Have started a new page on my blog for next trip in December 2014. I am looking for companions to ride with me from Johannesburg to East London (Settlers country). I will be adding more details of the tour from time to time. So keep an eye on this page and send me comments if you are interested in joining me.
Have been on holiday this week. I decided to do some activities in the area where we stay. We have done some day trips to game lodges in the Waterberg area.
First was Thandile guest farm (www.tandilecountrylodge.co.za) where we did some horse riding. The owner manages the lodge himself. He has a passion for horses. He has trained all his horses to work with herding cattle and guest rides. The horses have a very gentle nature and are very aware of your riding skills. They adjust according to the feel which you give them. So if you just want to plod along they will do it or if you want to get some wind in your hair, off they go.
All horses range free in the bushveld hills and are rounded up and saddled for you. So you need to make bookings with Cobus before hand. The roads wind up from the valley bottom to rocky hills where giraffe, kudu,impala,klipspringer and other bushveld animals range. What is nice, time is no problem. If you want to 
ride for one hour or three it is the same price. Cobus makes sure the horse matches you and that all saddle adjustment are made to fit you.
There are also marked out mountain bike trails. Be prepared for lots of loose rocks.
He has some nice rooms in a very old house that has been renovated. However be prepared for work in progress around the lodge area. There is a restaurant area that is your home away from home. The cats and dogs make you feel part of the family. Very family orientated guest farm.
Today we did the Zipline tour (http://waterbergzip.co.za) at Tabo Monate game lodge. It has a set of 11 ziplines criss crossing a valley.Tour takes about two and half hours.
For a person like me that is a little afraid of heights it was a good challenge. The guides were very friendly and safety continuously. This was a wonderful experience. Would recommend it to anybody spending a weekend up in the area. Longest Zipline was about 190 m.
Was good to experience what this area has to offer. Most of the time I am riding my bicycle along the roads and just see the signs for the different lodges.
To make it easier for people to find me I have decided to get my own domain. My new blog is http://longdaysafaris.com. If you search on google you just need to put in longdaysafaris.com. Or type the full domain name on top bar. It is linked to old blog name longdaysafaris.wordpress.com.
Getting out into the world renowned birding hot spot Nylsvlei.
Cape town is buzing today. The excitement of race tomorrow can be felt. Over 35000 riders expected to ride.
Take a look at the sub pages of countries travelled in to see impressions of Countries travelled in .
Have also streamlined pages to give room for more bicycle adventures to come.
Did this by adding page on trip Via Alma to Vaalwater. This will make it easier to find different trips.
Have done a basic plan for traveling from Johannesburg, then cycling the length of Lake Malawi and back to Johannesburg. If you are interested in joining, take a look at my page” Next long trip”.
Well it turned out to be a meeting of the local chiefs. SABC TV was invited to document the happenings for Roots program on TV 3. Then there was entertainment from community groups that did dance and played traditional music( with electric guitars,keyboards and drums).I was squeezed into program. However there was no screen to put up my presentation. Expecting this would happen I resorted to presenting some of equipment needed to take long trip on a bicycle. Ending in businesses and uses of bicycles to help create a living for people.
There was a second presentation of a Chines engine that is bolted onto bicycle frame.This mode of transport will give you one liter petrol to 100 km. This drew a lot of attention. There is a big demand for cheap modes of transport out in these very rural communities. As a result one of the chiefs gave permission for a community activist to get a office at his offices. Here she can train children to ride bicycle and teach them to repair them. She will also co ordinate giving sponsored bicycles to deserving learners, to help them get to school. They are setting up a web page for interested persons.
Saturday 19/10/2013 there is a community activity at the Ga-Morwe Stadium. It is transport month so they trying to base it on cycling and cultural entertainment. I have been asked to talk to promote cycling and to share some of my adventures. After I have spoke I will post a condensed version.
This gallery contains 3 photos.
This weekend did a nice friendly ride around the neighbourhood of 100km. I got to see the bush and wild animals.
Long day safaris 