ROcktober happenings on tour

Hello again travellers & travellers-to-be! Welcome to the October edition of our blog - what a tour this month, what happenings!
On tour:
Audrey Wicks - UK
Sam Challenger & Adele Sandison - UK & Zimbabwe
Marja Gelderman & Ans Heykoop - Netherlands
Pierre & Yvonne van den Boomen - Netherlands
This was also Kate's first taste of an Epic journey - she joined Alfie on tour to find out what real hard work is all about!

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Our 8 day Kruger tour from 23 - 30 October was full of surprises, something special happening every day, with gorgeous weather and beautiful summer sunsets...it was a true adventure...

- rare sighting of a male leopard, father of Amanza (see our April 2nd blog)

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- Becky the elephant's 1st daughter awaits the arrival of her new sibling!
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- a female white rhino & her calf approach our vehicle close enough to get a good smell...

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- 3 male lions feeding on a rare black rhino

- a large male lion leading us to a female and cubs on 2 consecutive days. Upon closer inspection on the 2nd day we saw 7 cubs which led us to believe there was another female nearby. Indeed there was - further up along the river bank came another female with a small cub following close behind!
- 2 female & 1 male lion feeding on a giraffe, also on 2 other consecutive days

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Other happenings:
- 4 large hyenas on the prowl at dusk
- a crocodile taking a vervet monkey
- an elephant pushing a tree over
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Classic moments on tour:

Sam realises how hard it is to pound meal for 2-3 hours straight...

Mafunyani Cultural Village

Tshukudu Game Reserve
...and finds that it's only a little bit easier talking to a lion cub...

...as does Marja the cat lover...

..it seems they loved her too!

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Akila & Prince show Pierre & the group where the good game viewing is...

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Jessica is doing well, as is Savannah who came to meet us & then promptly strutted off to find herself some lunch...

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Thank you all for the good times

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After the Kruger tour Audrey, Marja & Ans joined us for tours of Cape Town, staying in style with us at The Blue Tangerine.

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It was great to meet you all - we really hope you can visit us and our beautiful country again...
-Kate, Sabine & Alfie

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This month also saw the return of Jan & Keith Parsley who came on our 8 day Kruger tour in May last year. This year they have joined us in Cape Town for a tour of our city while letting us pamper them at The Blue Tangerine, as well as taking a tour of the magnificent Garden Route with us. Stay tuned for their stories & photos!...

Action-packed September

Baboons on the moove!!

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Early September saw the return of the Stichting Gehandicaptenreizen from the Netherlands. The 14-strong group arrived in stormy Cape Town where we entertained them at our new guesthouseThe Blue Tangerine over tea & coffee. We also showed them the wonders of our Mother City, and then departed from Cape Town for yet another glorious Kruger Tour for 8 days.

Savannah poses with the Stichting Gehandicaptenreizen group

"It was indeed great to meet you in Cape Town. I really love South Africa and I was all happy with how you and Alfie accomplished the trip. Again thank you for your dedication. With full trust I am looking forward to offering this trip in 2009 again." -Barbara van Eck, group leader Gehandicaptenreizen

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A new Gehandicaptenreizen group will be back for another tour in April 2009 lead yet again by Barbara!

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This month also saw Moira Lipshaw returning for another holiday with us, this time with Anne Larkin (who is, apparently, still on a high from her trip…). They toured the Kruger Park with us and then flew down to Cape Town to be pampered at The Blue Tangerine for a week while they enjoyed the sights of our city (please see the "Into The Wild" tour blog from 29 September!)

Moira with a furry friend

"Just wanted to thank you all for making the trip really great - I had a nice relaxing time and Anne thought everything was absolutely amazing!!! And is already working out how to come back again!" - Moira Lipshaw

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Thank you Anne, Moira, Drew, Mary, and Anna for all the fun!

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But that wasn’t all…September also marked the return of the Procap group from Switzerland. The 14 members of the group took in the sights & sounds of the Kruger Park for 8 sunny days before heading south to the Cape for more tours with Epic!

Procap Group from Switzerland at Cape of Good Hope

It was truly good to meet so many of you on tour this month - you have been a great inspiration to us!

- Sabine & Alfie