Graaf-Reinet in the Eastern Cape in South Africa.

Power Ranger

Made it: With Hewart and Reserve owner Iain

Of course being such speedsters, they can hit 70mph in just three seconds, cheetahs can be hard to keep up with.

And that’s where rangers come in.

Zimbabwean Hewart uses guile and knowledge of Thandie’s movement and electronic equipment.

To track down the majestic pussycat to her shelter under a tree.

Until we are looking in awe at this wonderful specimen in her natural lair, ensuring that we don’t venture too closely.

Protective animals and their young, and all that.

And more so as their men folk don’t tend to stick around.

Male cheetahs prefer to live in a band of brothers known as a coalition.

While it may be difficult to spot a cheetah, if you do it’s easy enough to identify the spots on the big cats.

Laying a Marker

The chita, from the Hindi word ‘chita’ or ‘the spotted one’, they have between 2,000 and 3,000 such markings.

Now every day is worth celebrating the cheetah, I think we’d all agree, but why this day?

Well, we have Dr Laurie Marker who founded the Cheetah Conservation Fund in 1991 to thank.

In 2010, she designated today, December 4th, as International Cheetah Day choosing it after the birthday of a cheetah named Khayam.

Save our cheetahs

Dr Marker trained this cheetah for her first research project on teaching captive-born cheetahs to hunt.

When she reintroduced Khayam to the wild, she realised how endangered the cheetahs were becoming.

With less than 8,000 cheetahs living in the wild, a 50 percent decline in the last four decades, and still being hunted for fur.

All good reason to celebrate Cheetah’s day, and we’re sure you’ll be spoiled Thandie.

Africa, Countries, Deals

Thandie baby in South Africa

25th August 2022 funtime65

You know when you see the kids you last saw when they were babies… well, that’s my Thandie baby in the Eastern Cape in South Africa.

Thandie is one cat but before you go squealing to My Scary One that I’m a cheater, Thandie is a cat, a cheetah.

I first laid my eyes on the beautiful Thandie in Mount Camdeboo Game Reserve in the Great Karoo in the Eastern Cape in South Africa.

And when I say I first laid eyes on Thandie, our tracker Hewurt does that for a living and brought us to see Mother and Children.

They’ll be three now and I bet they’re a handful… ‘appen I should pop around and see for myself.

Cool for cats… in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

My old pals at Hayes & Jarvis are my go-to people for bespoke long-haul adventures.

And they will be there from the very beginning with your personalised passport folder right through your vacation.

But don’t just take my word for it but I got my own video message from ‘African Queen’ Catherine after checking out their offer.

Two for the price of one

And because we’ll be in the vicinity anyway why not visit the neighbours?

And I had Namibia waved under my nose by my old pal Tony when he represented the south-west African country in Ireland.

H&J have a 16-day Namibia and South Africa holiday with a guide price of £5,199pp.

The highlights

H&J have handily bullet pointed out some of the highlights for us.

*Look out for The Big Five on an exhilarating safari drive.

*Drive along the scenic Garden Route on your way to stunning Cape Town.

*Take a cable car up Table Mountain for views of Cape Town and Table Bay.

*Discover the tallest sand dunes in the world in the heart of the Namib Desert.

On the road

Right, it’s a self-drive holiday but firstly they advise you board an internal flight from Johannesburg to Kruger National Park.

Situated in Mpumalanga and covering 19,633 square kilometres, Kruger boasts over 100 mammals, over 500 bird species and more than 300 tree species.

It’s a spectacular spot for wildlife and nature lovers, with luxury lodges dotted throughout the park.

Travelling onwards to Port Elizabeth on the Eastern Cape via the Garden Route, you can uncover sandy beaches, great museums, galleries and excellent restaurants.

Before heading on to the iconic Cape Town.

H&J recommend the SA vineyards, the 600 million year old Table Mountain and Boulders Beach, home to the African penguins.

Wham bam Namibia

Right, what to do with the other 12 nights.

Take in ‘The Beauty Queen of South Africa’ at your ease.

Namibia’s capital Windhoek boasts a Zoo Park, castles and alluring restaurants, shopping and places to stay.

And for the adrenaline junkies, there’s exciting water sports and paragliding and kite surfing.

For a complete change of scene, strike out on a trek of the 1,600km Namib Desert and enjoy the red sand dunes of Sossuvlei.

The coastal town of Swakopmund is popular for walking tours, shopping and expanses of beach.

And it’s an ideal stop-off before continuing on your way to Etosha National Park, close to the salt desert of Etosha Pan.

And we’re back to the wildlife and the elephants, rhinos, leopards and lions, prior to flying back home.

But all after I see my Thandie baby in South Africa.