On the day we were to leave Perth we packed up all our gear and ordered a taxi to the airport, so we would be early. In fact we so early that we were the first in the queue at the check in counter – an absolute first for us! The check in opening time came and went (with Sophie cartwheeling and running about and Oliver being taught how to bowl from a veteran Australian cricketer!) and half an hour later we were advised the flight was cancelled due to a mechanical problem. Sophie and Oliver were so looking forward to finally flying to Africa that this information was not well received! At 9:30pm South African Airways bussed us across Perth to a hotel for the night. This, along with checking into the hotel, took some time and we didn’t get to bed until 11pm which was a very late night for the children but they seemed excited about the whole thing. We all slept in the same room just like the night before we left for Perth.
In the morning we had breakfast in the hotel and went for a stroll along the Swan River before the bus took us back to the airport. This time we were at the end of a very long check in queue. The flight was due to depart at 2:30pm but was delayed a further hour as they completed all the tasks for the quick turn-around. Excitement was now wearing thin.
We had a good flight to Jo’Burg but nobody slept much as it was a day flight rather than the expected night flight. Upon arrival about 8:30pm we collected our bags and asked about the connecting flight to Durban. The ground staff told us to run. We advised that we would then arrive at 11pm into Durban and our camp ground at midnight which with all our luggage and young children was not possible so they offered a further night in a hotel. We had to walk down a rather dark alley to the bus which given the reputation of Jo’Burg was a bit unsettling. Another long wait for a hotel room we again were not in bed until 11.00pm. However, we were given two rooms each with a double bed so we could spread out and get some rest.
The next day we caught an early flight to Durban and we jumped into Clive’s Taxi who raced us off to find the Queensburgh Caravan Resort. He had told us he knew where it was but as the journey continued it became apparent he had little idea so Nicki had to direct him from her mobile phone. There was one scary moment when a car passed us on the left and cut right in front of the taxi which was travelling at 120kph. The taxi cost us a lot more that it should have as it seemed the meter was running fast but we were too tired to work out the correct price and argue. The Queensburgh Caravan Resort was a beautiful place to be in Durban – an oasis within a busy city.
Four by 4x4 